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Over the past few years, a large tech company has been steadily making its folding phone better. The latest version, with its bigger front screen and slimmer design, was a big step forward. But there's still room to grow for the next model.
Since the first one came out in 2020, these folding phones have come a long way. However, I'm hoping for a longer battery life and better cameras that can compete with their top-tier phones. The most important thing, though, is improving the software. The latest front screen, with its quick information display and ability to run any app, is a good start. But I believe the company can do more with special features just for this phone. Pair that with a less noticeable crease in the screen – and the usual upgrades like a new processor – and the next version could be the best phone out there.
They usually release new folding phones in the summer, and we expect the same this year. Here's what I think they should do to make the next one really shine.
Special and Practical Software Features
The company clearly understands that software is almost as important as the hardware for folding phones. That's why they've always had a feature that splits apps between the top and bottom of the screen when it's half-folded. Since then, they've gradually added more things the software can do.
For example, in 2022, they added the ability to use the bottom half of the screen as a mouse pad for easier navigation. And in 2023, they made the front screen much bigger, which makes the phone more useful when closed.
These are definitely good improvements, and the bigger front screen makes a stronger case for having a phone that folds. But overall, there's a lot more they could do with the software. While the split-screen feature makes apps usable when half-folded, it doesn't really give a strong reason to buy a folding phone in the first place.
When it comes to what this company should do with their folding phone's software, I don't have all the answers yet. But now that they're putting more focus on their new AI system, there's a lot of potential.
In my review of their latest top-tier phone, I mentioned that they missed a chance to create special AI features just for that model – maybe something that takes advantage of the stylus. The same could be said for their folding phone. AI features made specifically for the unique folding screen could really help it stand out, especially with more competition from other companies.
One of their executives hinted that they might tailor certain AI features to different devices in the future. He said they want to create special experiences for each design, not just copy and paste the same thing.
They could also make the front screen more useful. As I mentioned before, only some apps work directly on the front screen of their current folding phone. Apps also don't move smoothly between the main screen and the front screen like they do on a competitor's phone.
I understand why they did this; if you close your phone, you're probably done using it for now. But it would be nice to have the option to continue where you left off, maybe by tapping an app icon.
I like that they didn't just make the front screen a smaller version of a regular phone screen. That being said, what I've seen so far feels like they're just scratching the surface of what's possible with a small, second screen that fits in your palm.
A Better Camera Experience
This company's folding phones aren't known for having their best cameras, but I'm hoping that changes. The current folding phone has 12-megapixel wide and ultrawide cameras, while their regular top phones have a higher-resolution 50-megapixel main camera.
I'm not expecting the same camera quality as their ultra-premium phone, which is marketed towards photography enthusiasts. But they should at least bring the next folding phone up to speed with their standard top phones.
If the rumors are true, they might do just that. There are reports that the next folding phone will have a 50-megapixel camera. While camera quality may not be the main reason to buy a folding phone, a phone that costs as much as the current one should have a camera that's on par with other high-end phones.
Refining the Fold: Design, Longevity, and Power
The design of this folding phone has definitely gotten better over time. For example, in 2023, they added a new hinge so it folds completely flat with no gap. Before that, they made the outside more durable.
However, the crease in the middle of the screen hasn't changed much. It's a bit less noticeable compared to the previous model, but it's still quite visible. Getting rid of it completely is probably a big challenge, especially if they don't want to raise the price. But other companies are making progress in this area. One reviewer barely saw the crease at first and had to tilt the phone at a certain angle to really notice it.
Long-Term Software Updates
With their latest top-tier phones, the company stepped up their game when it comes to software updates. The new phones will get seven years of updates, just like another company's latest phones. That's three more years compared to their other recent phones.
They should do the same for their next folding phone. A phone that costs a lot should last as long as possible, and software updates are a big part of that. The good news is that they usually follow the same update schedule for their top phones, so the next folding phone will likely get the same seven-year treatment.
Better Battery Life
They gave their latest top phones bigger batteries, and I hope they do the same for the next folding phone. They haven't increased the battery size since the previous model, which got a boost compared to the one before that.
The current folding phone's battery lasts a full day, but there's always room for improvement. For example, when I used it while traveling last year, I had about a quarter of the battery left after a long day of taking pictures and looking up directions. That's pretty good and seems similar to their standard top phone.
But based on my colleague's usage, the larger version of the top phone (which costs the same as the folding phone) lasted two days on a single charge. Even if the next folding phone doesn't make that big of a leap, it would be nice to see some improvement, whether it's from a bigger battery or more efficient power usage. However, it's worth noting that the folding phone has an extra small screen that uses power, which could make it harder to extend battery life.
Overall, I'm hoping for a mix of expected improvements, like better cameras and longer battery life, along with new features made just for the next folding phone. The current one is already one of the best, if not the best, folding phone you can buy. Now, it's about what they can do next to stay ahead of the game.
