Foldable phones have attracted attention thanks to their modern and innovative design, but after a period of use, some defects can become apparent that may affect the user experience. Foldable screens, while attractive, can be more susceptible to scratches and damage than traditional phones. Also, applications may not fully adapt to this design, causing discomfort during use. In addition, some users experience issues with battery life, as performance may degrade over time, reducing the benefit of the unique features these devices offer.
I've been using a flip phone as my primary computer for over six months now. This means I logged many hours on my phone, and while I certainly like what the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has to offer, there are still downsides to foldable phones that are impossible to ignore. Check out my experience using a foldable phone instead of a PC.
1. Foldable phones are less durable
My phone feels rock solid. I won't deny it. I've dropped it a few times, and so far it's been fine. It feels as sturdy as any other phone I've owned.
However, the fact remains that when moving parts are involved, more things can break. In the future, something may go wrong with the hinge. If you look for photos of damaged foldable phones, you'll usually find lines of broken black pixels along the fold of the foldable screen.
Foldable phones also have lower IP ratings than tablets. My phone can handle submersion in water, but it's not ready to handle dust and sand. Although the internal screen is great for reading e-books, a phone that folds into a book shape may not be the best way to read books at the beach.
2. You have to pay more
Because foldable phones have an external screen and a giant internal screen for unparalleled screen real estate, they are more expensive than traditional tablet phones. Many of us expected the price to drop by now, but for now, foldable phones are still hovering around $2,000 in the US.
However, there are ways to get around this price. The Galaxy Z Fold, Pixel Pro Fold, and OnePlus Open were all launched with trade-in deals. The second-hand market is more tempting. I bought an unused, unboxed Z Fold 5 for less than a thousand dollars.
With a flip phone, walking into a carrier store or Best Buy isn't your best option. Their prices are too high for most of us. Do your research and look for the best deal instead. Check out Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Galaxy S23 comparison: Should you switch to a foldable phone?
3. Inappropriate placement of buttons
I don't have this problem with my Z Fold 5 because the buttons on it seem to fit perfectly. However, I have been using the Moto Razr (2024) for a while. After unpacking the device, I found the placement of the buttons to be one downside of foldable phones that I didn't expect.
What's the problem? The power and volume buttons are placed at the top on the side of the device as they are on most phones. The buttons should be either above or below the hinge. There's no way around this, but it's a bit stressful to click on.
4. Unconventional aspect ratio
All foldable book-style phones feature screen shapes that are uncommon, but they're particularly notable in the Galaxy Z Fold series, where the outer screen is narrower than that of tablets. As a result, whether I'm using the internal or external display, the display doesn't offer the aspect ratio that most apps expect.
Honestly, this isn't a problem most of the time; Apps generally scale well, especially on Samsung phones, because One UI scales apps to any size. But when watching videos and playing games, the aspect ratio looks weird.
While you might think that a larger screen would be better for video, this only applies to videos with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Standard 16:9 videos (such as movies and TV shows) appear only slightly larger than those on tablets, with thick black bars at the top and bottom.
Some games fit into any aspect ratio, but many don't. A number of games have issues on a non-traditional screen, which is what I encountered when trying to play Iron Marines (Certain UI elements expand beyond the screen.) Other games work in letterbox format, just like movies. Overall, it's not a great experience.
5. Poor cameras
Despite the higher Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (and Galaxy Z Fold 6) has less capable camera hardware than the less-priced Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 Ultra. That's because there isn't much room for powerful camera hardware in a phone with two halves that have to be thinner than your regular phone when unfolded. Since foldable phones tend to be thicker when folded, it's also not ideal to have a huge camera bump on the back.
While the technical challenge makes sense, it hurts to pay more money and not get the best camera hardware a smartphone manufacturer has to offer.
Do I think the other advantages of a foldable phone outweigh the disadvantage of a weaker camera? For me, definitely. After all, the Z Fold and other book-style foldable phones still take better photos than most Android phones out there. It's just lower compared to the best flagship Android phones available.
Aside from all that, I still enjoy using my flip phone. None of its flaws are a drawback for me. Right now, the advantages offered by foldable phones make it difficult for me to switch back to a tablet. Now you can see why I love using a flip phone every day.
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