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Samsung, Google, OnePlus are ruining folding phones with these blatant mistakes

By Martin Filipov

Published: Nov 16, 2024, 8:24 AM

1comment

This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.

Samsung, Google, OnePlus are ruining folding phones with these blatant mistakes

I still remember the first time I played with my first folding phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 3... Although it was a magical glimpse into the future of phones, I wasn’t particularly impressed with the bulky design, the sky-high price, and even the benefits of the foldable form-factor. So… I sold it. And I never looked back.

That is… Until the Pixel 9 Pro Fold came out and I got a chance to use it as a companion device to my trusty iPhone 13 mini. And after rocking my Pixel 9 Pro Fold for around two months, I certainly wouldn’t say it’s a foldable. I'd sell/return for the same reasons I got rid of the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

However, the much more recent Pixel Fold has helped me conclude that foldables still have some way to go, and the reason might not be just the challenges coming with the foldable design, but the choices phone-makers like Samsung, Google, and OnePlus make when… making a foldable.

Why do we need glass backs on foldables? They are already more fragile and more expensive than a “normal phone”

Glass on the front is enough. Thanks.

Let’s start with what I find to be one of the most blatant mistakes when making a foldable - the glass back.

I bet we can all agree that this was/is already a questionable decision on slab phones (to say the least), but for some reason, it’s even worse on folding phones, which are already delicate and expensive.

When I buy a foldable phone for $2,000, the last thing I want is a back that makes it feel more fragile than it already is. On top of that, glass is significantly heavier than something like plastic, which makes the decision to use glass on the back of the Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold even more bizarre and impractical. Are we trying to make foldables lighter or not, Samsung/Google?

Needless to say, that’s why I think eco-leather backs like the one in the OnePlus Open is the way to go for a folding phone design. It’s grippy, lightweight, and more forgiving than glass when it comes to drops. Plus, (I think) it feels premium without adding unnecessary weight.

Come on now…

When it comes to foldables, lighter trumps thinner

If I had to pick, I'd make my Pixel 9 Pro Fold lighter instead of thinner.

And while we’re at it, let’s exhaust the weight topic…

Sure, I get the obsession with making foldables thinner - that’s especially important for a phone that’s two phones glued together. But my hot take is that lighter weight is even more important when it comes to a foldable.

Folding phones are already heavy because of the hinge and extra display and stuff… So when you use one for extended periods of time (especially as a tablet), that weight becomes noticeable. For example, when you’re in bed.

I suppose you could say “the key is finding the right balance” but I’d take a lighter foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 over the thinner Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It also feels way more comfortable in your pocket.

Of course, the ideal solution is if companies can make foldables thinner *and* lighter, which we see with phones like the Honor Magic V3. But if I had to choose, I’d take a lighter foldable over a thinner one any day.

In other words, let’s focus on the weight issue (too).

Folding phones need Silicon-carbon batteries more than regular phones

The battery life challenge with foldables is another area, which I feel can (already) be addressed more effectively by the likes of Google, Samsung, and other folding phone makers.

One of the biggest problems with foldable phones has always been their size, and I don’t just mean that they feel bulkier than a slab phone but the sheer lack of room, which (if available) would allow for a properly large battery that keeps my Pixel 9 Pro Fold running as long as the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

You’d think with all the advancements in battery technology, we’d have slimmer, higher-capacity batteries in folding phones before we get them in slab phones - but not really. The silicon-carbon (Si/C) batteries, which pack significantly higher energy density in a slimmer form-factor are the perfect battery candidate for a folding phone that desperately needs to get slimmer, lighter, and last longer on a single charge.

Notice how the slimmer batteries can also help with the thickness and weight problem! Shortly, I don’t want this new battery tech reserved for the iPhone 17 Slim, Galaxy S24 Slim, or whatever “ultra-thin” phone Apple and Samsung are preparing for 2025.

Cutting-edge design deserves cutting-edge hardware, and if the likes of Samsung, Google, and OnePlus can’t deliver this in the shape of a killer camera system (which is understandable), they can at least give us a battery that lasts all day.

A $1,800 folding phone wasn’t “affordable” in 2019, and it isn’t affordable now

Speaking of cost-cutting, why are folding phones still so… expensive?

I get it - innovation costs a premium, but folding phones have been around for several years now, and they’re not exactly niche anymore. Yet, most still start at $1,800 or more. Are we even trying to make them cheaper? Or that’s not really on the cards?

For the record, there are some exceptions. The Galaxy Fold often goes on sale, which makes it much more accessible, and brands like Tecno will get you a “budget-friendly foldable” for as low as $1,200.

But for the most part, if you want a folding phone from Samsung and Google (at launch!), you’re shelling out almost as much as you would for a premium Mac, or a used car.
At this rate, foldables will stay a luxury product instead of becoming mainstream, and that’s not good news for the industry - or the people who want a foldable.

In a nutshell, it’s time to get serious about bringing folding phone prices down - even if it’s by $100-200. If Samsung and Google really think folding phones are the future, they need to make them accessible to more people.

The aspect ratio problem is real - folding phones should be a rectangle

The right shape is a rectangle. Period.

Of course, I can’t skip over my “favorite” folding phone problem (created by choice)... The square aspect ratio that so many phone-makers insist on using.

As I wrote in my recent rant on the same topic, I get the idea - you want to create a device that works as both a phone and a tablet but the main point of a foldable is being able to make the most out of the large display, and I’m not sure the square aspect ratio makes that possible.

There’s a reason tablets don’t use square displays. They’re widescreen because that’s how we consume content. Moreover, videos, games, even web browsing - it all looks better on a wider screen. And have you tried typing on the inner screen of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold? No, no, no, no… That ain’t it.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s rectangular aspect ratio brings the best of both worlds, and I strongly believe that’s how all foldables should be made.

Let’s get serious about the stylus, or just get rid of it

And finally… A slightly more “niche” question… Where is the stylus?

Foldables are supposed to be productivity and creativity powerhouses, and if that’s true, some power users and creatives could certainly do with a pen that fits inside their foldable. Somehow.

Samsung offers the S Pen as an accessory for the Galaxy Z Fold, but there’s no place to store it. You’re expected to carry it around separately, which makes the experience far less seamless, which makes you less likely to use it.

Now, with the rise of generative AI tools, having a stylus to use with your large foldable makes even more sense. Whether it’s taking notes, drawing, or using the stylus to edit photos, design graphics, or play around with Samsung’s bizarrely fun Sketch to Image gen AI, a stylus makes the experience better and more precise.

A tiny, built-in stylus would take phones like the Galaxy Fold, Pixel Fold, and OnePlus Open to the next level. If Samsung or Google can fit one into a foldable without compromising thickness or weight, it could be a game-changer.

Size doesn’t matter. It’s all about how you use it. Somebody once said. Not me.

Samsung, Google, OnePlus (and the rest) need to stop making blatant mistakes when making foldables - let’s pick up the innovation pace

See, after spending 2 months with my Pixel 9 Pro Fold, I do believe in folding phones! They’re one of the most exciting innovations in mobile tech, and no Dynamic Island or Camera button can change that.

But companies like Samsung, Google, and OnePlus need to start focusing on making them more practical to use, and avoid making blatant mistakes like putting a glass back on an already heavy and fragile phone.

I don’t need a glass back that makes my foldable heavier and more fragile; I don’t need a battery that doesn't last a whole day, or square screens that make my large display awkward to use. I want a more durable, lightweight, affordable foldable with practical features.

I guess the good news is that the foldable revolution is far from over, but… can we pick up the pace, please?

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Martin, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, brings a unique blend of humor and insight to his work. His fascination with smartphones began with a Galaxy Young and evolved through a series of trades and upgrades, making him a self-proclaimed smartphone nerd. Martin's content often combines current analysis of market trends with historical references and future predictions. Whether it's a deep dive into technical issues or a first-person commentary on industry events, Martin's articles are designed to inform and engage. His critical perspective is driven by genuine curiosity and a desire to keep readers informed, not by any corporate sponsorship.