Is it still meaningful for today's major digital manufacturers to compete fiercely in the foldable screen market?
Have you noticed that mobile phone manufacturers have been collectively silent in recent years? No matter how high the refresh rate, how fast the charging, or how bright the screen is, people just glance at the specifications, nod, and then go back to watching shows on their old phones.
However, there is one thing that can still catch people's attention: the foldable screen. When it unfolds, it seems like you're not just opening a phone, but uncovering a "possibility." It's like the only variable in a dull life, a bit strange and a bit new.
To put it bluntly, the foldable screen is the hope that the mobile phone industry has forced itself to create.
The competition in the market for straight - edged phones has reached a dead end. Everyone knows that if they want to move forward, they have to come up with a new form. So, the screens are bent, hinges are introduced, and the interaction is split in two.
1. It seems expensive, but actually, you're spending patience, not just money
Those who have used foldable phones know that it's not just about being expensive. The cost is specific. The hinge doesn't feel reliable, you can feel the crease in the middle of the screen even if you can't see it clearly, and many apps just don't work well on the large unfolded screen.
But even so, there will be a moment when you think it's worth it.
For example, when you're on a high - speed train and use the split - screen function to read documents and chat on WeChat, or when your friend says, "Wow, this little thing is so delicate," you'll briefly think that your purchase was worthwhile. Manufacturers think the same way.
In recent years, several major digital companies have invested a lot of money and resources in this area, as if they're secretly competing to see who can smooth out the creases first and who can make the foldable phone lighter. But everyone knows that it still has a long way to go before it's perfect.
But they also understand that if they don't come up with something new, the mobile phone industry will be as boring as household appliances like rice cookers. It will be safe, reliable, but uninteresting, and every household will have the same thing.
2. Is the foldable screen really useful?
Just looking at the hardware, it's getting better and better.
It's lighter, thinner, has a larger battery, faster fast - charging, and a stronger imaging system. If you hold a vivo X Fold3 Pro, a Huawei Mate X5, or a Honor Magic V3 in your hand, you can really feel the high - end quality. In fact, they're even lighter than some flagship straight - edged phones.
But what about the system software? It still has some room for improvement.
After many apps are opened on the large screen, the proportion is incorrect. One of the two windows may freeze, and the other may be blurry.
When you want to use WPS for office work, it automatically splits the screen, making you feel like you're back in the Windows XP era.
The video call on WeChat doesn't open in full - screen mode by default, and you have to manually enlarge it. For many small vertically - foldable phones, although the outer screen is large, you can only preview one - third of the operations.
3. Where are the technical bottlenecks?
Two words: hinges.
The hinge is the soul of the foldable screen and also the biggest source of uncertainty. Currently, the mainstream ones are made of aviation alloy and use the water - drop hinge design. Whoever can make a hinge that is light, strong, durable, and inexpensive will be the winner in the next round.
Secondly, there's the issue of system adaptation. Everyone is working on large - screen operating systems, but there are still very few that are truly user - friendly. In the Android camp, manufacturers still rely on optimizing their own UIs. To put it simply, making a large screen isn't just about stretching the interface; it requires re - engineering the interaction logic.
Another factor restricting the development of foldable screens is the thickness of the Type - C port. It seems that the ideal thickness of a foldable screen won't be less than the combined thickness of two Type - C ports. Unless this port is completely abolished and wireless charging is used instead, the foldable screen won't reach its full potential.
Then there's the problem of screen creases. All manufacturers claim that the creases are "almost invisible," but after using the phone for a month, you can still feel them, which is a bit of a psychological burden, like using a credit card with a hidden scar. Finally, there's the anxiety about the lifespan. If you fold the phone ten times a day, that's 3,650 times a year and 10,000 times in three years.
Manufacturers claim that it can withstand 500,000 folds. Do you believe it? You might, but they might not.
4. Will it become popular in the future?
In the short term, no.
It's not light enough, not cheap enough, and not a must - have item.
Just like the full - keyboard phones disappeared without a trace, the foldable screen may also end up being a passing fad. Maybe it will become a niche market unicorn, such as a customized office terminal for business travelers or an integrated external display for photographers.
Unless Apple enters the market. Only then will the foldable screen have a chance to break into the mainstream.
After all, you can question Apple's technological pace, but you can't deny its right to define what's "mainstream." The current situation is like a dinner party where everyone is waiting for the host to start eating. But Apple may not necessarily do well with foldable screens. Whether it's folding vertically or horizontally, there are many challenges.
5. The foldable screen hasn't saved the world, but it hasn't come in vain
If you ask who the foldable screen is for, actually, it's not for a specific group of people. It's not just for business elites to use for split - screen office work, nor is it just for selfie - loving girls to play with the outer screen. It's for those who are still willing to try something new.
It's for those who don't want to change their phones every year but still can't help but be attracted to the foldable screen; it's for those who think there might be a second way to use a phone. You can say it's not practical or that it's not mature, but at least it's making an attempt.
We've long been used to the idea that smartphones look a certain way. The foldable screen is one of the few exceptions that can break this default setting. It may not become the mainstream, but it makes the mainstream nervous. In fact, to some extent, the foldable screen won't become the mainstream; it's just there to create a sense of crisis for straight - edged phones.
Just like electric cars have forced traditional car manufacturers to develop pure - electric vehicles, and tablets have supported the large - screen entertainment market, the significance of the foldable screen isn't to make everyone change their phones. It's to keep the industry on its toes. The foldable screen makes people think again: What is a mobile device? How can the screen change? Should the interaction be redesigned? We don't have the answers to these questions yet, but the questions themselves are valuable. In an era where everything is highly competitive, it's not easy to still ask, "Can it be better?"
6. Finally, let's be honest
Do you think the foldable screen is worth buying? It's similar to buying a watch, a camera, or pursuing a hobby that's not easy to maintain. It's not a necessity, but if you really want to try it, it won't disappoint you.
The creases may still be there, and you can just take the claim of tens of thousands of folds in the specifications with a grain of salt. If you've ever gone to a physical store to repair your phone and asked about the repair situation of foldable phones, the staff will probably advise you to wait a bit. The system isn't fully adapted yet, and the price is still high.
But compared to those upgrades that only focus on specifications, the progress of the foldable screen in each generation shows that the people working on it are serious. Manufacturers aren't taking it lightly, and users are also starting to pay more attention.
I think the foldable screen isn't the future; it's a delicate transition. After getting tired of the same - looking smartphones, it's like a special technological concoction offered by manufacturers. You may think it's not as refreshing as an iced Americano, but some users may be tempted to have more. Because it looks really high - end.
This article is from the WeChat official account "Sensai Planet." Author: Sensai Sensai. Republished with permission from 36Kr.