3 reasons why a foldable phone makes sense (P) - Alba24

If you're a tech buff, you've probably heard of the foldable display technology that allows products like the Samsung Fold phones to have flexible screens. Although the technology has been around for a while, it has yet to become mainstream. But that could be about to change. Major phone makers have patented or released prototypes of products like the Samsung Fold, and some have even indicated that this will be the year they finally release a foldable phone.

What's interesting about these foldable phones is that they're actually so innovative they almost seem weird.

And yet, do foldable phones have the potential for real profits and economic value? Let's analyze.

Keeping telephony truly mobile

75% of the world's population and 98% of adults now have a mobile phone. A big reason for their near-ubiquitous use is that they've allowed us to stay connected while we're on the go. But this popularity has also given rise to a contrasting trend: the desire for larger screen sizes. This is contrasting because as phone screens grow in size, it becomes difficult to keep them in our pockets and still be a mobile phone. Imagine if your phone was twice the size (thanks to a bigger screen), could you carry it just as easily? Probably not.

This is where a phone with a foldable display like the Samsung Fold can come in handy. With screen sizes pointing in one direction – up – being able to fold them may be the only way to keep the mobile economy going.

Reduce spending on household technology items

3 reasons why a foldable phone has sense (P) - Alba24

An important reason for the emergence of phones with larger screens was the emergence of tablets. From watching high-definition movies to playing 3D games to simply browsing the Internet, tablets have made us attached to larger screens. It's no secret that every household has at least one tablet and 10% have at least two of them.

However, foldable phones like the Samsung Fold could undoubtedly provide a tablet-like experience and virtually eliminate the need for tablet purchases, thus reducing household gadget expenses. Of course, some people will always own a tablet, but for those who bought it just for the larger screen size, they may be tempted to cut back on future tablet purchases.

Reduce decision fatigue

If you travel a lot for work, you constantly have to decide which device - phone or tablet - to take with you. Although it seems like a simple decision, when it is added to the hundreds of other decisions we make during the day, we reach something that psychologists call decision fatigue.

Decision fatigue is a condition where making a current decision impacts our ability to make future decisions. As humans, we can make a finite number of well thought out decisions. And beyond a certain point, we tend to make mistakes, including irrational ones. In fact, decision fatigue is now understood as one of the causes of irrational trade-offs in decision making. It's also one of the reasons why people like Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg have chosen to wear the same clothes every day: they have one less decision to make every day – what to wear?

With a foldable phone like the Samsung Fold that can double as a tablet, we too will have fewer decisions to make during the day – which one to use?

Of course, the above points assume that the phone's foldable displays will be as good as those of regular phones. That they will provide a viewing experience as smooth as their larger counterparts. That they won't degrade in quality or longevity when we bend, twist or fold them multiple times.

Only time will tell if this will indeed be the case. But even though foldable phones may not be perfect to begin with, there's a good chance they'll eventually reach the desired standard.

The latest articles on alba24

Keeping telephony truly mobile

Reduce spending on household technology items

Reduce decision fatigue

Leave a comment