For the last month I’ve tried really hard to get into foldables by using this google Pixel fold. And I really think it’s changed how I view foldable phones, and whether or not someone should consider them. So, let’s talk about it.
Affiliate Links to Products Mentioned in the video:
Google Pixel Fold: amzn.to/3OLPquW
Samsung Z Fold 5: amzn.to/3QYvtnk
Samsung Z Flip 5: amzn.to/3QVIyxL
Motorola Razr+: amzn.to/3YUJ2q2
Affiliate links to KZfaq gear I use:
Sony a7siii: go.magik.ly/ml/1qb8i/
Sony A7c: go.magik.ly/ml/1qb8k/
14in M1 Pro MacBook Pro: go.magik.ly/ml/1qb83/
Mac Studio: go.magik.ly/ml/1qb8o/
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:15 Types of Foldables
1:20 Benefits of a Large Foldable Phone
4:38 Negatives of Large Foldable Phones
8:43 Conclusion
There are 2 major types of foldable phones that are popular right now, ones that flip like an old motorola razr, where a compact square flips open to a more rectangular body, like the Samsung Z flip line or, the new Motorola Razr. And then there’s the opposite. Foldable phones that flip from rectangles into giant more squarish displays like the Samsung Z fold or this Pixel Fold.
Basically the idea of foldable phones is that this single device could replace the want or need to own a phone and a tablet. You use the form factor that’s right for the task you’re doing at the moment. And of course that depends on person to person but this really makes doing certain things easier and more enjoyable.
I primarily use the front screen for quick activities, things that require very little attention or effort. Answering a quick text, switching music tracks, googling that question you had, or reading an email. But if I plan to sit down, doom scroll on social media, read manga, play games, stream video, answer important emails, basically, whenever Im ready to really focus or immerse myself, I flip it open and do what I gotta do. If you read comics, a magazine, or manga, you can see content that’s supposed to be spread into 2 pages, all on the same screen. You can truly multitask by splitting the screen in two and have two different apps, one on each side of the display in their smartphone layout. You can have google docs open on one side with a website open on the other for reference. Apps that have tablet versions, will up the entire screen giving you more information on the display at once. Watching KZfaq videos or streaming in bed now means you have a larger screen to look at whatever and whenever you want to. With a foldable you can use it like a laptop and have a video play on the top half of the display. You can take a photo with the camera in that laptop-like state, and it’ll be steady. And then you can edit those same photos you took and edit it on the larger display, without having to move the photo to a different device to do so. If you’re a frequent traveler, you can just take your pixel fold or any folding phone with you and enjoy all your movies or tv shows on a bigger screen without taking along a tablet that you have to shuffle out of your backpack on a long flight.
I wanted to save the negatives for this part of the video. The big one is price. There aren’t too many folding phones on the market, but flip style foldables cost around $1000, which is in-line with other premium smartphones from different brands. Some are a little cheaper, some are a little more expensive. But generally. Around $1000. And then there’s these phone-tablet foldables. $1800. That’s pretty pricey. And it makes sense because you’re paying for a giant foldable display alongside your phone. Smartphones are now 3-4year commitments for some people so making the wrong purchasing decision could be bad because now they’re stuck with it for a long time before their next upgrade. People who have the luxury and funds to upgrade every year or two won’t care because they can afford it, and afford to switch devices whenever a shiny new one comes out. So it’s a lot easier for people to just get the latest iteration of their favorite smartphone.
Apps need to be optimized for these form factors. Foldable phones make up a small piece of the smartphone pie. Google apps work perfectly on the pixel fold, but 3rd party apps vary. Some apps that don’t have an optimized version will just give you the smartphone version on one side of the screen.
So, what are my final thoughts on foldables? Folding phones are super cool. I was really skeptical going into trying it and seeing if it actually provided a significant benefit to me over a regular phone and after switching back to a regular phone. But in the same vein, 3rd party apps need a little more work, and these large phone-tablet foldables are expensive, making it hard to recommend to the average person. I really like this pixel fold, it’s so close to being the perfect foldable and that’s why I think the future is bright for foldables.
#GiftFromGoogle #TeamPixel