Should you wait for more or buy the Galaxy Fold or Motorola Razr at this time?

* The article is the view of writer Bill Detwiler from Zdnet

In just a few days, Samsung will launch the Galaxy Z Flip, its next foldable smartphone. Along with that, Motorola will soon sell the folding screen smartphone Razr. But to be honest, the current foldable smartphone market is just a mess.

Samsung’s folding screen smartphone, Galaxy Fold right from the beginning has encountered many technical problems and has delayed the launch date. Even if Samsung overcomes the inherent weaknesses associated with the screen and sells, there are still disadvantages to the hinge’s durability.

Or as in the official “Caring for razr” video, Motorola warned owners of Razr to avoid getting sharp objects into the screen and close the phone before putting it in a pocket or purse.

But ignoring those disadvantages, it is important that you have enough money nearly 2 thousand USD to buy it? Seriously, if companies improve folding devices well enough, I believe many people will still wait to buy such a product.

Improve durability and battery life

The current folding screen smartphone is too fragile, mainly due to the folding structure of the screen. But from the perspective of consumers, everyone wants a device that is durable enough, and is worth the money.

Devices like the Galaxy Fold or Motorola Razr should not have any wrinkles or damage on the hinges. In particular, the hinge mechanism must be flexible enough to prevent malfunction if dust or other objects enter. Equally important, a folding screen smartphone must have good battery life, enough to be used throughout the day.

Is a folding screen smartphone a gimmick?

You probably still remember Amazon Fire Phone with 3D screen or Galaxy Round and LG Flex. They are all initial rekindling products of the folding screen technology. Although they are only more advertising when the screen is mostly curved, not foldable. But anyway it was a remarkable success.

As for foldable smartphones, it is exactly a commercial product, not a good idea or a gimmick like before.

The advent of a folding screen smartphone will undoubtedly inspire us to do more. When a device is compact, foldable, and functional, it clearly offers a wide range of uses.

If carriers can take advantage of the extra capabilities of screens outside of smartphones or folding and hinged positions, it will certainly be even more useful.

Decrease the selling price

Currently, the price of foldable smartphones is still quite high and the market for such devices is just starting to ignite. Price for the Galaxy Fold is currently nearly 2000 USD (about 46 million) or Motorola Rarz is 1,500 USD (about 34.8 million).

But just like TVs, computers or smartphones that have dropped prices year by year, we can expect the price of foldable, 5G-enabled smartphones to drop in price over time.

Waiting for Apple and others to enter the folding screen smartphone market

Huawei Mate X is currently sold but only in China. Meanwhile, other smartphone manufacturers have announced plans to launch foldable smartphones or even reveal many patents related to such a device.

In January, Xiaomi demonstrated a prototype folding screen smartphone and is starting to probe users for the official name for the product is Dual Flex or Mix Flex.

LG, with the help of its LG Display division, has also begun working on foldable smartphones, but it is unclear when it will officially launch. Meanwhile, Google filed a patent related to a folding device in June 2018.

At CES 2020, Lenovo also unveiled a foldable laptop called the ThinkPad X1 Fold. Or Apple is said to have filed a patent related to a folding screen device since 2011.

In October 2019, Microsoft debuted foldable products, the Surface Neo, a folding device like a tablet and the Surface Duo, a foldable Android smartphone. However, unlike Galaxy Fold or Mate X, Microsoft’s Surface Duo is essentially a device with two screens and is connected via a hinge in the middle.

In addition, there are many other brands such as TCL, OnePlus, … all ready to launch the first folding smartphone prototype.

The emergence of more and more companies entering the foldable smartphone market will undoubtedly be welcome news. Because more companies are involved in producing future devices, it will be an opportunity to reduce the price of folding screen smartphones.

Until this high-tech device of this future has a more affordable price, perhaps consumers should still learn to wait … to be happy.

Refer to Zdnet