It is easy to see smartphones as rectangular slabs that occupy your pocket wherever you go. The overall form factor of smartphones has generally remained the same for a very long time. OEM (Original Equipment Makers) have trusted the formula of elongating the display such that it occupies the maximum space while keeping the device’s length as less as possible. The result has been extremely large handsets that barely fit in your hand. This is about to change very soon as smartphones are now moving towards another trend. Samsung was the very first known OEM to gravitate towards a new form factor called the folding phone. Hence, there is much abuzz among consumers that foldable phones are going to be the next big change.
Essentially a tablet-style device that can fold into a candy-bar form factor is what Samsung gunned for. The initial response to the Samsung Galaxy Fold was a bit tepid, mostly because of its rather experimental nature and eye-watering price tag. However, with each passing iteration, the Samsung foldable has become less gimmicky and more consumer-focused. Are foldable phones the future and probably the next big change? Let’s find out.
What are foldable smartphones?
Also Read: 5 Best Foldable Phones To Buy Today July 2023!
Any smartphone or for that matter, device that possesses a screen that can fold, is termed a foldable smartphone. Now this does not mean devices with curved screens. Only devices that have flexible panels can be termed as foldable. The process of folding can happen in various ways, as has been demonstrated via the various devices launched over the past few years. There are smartphones that can fold inwards and outwards horizontally, and there are devices that can fold from the top down.
The folding process depends on what the user is actually looking for. Many users want just a regular smartphone experience but want to make it more pocketable and compact. For them, the top-down clamshell design will suit them better. There have been a fair few offerings in this form factor from the likes of Samsung, OPPO, and Motorola.
Also read: Top 5 Foldables to buy this Year
Other users want expanded smartphone utility with a giant internal screen and regular smartphone display on the outside. The device opens up to a small tablet-size screen with a large real estate for multi-tasking and proper power usage. Again Samsung appears to be at the top of the game as far as this form factor is considered. However, Xiaomi, OPPO, Huawei, Vivo, and more have also joined the bandwagon.
Cost of Foldables
The main point blocking the widespread acceptance of foldables is the incredibly high price tag they are sold at. This makes sense from a design standpoint since a lot of intricate parts and mechanisms are required to formulate a folding design, not to mention the screen itself which has to be made in a way that it lasts for a really long time. All these things take a bit of time to perfect and so initial costs of folding phones remained quite high.
Also read: Samsung’s Most-Costly Folding Phone Gets A Price Cut Of Rs 10,000
However, now we are starting to see a shift in the foldable phone market. As technology continues to advance and manufacturers gain more experience in producing foldable devices, we can expect to see improvements in manufacturing processes and cost reduction. This will likely lead to a decrease in the price tag of foldable phones over time. Already the likes Galaxy Z Flip 4, a device starting at more than Rs 1 lakh in its first iteration, is now selling a far improved version for about Rs 80,000. This is the first trend seen in smartphones where an iterative product has gone down in price rather than increasing.
Additionally, as competition in the market increases, more companies are entering the foldable phone space, which could drive prices down further. Increased competition often results in innovation and cost optimisation as companies strive to attract more customers. An example of this is the Moto Razr 40, which has brought in so much innovation as compared to the original Razr foldable. Competition will be very healthy for consumers to get the best product on offer.
Also read: Galaxy Z Flip4, Z Fold4 Launched As The Most Versatile Devices!
Moreover, as consumer demand for foldable phones grows, economies of scale will come into play. Higher demand and larger production volumes allow manufacturers to achieve cost efficiencies, reducing the overall production cost per unit.
How will foldable smartphones prove to be the next big change the mobile industry?
Here are some of the ways that foldable have the capability of revolutionising our smartphone experience and the industry as a whole.
- The larger screens offered by foldable smartphones can provide an immersive and more engaging user experience. Users can enjoy improved gaming experiences, better video viewing, and enhanced multitasking capabilities.
- Foldable smartphones give consumers access to larger screens, which can increase productivity. Users can smoothly switch between various tasks by utilising split-screen options, multi-window capability, and app continuity. This can be particularly beneficial for professionals who need to work on the go and require a larger display for tasks like editing documents.
Also read: Check Out Exclusive Details Of Galaxy Fold 4 And Z Flip 4 Here
- Manufacturers will start spending money on R&D to advance display technology, durability, and folding mechanics. This increase in innovation will likely result in improvements in hinge designs, flexible displays, and other smartphone-related technologies. Ultimately this will lead to a new era of smartphone computing.
- Other device categories may be impacted by foldable smartphones. For instance, they may have an effect on the tablet industry since people might choose to buy a foldable phone instead of a separate tablet. Effectively this will lead to a boom in the mobile market as more users gravitate towards smartphones for all their daily needs.
Summary: Foldable Phones Going To Be The Next Big Change
In conclusion, foldable smartphones have the ability to completely transform the mobile market by bringing novel form factors, improving user experiences, raising productivity, promoting innovation, and distinguishing goods. We may anticipate future profound changes in how we use and engage with mobile devices as technology develops and adoption rises.
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