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Does Anyone Here Think They Need a Foldable Phone

I see where Apple is going to release a foldable iPhone next year. Do you need one? I don't, But maybe someone on the go who doesn't have their computer with them might need to look as a spreadsheet or something. Also would you be willing to fork over $2000.00 for it?

Your thoughts.

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swirlie · 31-35
Unless Apple was successful in re-inventing the wheel, I suspect that Apple will suffer the same technical consequence as Samsung did with their folding phones.

The number one issue Samsung has today with folding phones is the hinge cracking and then seizing up like a rusty door hinge... and no, you can't WD40 it either or else you'll void the warranty as it shorts itself out! The electronic connection between both halves of the phone is made through the hinge. If you oil the hinge, you will short-circuit the phone.

When the hinge begins to dry out (because all hinge components are hard plastic), it begins to fail because the hinge pin is not made of metal. Eventually, the phone will not un-fold all the way flat either, but instead will lie on a table with wings slightly elevated looking like a bird in flight. If you force it to lie flat, you will suddenly have two cellphones lying on your table instead of one.

If that hinge ever requires replacement, it will cost you about $635 US to replace it unless you pre-purchased the insurance plan which can only be used once for a hinge replacement. During that replacement, the hinge is replaced as well as BOTH halves of the phone assembly which is why the 'fix' is SO expensive.

I looked seriously at buying a Samsung fold-phone but realized that when it's closed, the compact phone itself is quite thick compared to a standard width iPhone. This defeated my purpose for having a folding phone because I wanted the phone to simply 'go away' in my pocket but instead, it became a double of itself the moment I closed it!