Samsung thinks you are ready for more foldable phones in the coming years. But are foldable phones finally ready for you?
We’re about to find out. With the closure of 2020, Samsung Electronics’ president, TM Roh, posted an overview of the electronic giant’s plans for mobile phones in 2021, and one of the highlights seems to be that the Galaxy Z Vou 2 and Galaxy Z Flip 5G can expect a company soon.
“True to our legacy of staying ahead of groundbreaking mobile technology, we are expanding our portfolio foldably so that this groundbreaking category is more accessible to all,” Raw written.
This is quite a change, given the rough start that Samsung has faced on the foldable front. The initial Galaxy vou, which was first previewed in 2019, got some design flaws, which forced Samsung to postpone the launch. The original fold promised, but not nearly enough to justify the $ 1,980 price.
Samsung’s foldable phones are quite expensive, but otherwise things have improved dramatically over the past year. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 addressed many of the original Fold’s problems and gave a more durable design. The Galaxy Z Flip gave Samsung a foldable browsing phone that was much more polished than its competitor Motorola Razr. And both the Fold and the Flip support a new Flex mode that uses foldable designs to let you use in new ways.
“Samsung realizes that its early commitment to foldable goods can bear fruit as Samsung expands into affordable price segments while having minimal competition,” said Avi Greengart, founder and chief analyst at Techsponential a message about Samsung’s 2021 phone plans.
There’s another reason why Samsung might want to strike while the iron is hot, said Ramon Llamas, IDC’s research director for devices and displays. “Samsung seems to have achieved more success than its competitors like Motorola in the US or Royole in Asia,” he said. “Unless other providers get their own folding smartphones, it could be a product category that Samsung could lock itself in.”
However, how will Samsung do it? The answer seems to build on some of the early successes with this year’s foldable phones. Here are some reasons why Samsung is optimistic about the prospects for future folding devices as a new year lies ahead.
Foldable phone screens have become more durable
The first foldable phones had plastic displays – a necessary compromise, as glass is not really that good at bending, but one that makes devices feel thin and cheap. This is not what you want to convey when you ask people to pay up to $ 2000 for a phone.
Launched with the Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung has placed a layer of ultra-thin glass in its foldable range. (The Galaxy Z Fold 2 also contains the same layer.) The difference was night and day. Now the devices have the kind of polish you would expect from an expensive phone, while still being able to withstand the kind of ordinary wear and tear due to the folding and folding of the screen.
Samsung invented how to optimize the foldable form factor
A phone that just folds up is just a party trick. To be a more compelling option, a foldable phone needs to take advantage of its unique ability to expand and contract – and that’s exactly what Samsung has managed to do this year.
We mentioned the Flex mode, which uses the hinge on both the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy Z Flip to hold a portion of the screen at a 90-degree angle. It allows certain apps to use the top of the screen as a viewing area, and the bottom for controls. Think of YouTube videos playing on one half of the device, while you can control the playback and video on the other side of the device. screen.
The Fold in particular is still a multitasker’s dream, with the ability to run three programs simultaneously on its 7.6-inch main screen. You can even link those programs together so that they start at the same time. With the continuity of the app, you can access an app on the now larger cover screen of the Fold and pick up where you left off when you open the phone to use the larger screen.
If anything, Samsung needs to do more of this to popularize foldable phones, including working with app manufacturers to make sure their software is compatible with foldable screens. “Do all the programs [potential foldable phone owners] do you want to use perfectly on a foldable device? asked Llamas. If not, purchasing a device like this becomes a no-brainer. “
Foldable phone prices will drop soon
Roh has promised to expand Samsung’s foldable range, promising more ‘accessible’ devices. Assume that it will be more affordable as it is honestly the only direction Samsung can take.
Despite all the improvements, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 still costs $ 1,999 – for most smartphone buyers it’s no longer a budget. The Galaxy Z Flip is cheaper, but only relatively so, with the 5G version available for $ 1,449. Samsung’s prices are also not out of line with other foldable devices – the Motorola Razr 5G costs $ 1,399. The LG wing is cheaper at $ 999, but it’s not a true foldable phone; rather, there is a second screen under the first that moves when you need it.
Even at $ 1500, [foldable phones] is still more expensive than most other flagship devices.
– Ramon Llamas, IDC
“Even at $ 1500, [foldable phones] ‘is still more expensive than most other flagship devices, including Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro Max or even Samsung’s most popular Galaxy S devices,’ ‘Llamas said.
Joining the LG Wing below the $ 1000 mark is the target if Samsung is serious about its pursuit of more accessible folding. “To increase its market share – and steal some iOS users along the way – Samsung needs to bring refined, attractive folding below the $ 1000 price point where most phone sales live,” Greengart of Techsponential wrote.
Foldable phone outlook
Even with more foldable phones coming in 2021, you should not expect the iPhone 13 or Galaxy S21 to be set aside by the latest Galaxy Z Fold – or whatever other design Samsung envisions. For all the progress that has been made foldable in a short period of time, it is still a niche product, even if the price drops a bit.
“The larger viewing area is definitely an attraction, and also the fact that multiple apps are open on the same screen,” said Llamas of IDC. “But if you get to it, most users will probably prefer to save the money and still enjoy a quality experience on a smartphone. Expect the collapsible material to go to the technophiles and early users.”