Anyone tried any of the newer foldable phones?

[codeberg]

Gadget question, real answers only.

Real answers from people here are usually more useful than search results.

Would be interested to hear from people at different stages of experience with this, not just experts.

The questions worth asking are rarely the ones with clean answers, which is why forums are better than search engines for this.

What has your experience been?

[QuantumDay]

Good shout. Good thread this

[veritas.io]

That checks out from what I have seen. I have fixed more machines by doing less than by doing the obvious dramatic thing.

Give it a go and report back

[QueueDay]

That checks out from what I have seen. I have fixed more machines by doing less than by doing the obvious dramatic thing. Give it a go and r

Worked for me too. I set a calendar reminder to check rates every three months and it saves me a fair bit.

Worth a look if you have not already

[QuantumKnight]

A lot depends on who is making the claim and what they are trying to sell. Context gets lost very quickly once something becomes a trending topic.

Worth watching closely

[Zero-Point]

Feels like the right read on it. Most people form opinions on things like this before the full picture is available.

Interesting to see where it goes

[veritas.io]

Agree with that, same experience here. I keep a list of what I do to every fresh install so I can repeat it without thinking.

Worked for me at least

[Q]

Been following this thread and that seems right. Good to hear other people's experience

[NightOwl]

That checks out from what I have seen. I have fixed more machines by doing less than by doing the obvious dramatic thing. Give it a g

Exactly what I found. The price matters more than it used to, I am much more selective about what I buy full price.

Definitely worth picking up

[Matticus]

Exactly what I was thinking. You cannot judge a season on three games in either direction.

Time will tell on this one.

[GameChanger]

Worth checking the small print before committing. Cashback is only worth it if you actually remember to claim it.

Worth a look if you have not already

[Undertaker]

That is exactly it. Good stuff

[VidiTechnica]

I actually started using mine like a mini tablet more than a phone. At home it rarely stays folded open when I'm browsing or reading.

It kind of blurs the line between devices in a way I didn't expect to like as much as I do

[Jason99]

The hinge mechanism is more satisfying than it should be. There's something about that smooth open and close that makes it feel like a gadget from a sci fi film.

That said, I do wonder how it will hold up after a couple of years of constant use

[Piston]

Durability is still my biggest hesitation. I don't baby my phone and the idea of a delicate inner screen makes me slightly nervous.

Even if manufacturers say they've improved hinges and coatings, I still find myself treating it more carefully than I'd like

[DarkMatter24]

Resale value is still unpredictable. Some people love foldables, others avoid them entirely, so the market feels smaller.

That uncertainty makes upgrading feel more complicated than with regular phones

[HeartbreakKidJason71]

Price is the real wall for me. I can justify a premium phone, but foldable pricing still feels like early adopter tax.

Maybe in a couple more generations it'll settle down, but right now it's a luxury experiment

[LurkingLegend]

They are definitely still niche devices, but I can see the appeal growing as prices drop and durability improves.

Right now it feels like a glimpse of where phones might eventually go rather than the final form

[Matticus]

I tried using the stylus with a foldable and it actually surprised me. For note taking and quick sketches it feels really natural on the larger screen.

It is not quite tablet level precision, but close enough for everyday use

[IronQuarry]

Gaming on a foldable is actually pretty fun. The extra screen space makes UI elements feel less cramped in many games.

It is not a huge performance jump, but the experience feels more comfortable overall

[DiamondDallas86]

I went with a newer model from one of the mainstream brands and the build quality is definitely better than the early generations.

Still feels like a device category that's improving fast but not fully mature yet

[Jonathan_Repetto]

Productivity wise it genuinely changed how I handle emails and documents on the go. I no longer feel like I need to wait until I'm at a laptop for certain tasks.

It's not replacing a full computer, but it definitely reduces how often I reach for one

[DarkMatter24]

I tried a foldable for a few weeks and the first impression was honestly wow. Having a phone turn into something closer to a small tablet feels like cheating when you're watching videos or reading.

But after the novelty wore off I started noticing small annoyances like the weight and how often I was opening and closing it just because I could

[DarkEnergy27]

Battery life is decent but not amazing. You're essentially powering a larger display in some modes, so it makes sense.

I find myself charging it more often than my old standard phone, but not enough to be a deal breaker

[TheRock96]

Using one for work has been interesting. It is great for quick replies and reviewing documents, but I still prefer a laptop for heavy tasks.

It fills the gap between phone and computer better than I thought it would

[Current]

Cases are a bit of a mixed bag. Some make the phone too bulky, which defeats part of the purpose of going foldable in the first place.

I ended up using a minimal case just for scratch protection and calling it a day

[Velvet Connor]

Camera performance seems to be the compromise nobody talks about enough. You often get flagship level features, but not quite the absolute best sensor.

If photography is your priority, you might still be better off with a traditional slab phone

[IronWolf]

The crease is less of a deal breaker than I expected. You notice it when the screen is off or at certain angles, but during actual use my brain just ignores it.

Funny how something that looks so obvious in photos becomes invisible after a week of use

[Dom9]

Flip style foldables are more practical than I expected. Having a normal phone that folds into a smaller square is surprisingly satisfying.

It feels less like a tablet hybrid and more like a compact phone done differently

[GlassKnight89]

After trying one I don't think I can go back to a standard phone as easily. Even with the compromises, the flexibility is hard to ignore.

It is not perfect, but it is one of the more interesting changes in phone design in years

[Odd Maverick]

Dust protection still worries me. Hinges and moving parts plus pockets and bags feels like a long term challenge.

I would love to see more improvements in sealing and durability over the next few generations

[KeyboardWarrior]

Longevity is the big unknown. Regular phones can easily last several years, but foldables still feel like a question mark beyond that.

I am curious how they will age after heavy daily folding for a long time

[FrostBear]

Repair costs are what keep me cautious. If something goes wrong with that inner screen, you're basically looking at premium level repair bills.

That risk alone makes me think twice about long term ownership

[Joel96]

Multitasking is where foldables actually make sense. Running two apps side by side without feeling cramped is genuinely useful.

It feels like the first time phones actually tried to behave a bit more like a laptop replacement rather than just a bigger phone

[Undertaker92]

Pocketability is the underrated win here. Even though it's thicker, having a small phone in your pocket that expands when needed feels oddly futuristic.

It is a bit chunky, but still more convenient than carrying a phone plus tablet separately

[WaveFunction34]

Software is where things still feel like they're catching up. Some apps scale beautifully, others feel like they were never tested on a foldable at all.

When it works properly it's great, but the inconsistency is noticeable

[Anvil33]

Travel use is where foldables shine for me. One device for maps, entertainment, and reading without needing a separate tablet is convenient.

Long flights feel a bit less painful when you have a bigger screen in your pocket

[Pirlo]

The concept is brilliant and the tech has come a long way, but the price still makes me pause.

Seeing one unfold for the first time is definitely a cool moment, though after a few days it just becomes another phone you expect to work. At that point things like battery life and durability matter more than the wow factor.

Maybe another generation or two and they'll become an easier recommendation for most people.

[VoidSentinel66]

Funny how opinions split almost perfectly into two camps. People who own foldables tend to rave about them, while people who haven't tried one usually focus on the crease.

Spent a weekend borrowing one from a friend and after about ten minutes I stopped noticing the fold completely. The bigger concern for me was whether I'd be worrying every time I shoved it into a pocket.

That mental cost alone would stop me buying one today.

[StoneCold_99]

Travel use is definitely where they make the most sense.

Reading articles, checking maps, replying to messages and watching a video during delays all on one device sounds genuinely useful. Carrying one gadget instead of a phone and a tablet has a certain appeal.

Still waiting for prices to calm down before taking the plunge.

[Rachel93]

Part of me loves new gadgets, another part keeps asking whether the same money could buy a fantastic traditional phone and a decent tablet.

For the way I use my devices, that combination still seems better value. Foldables are clever engineering, but clever doesn't always mean practical for everyone.

Wouldn't say no if someone handed me one, though.

[Bob93]

One thing that rarely gets mentioned is software support.

The hardware gets all the attention, but the apps need to make proper use of the larger screen too. Some do it brilliantly, others just stretch the interface and call it a day.

When developers really embrace the format, that's when foldables start making much more sense.

[Gareth84]

Durability has improved loads compared with the first generation, but there's still a little voice in the back of my head wondering how it'll look after three or four years.

A normal slab phone already survives enough accidental drops and pocket abuse. Adding hinges and flexible screens naturally makes people a bit cautious.

Maybe that's unfair, but it's probably why plenty of buyers are still sitting on the fence.

[Matt75]

Newer foldables are much better than the early generations, but they still live in that awkward zone where the use case has to be deliberate. Nobody accidentally buys one the way they buy a normal phone.

The travel argument is probably the strongest one. If a single device can replace both phone and tablet for flights, hotel downtime, or reading in transit, that is a real convenience boost rather than just a spec-sheet flex.

What keeps me cautious is the same thing that always keeps me cautious with first-wave premium tech: repair cost, battery aging, and the possibility of paying extra for something that becomes "fine" after the excitement fades. That is a lot to ask from a device that already costs a small fortune.

So yes, they are getting good, but they are still for people who know exactly why they want one. Everyone else should probably let the category age a bit more and enjoy the fact that the future can wait on the shelf for a while

[IronQuarry]

Can't deny they're fun.

Every time someone opens one in public there's usually at least one curious person nearby trying not to stare. That novelty will wear off eventually, but right now they're still conversation starters.

Whether they're the future or just another branch of smartphone design is the part I'm still undecided about.

[SchrodingersCat55]

Have seen a couple of newer foldables in person and the biggest surprise was how normal they now feel when closed. That matters a lot more than it sounds like it should, because the "this is too weird to carry every day" problem was always the biggest obstacle.

Once open, they are still impressive, but the novelty wears off quickly if the software experience does not back it up. A big screen is great until an app decides to act like it has never seen one before

That is why the best reviews usually come from people who have very specific habits: lots of reading, split-screen use, note-taking, or long travel days. For that crowd, foldables can be useful instead of just expensive.

For everyone else, a good slab phone still wins on simplicity, battery confidence, and not making you do hinge maintenance in your mind every five minutes.

[CyberRider56]

Foldables are one of those categories that keep sounding like the future while still acting like the prototype stage got invited to the dinner table. The newer ones do seem better built than the early attempts, though, which is a polite way of saying they are less likely to make you question your life choices every time you open them

The main draw is obvious: big screen when you want it, normal phone when you do not. That is useful for reading, multitasking, and travel. The tradeoff is still the same old foldable tax, though: thicker bodies, battery compromises, and the occasional concern that the hinge is secretly judging you.

For daily use, the question is whether the folding bit solves a real problem or just creates a more expensive way to open WhatsApp. If the use case is strong enough, they make sense. If not, it is mostly paying extra for the privilege of being slightly more dramatic.

Would not buy one just because it looks cool, but for someone who actually uses the inner screen a lot, the appeal is real.

[Tia7]

Travel use is where foldables stop feeling like a gimmick and start making a bit more sense. Maps, boarding passes, books, and video all work better when you have more screen without carrying a tablet around like some kind of budget executive

That said, the newer models still need to earn trust. A foldable that is "fine" at launch is not the same thing as one that stays fine after a year of being stuffed into pockets, bags, and airplane trays. Durability is still the part people squint at.

The outside-screen experience matters too. If the front display feels cramped or awkward, the whole device becomes a compromise with a hinge attached. That is where some newer foldables improve, but the price usually climbs right along with the polish.

So yeah, decent option for travelers and multitaskers, less convincing for anyone who mainly wants a normal phone that happens to open like a small sci-fi prop.