Ask Lemmy

I posted this a while ago, so I'll paste it here from my old comment.

I bought a Z Fold 2 in 2020 and still use it today. Battery life is great, screens are still great (both outer and inner). I always have a cheap case for it that covers the front screen. I have dropped it twice outside on the concrete ground and the cheap case broke, but NOT the phone, so I just bought another case each time--to me, that's what the cheap case is for. I really like it and will probably get another version at some point, but here are my main takeaways:

• Outer screen is very slim (think almost TV remote-sized). I have gotten used to it but God forbid you hand it to someone else to type on, they always say it's too small

• It's too long for my pockets, but I'm a woman that wears women's clothes, and our pockets are too damn small for anything, so I have to carry it in my purse

• The screen protectors it comes with do start to fray at the edges over time, but I have never had it bubble up at the folding point/crease on the inner screen

• If you are not known for being delicate with your phone, this is not the phone for you. If you work outdoors regularly, have a tendency to drop your phone regularly, etc, don't buy this

• It's expensive

• Not all apps are compatible with the big screen so sometimes you're stuck with the small screen view on the big inner screen

• Having a portable tablet is great! I got rid of my tablet when I bought this phone and have no regrets

• It's great for driving when using Google Maps or whichever driving app you choose. Having the big screen makes it so much easier to see the directions

• Any video looks better on the big screen

• I have used the big screen to view maps I downloaded for hiking

I've got a Z Flip 4 I've been daily driving for almost a year and a half now. The folding is quite convenient, especially with quick launch apps for like payments, but the main problem is the screen cover is peeling along the crease. It can be replaced but there's no service centres in my city so I'd have to mail it

I have a razr with big external screen. I like open to answer and close to hang up, it's satisfying.

But I really like that when its closed, it is a nice little device when I just need a little device. Also nice to fit in pocket.

I kind of like the concept of using it as a stand or tent, but frankly it won't stay "on" Long enough for me to get that much use out of it, even when plugged in.

Downsides have been the battery not lasting as long, and once in a great while I pinch myself a little when opening it. Also if I'm trying to wirelessly charge it in my car while also doing Android auto it tends to overheat a bit, but doesn't when I actually plug it in.

Lot of comments omin this thread! So this will prob get buried but here goes!

A couple years ago my phone suddenly died of old age. I had seen a YouTuber who had a folding phone (unrelated to the topic of the video) which I thought was wild looking. I found out that it was called a Z Flip 4 and bought it on a whim...hoping to have a phone that finally fit in my pocket. I loved the thing. It's gimmicky, sure, but fun. And I loved how a modern phone could finally fit in women's pockets.

I had it just under a year before I had a crazy deal to upgrade to the Z Flip 5. I have had this one around a year now and I have been really enjoying it. It was such a massive improvement over the 4 due to the huge cover screen when folded as opposed to just having a tiny screen only useful for briefly checking notifications. I'm not upgrading this year though. Planning to stick with the 5 for a bit I think!

It's silly...but it's fun to see some people's reactions when I pull out my phone in public.

Battery life is not the best in the market, but still perfectly serviceable imo. The Z Flip 6 is being released soon with a bigger battery.

When I first got my Flip 4, I didn't know that Motorola also had a folding phone model in this form factor. But I was jealous of their bright colors when I found out lol.

I would like to see more phone manufacturers try for models in this form factor. Personally, models that unfold out to become tablet sized are just far too chunky and expensive for me. I don't really have a need for such a large device in my pocket all the time. Not sure why so many manufacturers are only into the phone+tablet folding phone model (ex: Google). It's incredibly expensive and they are missing out on some of the market by limiting themselves imo.

Had a fold 3 since launch 3 years ago. It's the best phone I've ever used. Software is brilliant and clearly a focus for samsung. The big inner screen is amazing for work and games as well as browsing. Well worth it.

The crease is just a non-issue. People see it from an angle and they think it looks bad and that it would bother them, but i assure you, when you are using the phone yourself and its facing you, like all phones that you are currently interacting with are facing you, you cannot see it. After using this phone for 3 years, i can honestly say i forget its even there.

Anyone complaining about the crease has almost definitely never used one of these phones. I hear the complaint and i can only drawn that conclusion. Its like saying you dont like a certain food that you have never tasted.

There are downsides to the fold phone that the flips wont have. Like the fold 3 is a bit heavier than most normal phones and it has sometimes been an issue when using my phone lying down somewhere as it can be cumbersome to hold up at arms length.

Also the strange aspect ratio means that video is too small to play on the outer screen and doesnt fill the inner screen. You get black boxes at the top and bottom, so video is always a little bit smaller than the inner screen. This doesnt affect games, it seems that 99% of games support the aspect ratio and often give you some level of advantage.

This would not be true on the flip phones as they have a normal screen size when open.

Incidentally, next week i am buying the fold 6 and locking in for another 3 years on a contact. If that is any endorsement.

Edit: reading throught the comments here i noticed a consistent pattern.

Those who have the folding phones cant recommend them enough and say they are the best phones they ever bought.

Those that dont have one but have a friend that has one are saying dont get one as they look bad.

(Of course there are some exceptions on both sides but a quick mental tally, and it seems that what im saying is true)

If you want to weigh in, then maybe own or have owned one before deciding they are good or bad. Your friend might disagree with your concerns about their phone.

Yes, I've had the Samsung zFlip 4 for a year and a half. It's great, my phones used to always fall out of my jacket pockets, but the center of gravity of the folded phone is much more stable and I don't have that problem anymore. Can fit easily into my front overall pockets too which is nice. Screen feels much safer as well, since it's usually closed.

(I work outdoors, with overalls a lot)

My only issue with it is the lack of a headphone jack and lack of a removable battery, and it gets overheating issues when I'm outside on hot days - but so has literally every phone I've had. Outdoor worklife is tough on phones.

There is a visible crease, and some friends have mentioned that the fold line would bother them. Personally it doesn't bother me.

The snap close is especially fun, too.

And I like how I can have it propped up in the L position, nice way to have a little screen playing YouTube videos in the background while I work.

Yes. I've used the razr flip. Which was probably the best phone I've ever had. Glorious device. Loved the foldable screen.

I also use a pixel fold. Which is a piece of shit. Software is buggy. Hardware is poorly arranged. Generally hate using it.

Used to work with a few people in the animation industry who had them.