Being the age I am, I’m just old enough to remember flip-phones.

A relatively simple concept that has been on my mind lately for reasons I’ll get to. Widely considered obsolete unless you just want a cheap phone to make calls etc., these phones featured a screen on one side, a keypad on the other, with a hinge joint between the two.

The reason that this device has been dragged back to the front of my brain in recent weeks is because I am reminded of them every time I see this:

To be clear: I’m aware that this foldable iphone is not the first foldable modern smartphone (I know Samsung released them years ago also).

But I’m also left wondering: what is the point? I think I can perfectly understand the use of flip phones as they were when they were popular, but foldable phones I just can’t see the benefit. As far as I can see, these foldable type of phones offer little to no benefit that you couldn’t get from, say a regular iPhone or Samsung phone, in terms of the consumer and how they are used in general life. I get that the hardware/software may be different, but that’s not going to be a factor in most people’s daily lives (you’re not going to care about the type of core, or the screen resolution when you make a phone call, etc.) It seems like it’s more of a gimmick from the companies making them to try and make more sales, but even if that’s the case, the product must have something unique to offer, so what is it about foldable phones that are so unique besides the gimmick of folding?

  • _chris@lemmy.worldEnglish
    103·
    1 day ago

    First off, hardly anyone under 50 uses a phone for calling any longer. It’s now a portable computer. I want a device in my pocket with a small footprint most of the time, but when I need a big screen for getting work done, I no longer need to carry around a tablet too. I can just unfold my phone and see a spreadsheet. Or take notes with a stylus. Or make some doodles. Or share a video with my wife or parents more easily that they can actually see.

    So, it’s one device that has multiple functions in different forms. It also means I no longer need to have a ~$1200 phone and a ~$900 iPad mini, I can get both in a single $2000 device.

    There are some companies making flip phones for the disconnected folks, if your primary need is a phone, go for it. The commodore one actually looks pretty cool.

    • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      5 hours ago

      hardly anyone under 50 uses a phone for calling any longer

      WTF…what are those assholes screaming into their phones held 90 degrees to their mouths doing?

      • _chris@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        12 minutes ago

        Ok, you got me. I forgot about those dorks.

        Also, the people who use voice to text at full volume out in public. What the hell. Just type.

        • _chris@lemmy.worldEnglish
          33·
          1 day ago

          It’s funny, in my whole friend group (early 40’s) we all exclusively text in some form. When one of us calls, it’s an emergency. Except for one of us. He insists on calling. And we make fun of him, to his face. But he can’t get over it. Maybe you’re that person in your group. And that’s ok, just like this device - different strokes for different folks.

          • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
            13·
            1 day ago

            Ah, so you assume that your friend group = everyone under 50, and you’re an ass to the one person who doesn’t conform to your made up rules.

            Wow. Go touch grass. I can’t see wasting my time discussing all the people in the world I interact with that are different than your myopic view.

            • _chris@lemmy.worldEnglish
              52·
              1 day ago

              Man, you should take a step back and calm down. Not everyone on the internet is as confrontational as you seem to be, speaking of myopic differences.

              Have a fantastic life!