10 Reasons to Invest in a Foldable Phone & 10 Reasons It's Better to Stick with Slab Phones
10 Reasons to Invest in a Foldable Phone & 10 Reasons It's Better to Stick with Slab Phones
New Tech or Tried-and-True?
Sure, foldable phones seem cool, but are they really made for everyday usage? How durable or reliable are they, apart from looking futuristic and innovative? And are they really better than traditional slab smartphones? If you're wondering whether you should start jumping on the trend and investing in one, we're here to let you in on all the pros and cons.
1. Tablet Screen Without the Tablet Size
The annoying thing about phone tablets (also known as "phablets") is that you can't really put them in your pockets. They're too big to be called a regular smartphone, yet too small to be compared to real tablets. With foldable phones, however, you can get the best of both worlds: unfold for a tablet-like size, snap back together to pocket into your jeans.
2. Great for Productivity
Need to get work done in a jiffy? With a foldable phone, you can easily open two apps and take advantage of the split screen. No more flipping between different apps! This built-in multitasking ability will immediately boost your productivity levels.
3. Great for Multitasking
But the split-screen function isn't just great for productivity—it makes multitasking easy, too. Want to watch a movie while scrolling through social media? You can do that without sacrificing too much screen space, such as on a regular smartphone.
4. Immersive Media
Admit it: watching videos on your smartphone is great, but it'd be better if the screen were a little bigger. Well, with a foldable, you can finally have a more immersive experience without needing to pocket a tablet-size mammoth. Simply flip it open to watch, then close to put it back in your bag.
5. Sits Up on Its Own
Sure, you could buy a griptok for a foldable phone, but you no longer have to. Being so flexible, slim, and compact, you can grip it more easily than regular slab phones. When you need to prop it up, you simply fold it and rest it on a surface; no need for other accessories to do the trick.
6. Better Design as Tech Advances
The first few foldable phones you might have seen in previous years may have looked gimmicky and unreliable, but the tech around it is quickly advancing, meaning the designs you see now have changed dramatically. The best part? It'll only get better from here on out.
7. Different Ways to Take Photos
Regular smartphones require you to hold them up to take a photo. That, or you'll need to place it on a tripod in order to take a picture hands-free. With foldable phones, however, you can simply fold it, and it'll sit up all on its own to take the shot.
8. Better Reading Experience
Enjoy reading but don't necessarily want to invest in an e-reader? Get a foldable phone instead. Not only will you be able to do what you regularly do on a smartphone, but you can also unfold the screen to get a better, more immersive reading experience.
César Abner Martínez Aguilar on Unsplash
9. Versatile Uses
Foldable phones don't just have one main screen; many designs now feature a front screen, too, meaning you can close your device and it'll function the same as a regular slab smartphone. Some may even include smaller screens that allow you to place your most important widgets—weather, calendar, clock—front and center.
10. Investing in Future Tech
Foldable phones are the future. In a couple of years, this design will likely be the norm, and you'll see it more and more until everyone has switched over. Sure, you might still want to wait a while before investing (that way, you get the more refined, advanced technology), but if you're the type who likes to try out new things before others, this is the time to dip your toes in.
Not convinced? As great as foldable phones are, we don't blame you. In fact, there are valid reasons why you should stick with your regular smartphone for a while longer.
1. No Unreliable Screen Protectors
Unless you get two separate screen protectors for a foldable phone, you're bound to see creases and cracks the more you fold and unfold them. Traditional slab smartphones, on the other hand, rarely need a new screen protector for regular use.
2. Don't Need to Worry About Hinge Durability
Foldable phones might seem innovative and fun, but as reliable as their hinges are, there's still the possibility that they may fail. This means they're not as durable as regular smartphones, and you may need to replace them sooner than you think.
3. Not as Fragile
Drop a traditional smartphone, and your screen might crack, but drop a foldable phone and it might be rendered unusable. With so many mechanics making it work, it just takes one accidental drop to break a foldable, and worse, repairs can be fairly costly.
4. No Bulky Build
As compact as foldable phones can be, they're still bulkier than regular slab smartphones. If you don't like the extra weight and thickness, you might opt to stick with traditional phones than invest in a foldable.
5. Expensive, But Not Foldable-Phones Expensive
Traditional smartphones can be pricey, but foldable phones, considering they're still new and feature innovative designs. If you have a tight budget and want to buy something reliable and durable, it's probably better to stick to regular slab phones.
6. Better Battery Life
Traditional smartphones have better battery life than foldables, and that's because only one screen needs to be powered. Foldables not only have extra screens but, due to their form factor, may also not be able to hold bigger batteries.
7. Reliable Software & Experience
If you're looking for a phone that has reliable software and will give you a smooth, error-free experience, stick to traditional smartphones. Because foldable phones are still new to the market, they may have optimization issues that will likely persist until their form factor becomes the norm.
8. No Screen Crease
Don't like seeing that dip in your screen? If that's the case, it's best to stick to regular slab phones. Since foldable phones are, well, foldable, this crease may persist in the design for at least a little while longer. Even if future models make it seem imperceptible, the more you use it, the more you'll notice the distinct line.
9. More Accessories & Choices
Traditional smartphones have numerous accessories and cases to choose from, but foldable phones have fewer options. You'll likely have to wait until the latter becomes the norm before you start to see more choices out on the market.
10. Foldable Phones Are Still Evolving
Foldable phones might be innovative, and that alone may make you want to jump on the trend, but they're still evolving. Investing too early might mean you'll see durability issues and a lack of software optimization for a while. If you want to avoid that, stick to traditional smartphones for now.
