Thinking about a foldable phone? Check these 7 things first
Foldables are no longer experiments, but they still involve trade-offs. Seven things to check before spending flagship money.
With Apple’s iPhone Duo joining Samsung, Google and a crowd of Chinese brands, foldables are going mainstream. They are also expensive and a little different to live with. Check these seven things before you buy.
1. Book or flip?
There are two main designs:
- Book-style foldables open into a small tablet. Great for reading, multitasking and video. They are heavier and thicker than a normal phone.
- Flip-style foldables fold a normal-sized phone in half to fit a pocket. They are about compactness and style rather than a bigger screen.
Decide which problem you’re solving before comparing models.
2. The crease
Every foldable has a crease where the inner screen bends. How visible it is varies a lot by model, and it’s more noticeable at angles and under bright light. Look at one in a shop, with the brightness up and a white background, before you commit.
3. The outer screen
On book-style phones, you’ll use the outer screen most of the time. Check that it’s a comfortable size for typing and that apps look normal on it, not squeezed.
4. Durability and water resistance
Hinges and folding screens are more delicate than a slab phone. Check:
- the IP rating (water and dust resistance; many foldables resist water but not dust),
- whether the inner screen has a factory screen protector, and if you are allowed to replace it yourself, and
- the manufacturer’s stated fold count rating.
5. Repair costs and warranty
An inner-screen replacement can cost a large fraction of the phone’s price. Look up out-of-warranty repair prices, and consider the manufacturer’s extended protection plan. For foldables in particular, it’s often worth it.
6. Software support
A big inner screen is only useful if apps make use of it. Look for good split-screen multitasking, apps that resize smoothly when you unfold, and the number of years of OS and security updates promised.
7. Weight and battery
Book-style foldables are often noticeably heavier than standard phones, and two screens need more power. Check real-world battery reviews as well as capacity figures.
Verdict
If you read a lot on your phone, work across several apps at once, or want a phone that doubles as a small tablet, a book-style foldable is the better choice. If you want the best camera or battery for the money, a traditional flagship is still the safer buy.
