Samsung can make neither the best premium foldable, nor a cheap one: so why try with a rollable?

We've not fully immersed ourselves in the foldable era yet, and here we are already: optimistically looking ahead at the rollable era. Such is the nature of all tech things – today's innovations are considered old the minute they're official; it's only tomorrow's promises that are the real deal.

That's right – imagine a phone that's much like an ancient Egyptian papyrus scroll, rolling out and in. That's what Samsung has been up to, reportedly.

• Samsung set to release a rollable display phone to counter Huawei's Mate XT

Of course, it's not just the $3,000 tri-fold from Huawei that drives Samsung towards the papyrus scroll form factor. Nope. We know that Samsung has been interested in such a rollable phone for years.

Check out this concept device:

However, is that really what Samsung should be doing? Doesn't it have a more important job right now?

Why not perfect the "standard" foldable form factor first?

Before you start throwing stones and rotten cabbage at yours truly, let me assure you that I find the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to be a great phone. As our own PhoneArena review points out, it's a "formidable competitor in the high-end foldable market".

It's great that it features a sleeker, more rectangular design with a new matte coating on the frame and hinge. The hinge is sturdier and more pleasant to use, while the slightly wider cover screen adds functionality without compromising compactness.

However, the camera setup remains unchanged, offering similar performance to its predecessor. Despite no increase in battery capacity, the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset improves battery life, though the 25W charging speed is still a drawback. All of this for $1,900 and up, reflecting the 2024 $100 increase.

Now, let's take a look at the competition.

We can't be discussing foldables without mentioning the OnePlus Open. The OnePlus Open stands out as one of the best foldable phones to date, boasting an impressive build and design. It features a powerful camera, excellent performance and battery life, stunning displays, and an appealing price point.



Or, if you please, we can check out the Honor Magic V3 – the thinnest "dual" foldable on the market right now. Here's how it compares with the Galaxy Z Fold 6:

So, what gives? It seems to me that the Z Fold 6 is outsmarted on several fronts by the competition. Of course, that doesn't make it a loser in any case – it's just that the Z Fold 6 doesn't excel everything out there, specs-wise.

So, why getting the hots for a rollable phone, if you can't give me at least a 50W wireless charging option (or a periscope zoom lens), Samsung?

I want to make another point, but in the opposite direction.

Here's an idea: make an A-series phone that folds

So, maybe you can't be bothered to put the absolute cutting-edge hardware in all aspects in your flagship foldable. That's okay.

Then, you can focus on bringing a budget-friendly foldable to the masses! We'll love you for it, we promise.

Right now, foldables are so novel, fresh and original that buying them is considered to be an act of poshness.

However, why not make an A series phone that bends in two? Equip it with a mid-range Exynos chipset, slam just a single camera on it, deprave it of wireless charging, give it a mediocre display – but with a sturdy hinge – and let the chips fall where they may.

Slap a reasonable enough price on it and I think that it's going to be a modest hit. Also, make it in ten different (and bold) shades – people love having color options to choose from.

Huawei's tri-fold is spectacular, BUT…

Let's talk a bit about the Huawei Mate XT – the driver behind Samsung's push towards the rollable display.

It's a unique $3,000 harmonica (no offense) that you probably don't need right now.

It'll be hard to get, as it won't be released in the United States (duh!), but this Far East exotic creature is truly a jaw-dropping handset (although tablet would be the more appropriate term here):

• 10.2-inch beast of a display
• Insane 3.6 mm thickness when unfolded
• A huge 5,600mAh battery – that's way more than my current slab flagship
• Quad-camera setup with a periscope lens (this is simply amazing)
• Superfast and super useful 66W charging speeds (and 50W wireless)

Here's the fine print that might get the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up:

• The $3,000 Huawei Mate XT might cost you another $1,000 if you're not careful enough

See, the repair costs for the Mate XT can be mind-boggling. With such a premium (and I suppose – limited) device, I can't imagine what the servicing periods would be like.

Nevertheless, people are reportedly crazy about it:

• Huawei has already received over 2.8 million reservations for Mate XT tri-fold

Well, well, well…

Are you ready to roll with it?

I firmly believe that the next big thing in mobile tech is the foldable form factor. It's got numerous appliances, it looks fancy, it's just the high price – and the durability – that are driving people away from the foldables at the moment.

These are legit questions that people all over the world are asking themselves, and once the answers satisfy them to a reasonable degree – only time will tell when that happens – they'll hop on the foldables hype wagon.

That's why, as much as I fancy tech innovations, I think it's way too early for us to be taking the rollable papyrus seriously. For everything, there is a season. And the rollable season is not upon us… yet.