Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

Here's a summary of the themes discussed in the Hacker News thread, with direct quotes:

Enhanced Reading Experience

A significant theme is the foldable form factor's ability to improve the reading experience, often replacing the need for a separate tablet or e-reader. Users find the larger screen allows for more comfortable and productive reading.

"Primarily because I've never done as much reading as I've done in the past month with this phone. Removal of friction here has been such a game changer when it comes to productive use of my phone - now when I would doom scroll otherwise I just unfold my phone and do a bit of reading." - wraptile
"Plus, you no longer need to deal with buying and maintaining a separate device like an iPad! This is why I suspect Apple is dragging its feet on the foldable category, besides letting the screen technology mature." - ZeroCool2u
"My first hand experience is that I will probably never be able to go back to a non-folding phone. The ability to get a small tablet on demand anywhere (subway, train, bed, couch, etc.) is really the next technological breakthrough we were waiting for." - baby
"I use it a lot to read PDFs and watch videos, or when U want to multi task with two apps open at the same time (e.g. filling forms with a pic of my passport on the other screen). I also read mangas from it." - baby
"For me, the most compelling use case I've seen for foldables is book reading. When you have that much screen real estate you can get a really enjoyable experience reading a novel or just easily read a textbook or research paper in a way that's simply not possible on even the largest of what you might consider a typical size phone." - dkobia
"Reading PDFs is the biggest case. PDFs do not (typically) dynamically reflow in a way that's usable and generally suck to read on a small screen as a result." - packetlost
"I get a lot less eye fatigue when I use a bigger screen at a larger distance." - e-khadem

Durability and Longevity Concerns

A recurring concern is the perceived or actual durability of foldable phones. Many users express skepticism about their long-term reliability, citing potential for screen damage, hinge issues, and overall fragility.

"Yup, a friend of mine has been into folding phones for some years now, and he warned me that these foldables seem to last about two years before something happens." - bartvk
"I got a second hand Fold 4 for $700... it lasted a year before the wifi/bluetooth broke, it stopped folding all the way, and eventually stopped booting up." - rjh29
"My Fold 5 developed a bubble under the screen protector after about 18 months. I sent it into Samsung through the website to get it repaired. Whoever "repaired" it, just seemed to slice the screen protector down the middle with an knife so it had a big ugly line down the center. Predictably, it was full of bubbles again within a week. I'm not even bothering opening it anymore for fear that it will break the inner screen." - rcarr
"Between this and the fact that I had another two Samsung phones that developed hardware faults making them unusable after 2 years of use, I'm absolutely done with Samsung." - rcarr
"I have had a fold 3, and now a fold 6. The screen protectors are easily replaceable yourself. It's the only weakness on the phone I've found, and a cheap ($17ish) wear item." - lallysingh
"Samsung literally tells you not to replace the inner screen protector yourself." - AshamedCaptain
"I had a flip 3 and flip 5 which both had screen and hinge problems within a year." - broast
"My flip 5 inner screen is currently unusable so I'm stuck using the small square cover screen which I'm enjoying quite a bit too." - broast
"I know less than ten people with foldable phones, but without fail they all claim that the screen is durable, but I have yet to see any foldable phone without a cracked screen after a few years." - exac
"The big downsides are price of $1999 launch price as compared to $999 launch price for the iphone 16 pro and durability. For durability, the foldable screens seem to be very soft making it easy to damage, say with a thumbnail." - bhelkey

Alternative to Slab Phones and Small Phone Preference

For some users, foldables represent a desirable alternative to traditional "slab" phones, particularly for those who prefer smaller devices that can expand for a larger screen experience. This is particularly relevant given the decline of smaller smartphone options.

"I’m happier to stick to a cheap phone with a small screen to minimise the urge to use it (second-hand iPhone 13 Mini), and carry around a Kobo for reading needs." - robin_reala
"Me too, but this option is disappearing. As our minis reach end of life, I don't think we'll have other "small" options than foldables, unless you're willing to go for super niche android phones (eg unihertz)" - williamdclt
"Hopefully the foldables become more resilient by then" - williamdclt
"Ever wanted a smaller phone? That's a flip phone, it just happens to expand when you need it." - rubzah
"If you're into smaller phones, they're a good option" - ls-a
"What I meant was using the outer screen while folded (e.g. Z Flip models)" - ls-a
"Oh that does look interesting! [...] May have to get my hands on one some time and see how it feels." - coldpie
"If they made a flip style iPhone that closed smaller than the mini and opened to similar size or only a bigger, I’d definitely buy it." - dontlaugh
"My mom and uncles all use extremely large font sizes, they’re barely able to see a whole text at once and they check pictures by traversing them while highly zoomed." - kace91
"I'd be tempted by a foldable iPhone if (and only if) they have a stylus, but I don’t expect them to." - wlesieutre
"The iPhone Air will quite likely be successful, but it's also plainly a gimmick." - Apocryphon
"It’s funny you think I’m bragging. Here is the thing, people are buying foldables only to show off, the functionality/usefulness makes no sense for the vast majority of people. Which is why they are still expensive and it will stay that way." - seec
"baby: Folding phone user here, you will have one in the next 5 years for sure"
"baby: All phones are ugly, but folding phones bring such life improvements that nobody seems to care. I bought mine because it's useful, it's weird to read that someone would think that it's a status symbol."
"The Fold 7, new this year, is hardly clunky. It's less than 1mm thicker than an iPhone Pro when folded and is only 4.2mm when open where it has an 8" screen. It's surprisingly un-clunky." - asadotzler
"For me personally, it's my travel machine. I've done all sorts of things with it on the road. From SSH to using Photoshop to make some last minute edits. It (barely) fits in my pockets so I don't even need a bag for it. Probably my favorite machine ever at least in terms of form factor. Screen size does seem to be a personal choice. For me, I've always liked small screens for portability." - wishfish
"My normal international travel load-out is a backup smart phone + an 8" LTE tablet with eSIM + bluetooth keyboard. It's about as minimal as I can get while still having a real keyboard and functional screen size to handle travel logistics." - Marsymars
"The 8" screen is surprisingly not bad when closed, and you can do quite a bit with it without unfolding." - Marsymars
"I used to have a fold 3, and now a fold 6. The screen protectors are easily replaceable yourself. It's the only weakness on the phone I've found, and a cheap ($17ish) wear item. " - lallysingh
"I've had a flip 3 and flip 5 which both had screen and hinge problems within a year. I love the form factor but just don't take it to the beach." - broast
"My flip 5 inner screen is currently unusable so I'm stuck using the small square cover screen which I'm enjoying quite a bit too. I don't know if my next phone should be a flip phone or a small phone, but nothing gets as small or as good hardware as the front cover of these flip phones, vs other small phones" - broast
"I also got the Clicks physical keyboard case for it, which turns it into a modern Blackberry type phone. I love it. The physical keyboard means no on-screen keyboard taking up your external screen space. I only actually open my phone a few times a day, which really helps keep doomscrolling at bay." - 542354234235

Status Symbol and Perceived Gimmickry

Several users view foldable phones as primarily status symbols or unnecessary gimmicks, questioning their practical value for the average consumer and their high price point.

"They're like expensive cars. Do not own one without a warranty" - ls-a (quoting a comment)
"As soon as the new model comes out, swap it in" - ls-a (quoting a comment)
"They are not for the financially conscious. Those things are kind of a status symbol'" - ls-a (quoting a comment)
"Personally I think they're ugly. They might have some functional advantage, that I don't know. I believe they're going to be the cyber truck of mobile phones, primarily a status symbol." - jrs235
"It's funny you think I'm bragging. Here is the thing, people are buying foldables only to show off, the functionality/usefulness makes no sense for the vast majority of people. Which is why they are still expensive and it will stay that way." - seec
"Fundamentally, foldables are niche products for tech geeks or people who like to show off, they will stay niche, just like VR and 3D before them. " - seec
"I find folding phones interesting for what they so aptly demonstrate about life in general: no matter how hard you try, you can't have it both ways." - seec
"I hope the iPhone Air is successful. Folding phones seems so obviously a gimmick. A year from now many of these relatively affordable folding phones will be e-trash, and social media will be full of complaints and retrospective wisdom about how they could never have been reliable." - Zigurd
"Though I agree with you that a larger reading screen would be very nice, I doubt such an experience on a device that offers endless digital distractions will reverse this downward trend [in reading]" - RyanOD
"And yes, this is precisely why they are a social status thing. You have to be quite affluent to buy something so practically stupid, you are basically burning cash." - seec
"I guess you can unfold it to get a bigger 2-part screen? That's about it? I'd imagine that having it be un-foldable compromises the battery life, overall thickness (when folded) and weight to at least some extent - plus it costs way more. Is the additional screen real-estate really worth that?" - Night_Thastus
"If your eyes are young and you only use the phone alone. If you are older you need reading glasses for small screens. If you are showing a video to someone else you need a larger screen to see detail. Of course not knowing you or your uses I can't say if this should matter to you. Still it seems like a nice idea not a fad. Only time will tell if people really want it once the fad is over." - bluGill
"Maybe the hype is for the same reason a lot of people buy mechanical watches. It's not about the function, it's about the status that comes with owning something expensive and a bit unnecessarily complex." - pinkmuffinere
"It doesn’t appeal to me either, but I’ve often heard 'functionality, taken to an extreme, becomes fashion'. I think that might be what’s happening here. There are some cases in which you might want a foldable phone. But even if you don’t need it, a (good) foldable phone becomes a status symbol." - pinkmuffinere
"The iPhone Air will quite likely be successful, but it's also plainly a gimmick." - Apocryphon
"This is the same reasoning behind people buying luxury sedans that dont necessarily have a better user experience than cheaper cars. You're paying for the badge and the feel." - jrs235

Samsung's Reliability and Software Experience

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the reliability of Samsung phones, with several long-time users reporting hardware failures after a couple of years. This leads to a general distrust of Samsung's long-term hardware quality, with some users considering a switch to other brands or ecosystems.

"Seem to always have reliability issues with Samsung phones. Hopefully the 6th iteration is more stable." - rjh29
"I had another two Samsung phones that developed hardware faults making them unusable after 2 years of use, I'm absolutely done with Samsung." - rcarr
"Between this and the fact that I had another two Samsung phones that developed hardware faults making them unusable after 2 years of use, I'm absolutely done with Samsung." - rcarr
"Yeah I had my samsung phone brick after three years. Not sure I trust samsung hardware either." - Agentus
"Most my phones are the low end free-to-get-you-to-sign-up models. AT&T doesn't have low end Motorolas so I bought an unlocked, guaranteed to work with AT&T, sub $300 one directly off motorola.com and took it to the AT&T store. So far it's left me alone." - ourmandave
"Low-end Android all have the same nagging adware or if they're not nagging they're definitely selling your data way more than flagships where customer UX is a priority." - FirmwareBurner
"I have got Samsung S25 Edge which is essentially Samsung's version of iPhone 17 Air few months ago. Only thing (software wise) which has really been showed down my throat is Bixby and Gemini. No I don't want your stupid AI, get deleted. Other than that, I can't complain about anything." - general1465
"I spend a lot of time on every new device, using ADB to purge as many samsung apps as I can. I'm getting tired of doing it." - tassadarforaiur
"baby: I switched to Android last year, from being a long time iPhone user, just for the fold. I got the google pixel fold 9 pro. I also got lucky as it's right when all the cool AI integration started (and it sounds like it doesn't really work on Apple)." - baby
"My first hand experience is that I will probably never be able to go back to a non-folding phone. The ability to get a small tablet on demand anywhere (subway, train, bed, couch, etc.) is really the next technological breakthrough we were waiting for. I think the pricing and the battery kinda suck, android also doesn't have the same polish as iOS, but most of the criticism that I've read is not really relevant (for example, I can't see the crease at all if I look at my phone)" - baby
"wffurr: >> android also doesn't have the same polish as iOS As someone who switched from using Android for many years to iOS for the iPhone Mini, this seems to be all about what you're used to. The lack of polish on iOS for many features, notifications and quick settings first among them, makes me crazy but not enough to deal with a huge phone. Android's had the notification shade with integrated settings since just about day one and it's a killer feature." - wffurr
"abandonliberty: I was really surprised when I first got an iPhone. After all the hype about it being so intuitive and polished, it was just different. Some things better, some things worse. But Apple devices take a bit longer to go obsolete, and seem just a tiny bit less invasive as they don't rely on an advertising model for revenue." - abandonliberty
"dotancohen: For the few months that I had to use an iPhone in addition to my regular Android phone, I also tried to convince myself that some things were better and some things were worse. But the iOS keyboard was completely unusable for me as a power user, and it cannot be replaced. I was missing so many features of Gboard." - dotancohen

Camera Capabilities and Dedicated Cameras

The discussion touches on the camera performance of foldable phones, with some users lamenting that they don't match the quality of flagship slab phones. This leads to a consideration of carrying a dedicated camera for better picture quality.

"The only drawback is the camera but turns out it's much easier to carry a dedicated camera (Canon g7xm3 in my case) than a dedicated reading device / tablet." - wraptile
"If you prefer to carry a dedicated camera in addition to a phone, aren't you a far outlier? To the point that one of the most common sayings in photography is 'the best camera is the one you carry' (even when it's the sub-par one)." - creer
"The phone camera is still very much functional but it's not newest gen Pixel. It probably matches most 2-4 year old slab phones. The slab cameras are actually very much in right now and my g7x I had for 5 years now has risen in value which basically never happened with cameras before." - wraptile
"If you make a lot of selfies then the camera is actually better. When making selfies on a regular phone, you use the front-facing camera which is often sub-par. But with the Samsung Folds, you use the main camera for selfies (you flip open the phone, and see the viewfinder on the outside screen)." - bartvk

Innovation and Competition in the Foldable Market

Users discuss the evolving foldable market, with some praising recent innovations and others noting Samsung's perceived lack of progress. Competition from Chinese manufacturers like Honor is highlighted as a driver of innovation.

"Samsung is no longer leading the pack for folding. They refuse to innovate; Fold 7 is almost identical to Fold 4. Cameras are sub-par and they removed pen support. Meanwhile Honor Magic V5 has pen support on both screens, top of the range cameras, silicon-carbide batteries, and is 4.1mm thick unfolded!" - rjh29
"Yes, it's 30% thinner... it still has no innovation with cameras, new battery technology, and removal of pen support? I am not comparing it to apple, I'm comparing it to Honor, OnePlus/Vivo, Xiaomi - China has far more development in the folding phone sector at the moment. Their phones have been consistently thinner and lighter and Samsung is only just beginning to catch up." - rjh29
"Samsung Folds 1-6 are kinda bad, much worse than competitors. Samsung Fold 7 is really good, so are Honor phones (V3, V5). Honor folds are sold on Amazon in Europe. Currently own V3 one, 1 year in, so far so good, feels really sturdy." - out_of_protocol
"If you attached 2 iPhone Airs, you'd have a chonky foldable at 11.2mm getting into territory where people complained with the previous Samsung. Samsung's current, Fold 7, is 8.9mm closed. Turns out you can actually go thinner than a thin slab like Samsung Edge (5.8mm) or iPhone Air (5.6mm) because you can move components out of one side and put them in the other, including battery. This lets Samsung build a foldable that's 4.2mm when open, meaningfully slimmer than either the Edge or Air." - asadotzler
"My guess is Apple's book-style foldable will be ~4mm open and ~8.5mm closed and just edges out Samsung's Fold 8 when they ship next year." - asadotzler

Apple's Potential Entry into the Foldable Market

There's considerable speculation about Apple's approach to foldable phones, with some anticipating their eventual entry and others suggesting their "iPhone Air" concept might be a precursor. There's also debate about how Apple might handle durability issues compared to other manufacturers.

"Hopefully by that point Apple will do another small(ish) phone release for people who are holding out." - robin_reala
"Hopefully as well for another 4 years. After that, I hope Apple has glued two small iPhone Airs together and made a foldable." - mikestew
"The iPhone Air will quite likely be successful, but it's also plainly a gimmick." - Apocryphon
"The IFA announcement about the iPhone Air is effectively Apple signaling that they are preparing for a foldable future." - j_maffe
"If you attach two iPhone Airs with a hinge and a little extra screen to create one seamless display, and boom, there's your folding iPhone." - n1b0m
"If they made a flip style iPhone that closed smaller than the mini and opened to similar size or only a bigger, I’d definitely buy it." - dontlaugh
"Apple are in a bind here since the bend/crease will degrade over time. Other manufacturers get a pass on this sort of stuff (just look at Pixel phones not making emergency calls for a prime example), but apple will be hit with fines and class action lawsuits." - thebruce87m
"They will not get fines and lawsuits if they make a foldable phone with a display that degrades over time. This will 100% happen. When it does I will come back and post here." - thebruce87m
"They never got any significant fine for bendgate, 'you're holding it wrong', problematic butterfly keyboards or secretly slowing down iphones due to degraded batteries." - hu3
"Apple are in a bind here since the bend/crease will degrade over time. Other manufacturers get a pass on this sort of stuff (just look at Pixel phones not making emergency calls for a prime example), but apple will be hit with fines and class action lawsuits." - thebruce87m
"Apple sometimes manages to wait out bad ideas: they never gave into the bad idea of touchscreen "convertible" laptops, just conceding the touch bar which is now extinct." - Zigurd
"Wait until Apple comes out with a folding phone, they'll say it was the plan all along lol" - j_maffe
"Just like Apple released touchscreen laptops, amirite? They were a bad idea and a crime against ergonomics." - Zigurd
"I wasn't trying to be generous. I was making a nod toward something like malicious compliance." - Zigurd
"It's funny. When/If Apple releases a foldable iPhone, suddenly most of these critics will think it's the greatest idea ever." - hu3
"But Apple devices take a bit longer to go obsolete, and seem just a tiny bit less invasive as they don't rely on an advertising model for revenue." - abandonliberty
"Samsung's market share went up. Thats all we know. The rest is a catchy headline." - MBCook
"I also got lucky as it's right when all the cool AI integration started (and it sounds like it doesn't really work on Apple)." - baby
"wffurr: >> android also doesn't have the same polish as iOS As someone who switched from using Android for many years to iOS for the iPhone Mini, this seems to be all about what you're used to. The lack of polish on iOS for many features, notifications and quick settings first among them, makes me crazy but not enough to deal with a huge phone. Android's had the notification shade with integrated settings since just about day one and it's a killer feature." - wffurr
"dotancohen: For the few months that I had to use an iPhone in addition to my regular Android phone, I also tried to convince myself that some things were better and some things were worse. But the iOS keyboard was completely unusable for me as a power user, and it cannot be replaced. I was missing so many features of Gboard." - dotancohen
"I used to take notes on my Newton MessagePad back at a time when college professors would not allow folks to use laptops for notetaking --- agree, in addition to folding, you pretty much need a stylus for note-taking (and for an Apple Pencil, I'd worry about the "tick" one gets each time it's touched to the screen)." - WillAdams
"I'd give a lot for a competitor to the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i which used a Wacom EMR stylus, or for a phone which used a standard Wacom EMR stylus." - WillAdams
"beAbU: Everyone is forgetting that Apple had a foldable phone in 2014/15" - beAbU
"They're joking about "bendgate" (the iPhone 6 was not very rigid)." - daemonologist
"Seems like people in this thread cant take a joke." - beAbU
"I think the pricing and the battery kinda suck, android also doesn't have the same polish as iOS, but most of the criticism that I've read is not really relevant (for example, I can't see the crease at all if I look at my phone)" - baby
"Could be catching up. ["Foldable phones are selling like hot cakes outside the U.S. but I don't know about the U.S. market."] " - ls-a
"My Fold 5 developed a bubble under the screen protector after about 18 months. I sent it into Samsung through the website to get it repaired. [...] I'm not even bothering opening it anymore for fear that it will break the inner screen. [...] I'm preordering an iPhone tomorrow and selling the Samsung." - rcarr
"Might get an Apple foldable depending on what the initial reports are like on durability after it's been around for a couple of years." - rcarr
"I'd be tempted by a foldable iPhone if (and only if) they have a stylus, but I don’t expect them to." - wlesieutre
"I used to have a fold 3, and now a fold 6. The screen protectors are easily replaceable yourself. It's the only weakness on the phone I've found, and a cheap ($17ish) wear item." - lallysingh
"But the iOS keyboard was completely unusable for me as a power user, and it cannot be replaced. I was missing so many features of Gboard." - dotancohen
"I'm not sure if some sort of predictive text gets in the way or what. Or maybe something with the spacing. Or it also seems like some sort of thread priority issue because there are times where I can distinctly tell that there’s some sort of input lag that’s messing with it. Gboard is crippled on iOS — why can’t we just have a damn comma on the main screen?!" - whycome
"I swear the keyboards accuracy has turned to absolute shit. I am convinced through my experience that they have definitely changed something and made it terrible. It’s making me consider getting an android cos that’s how we use our phones - with a keyboard." - dav43

User Experience and Form Factor Preferences

User experience with foldables is varied, with some appreciating the multi-tasking capabilities and unique interactions (like the "tent mode") while others find the form factor to be a compromise. The ability to use two apps side-by-side effectively sparks discussion, as does the desire for a truly integrated stylus. There are also mentions of the convenience of using the outer screen for quick tasks.

"When you have that much screen real estate you can get a really enjoyable experience reading a novel or just easily read a textbook or research paper in a way that's simply not possible on even the largest of what you might consider a typical size phone." - dkobia
"Even in general use, having it slightly bent towards you is a nicer experience that a fully flat phone." - rubzah
"The ability to get a small tablet on demand anywhere (subway, train, bed, couch, etc.) is really the next technological breakthrough we were waiting for." - baby
"Multi app works pretty well too, when I need to cross reference between apps throwing them each up on the split halves is way better than swapping back and forth." - vvanders
"The big future that I see for foldables is as tablets for note takers. Microsoft and Apple have already proven that students are willing to shell out the money to buy $1000+ products just to take hand written digital notes on. If Samsung or someone else could create a foldable that's in the ~$1500 range that can fold out into the size of an ipad mini AND has a good pen usage and storage situation, I believe it will sell incredibly well." - sky2224
"I'd be tempted by a foldable iPhone if (and only if) they have a stylus, but I don’t expect them to." - wlesieutre
"The form factor doesn’t lend itself to storing a comfortably sized “pencil” along with the phone, and god forbid an Apple accessory exist that doesn’t feel perfectly integrated with the product it goes with." - wlesieutre
"I agree, in addition to folding, you pretty much need a stylus for note-taking (and for an Apple Pencil, I'd worry about the "tick" one gets each time it's touched to the screen)." - WillAdams
"I used to take notes on my Newton MessagePad back at a time when college professors would not allow folks to use laptops for notetaking --- agree, in addition to folding, you pretty much need a stylus for note-taking (and for an Apple Pencil, I'd worry about the "tick" one gets each time it's touched to the screen)." - WillAdams
"I'd give a lot for a competitor to the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i which used a Wacom EMR stylus, or for a phone which used a standard Wacom EMR stylus." - WillAdams
"The back and forth between folded and unfolded to read messages and watch movies/read a book was mesmerizing. It made me realize that this form factor could actually enhance the user experience in a meaningful way." - dkobia
"Imagine that you need to grab your laptop or your tablet because you need a larger screen, now you can just do that from a small movement" - baby
"The ability to use the back camera for selfies while being able to see myself is so great I use that all the time." - baby
"The external screen works almost like the internal screen, making it extremely easy to use. Samsung locks down their external screen pretty hard and you need a lot of work arounds that still don't give me the same functionality as the Razr." - 542354234235
"The big future that I see for foldables is as tablets for note takers." - sky2224
"I'd like a foldable if it had as nice cameras as my current phone." - jemmyw
"And yes, this is precisely why they are a social status thing. You have to be quite affluent to buy something so practically stupid, you are basically burning cash." - seec
"They might have some functional advantage, that I don't know." - jrs235

User Behavior and Phone Usage Habits

The discussion explores how foldable phones might influence user behavior, with some users suggesting that the act of unfolding a phone can act as a deterrent to excessive scrolling, turning a passive habit into a more intentional activity. Others note that people in assisted living facilities find them beneficial due to larger screens and easier manipulation.

"Removal of friction here has been such a game changer when it comes to productive use of my phone - now when I would doom scroll otherwise I just unfold my phone and do a bit of reading." - wraptile
"I got one of the newer lowend Razrs. It wasn't that expensive, less than a base model iPhone and it actually helps me use my phone less because it takes intention to actually open it." - goosedragons
"The physical keyboard means no on-screen keyboard taking up your external screen space. I only actually open my phone a few times a day, which really helps keep doomscrolling at bay." - 542354234235
"For me, I've always liked small screens for portability. I'm the weirdo who actually got work done on the first gen Asus EEE PC and didn't mind it. But I can understand that wouldn't be for everyone." - wishfish
"It made me realize that this form factor could actually enhance the user experience in a meaningful way." - dkobia
"I don't WANT to do things on my phone, I actually want to use it less - a foldable offers the alternative deal, where you want to and actively use your phone for more and more tasks forgoing other devices." - thewebguyd
"If your eyes are young and you only use the phone alone. If you are older you need reading glasses for small screens. If you are showing a video to someone else you need a larger screen to see detail." - bluGill
"Folding phones were very popular with everyone at the facility. If your vision isn't the best and maybe your hands aren't so steady, having double the real estate makes a big difference." - jasonwatkinspdx
"And yeah, being able to make the letters huge is a big deal. Also being able to dictate texts or emails was also huge for a lot of the people there. Much more convenient for them." - jasonwatkinspdx
"For me, it's the first true upgrade in the design of a phone in a long time. It's not a slightly better CPU or battery, but a different way to work with this key device in my life. I think it will be the default phone format in ~5 years, especially for younger people." - sheepybloke