For the past few days, whenever I go out, I always carry my latest Samsung phone. Of course, this is for testing purposes, but I also like to play fun games when I meet people I know. I took them all out and put them in front of the man to see his reaction.
But surprisingly, there’s still something in the insect brain that makes the shell form factor interesting. This Samsung phone has had an impact on us for decades. Maybe it was a shot of relief. It’s also possible that we all face a lot of unbearable phone stress. Over the past decade, screens and phones in the home have become larger. This is an unexpected trend in the world of electronics, especially when it comes to the devices we carry.
Somewhat surprisingly, the compact feature serves a completely different purpose. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip doesn’t let you take a tablet with you. The 6.7-inch Flip display is much more flexible when opened than the 7.6-inch Fold display. Same as the iPhone Pro Max and slightly less than the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. In 2020, it won’t be a big-screen phone.
But the ability to grab it, put it in your pocket and take it with you has widespread appeal. It helps that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is a great product. It sounds good and makes sense – after the initial novelty wears off, it’s the practical use. We performed genetic testing in the early days of phablets. In short: whether placing the device in a jeans pocket makes a big difference. Surprisingly, in an era of unprecedented body-to-screen ratios, the answer is no.
Fortunately, as screen sizes continue to increase, technology has been able to reduce the size surrounding the Samsung phone screen. It’s easy to see folding as the next step in this evolution. We have less and less things in our pockets. Samsung phones can do many things; Such as credit cards, ID cards, and increasingly keys. For those of us who still carry wallets (criminals), losing weight is very important. Samsung may not know it at first, but it is developing a solution to the huge mobile phone trend sparked by its manufacturing.
Wearables provide such a future. Aside from the initial complaints about the first-generation Samsung Galaxy Fold, the two biggest problems are 1) the front display is very limited, and 2) it’s large and heavy. The company has come close to solving the first problem (I’ll save that for my next review), but the second problem remains.
One of the selling points of mobile devices is their relative portability, which manifests itself in a different, larger and heavier form factor. It’s easy to see future updates that address the Samsung Fold’s relative weight issue and might change the overall look of the device, but for now, the Flip can be easily overcome. It’s too early to tell if the clamshell form factor is the future of foldable devices, but it’s safe to say the future is now.
The Samsung device still comes with a nearly useless home screen. It’s still 1.9 inches and has a resolution of 512 x 260. At first glance, the hardware limitations are obvious. It is used almost exclusively for information – weather warnings, clocks, calendars. There are widgets you can add, but this is a way to see information at a glance without unlocking your phone.
I appreciate the design language the company is using here, and the matte finish on the outside of the glass feels nice to the touch. Samsung is also on the way.