Foldable: The New Generation Of Smartphones

Samsung, Huawei and other major names show their hands.

- Benjamin Kerry & Gavin Lenaghan

Let’s take a guess at the above question – it sounds cool, but you probably can’t see the benefit yet, right? The fact that this was the general public perception before many of humankind’s most influential technological innovations gives you an idea of just how big foldable smartphones could be. From the idea of early mobile phones themselves to the concept of the World Wide Web, the “cool, but…” mindset has predated countless technological revolutions.

However, the same could be said for the famously ill-fated Sega Dreamcast, 3D TV, and Airbus A380 too, so it’s not an exact scientific formula for predicting success. So, great numbers of us – especially those with $1,980 to spare – will be wondering which way foldable smartphones will go, now that Samsung has officially unveiled its Galaxy Fold.

This, however, isn’t the question to be asking. The phone will go on sale, it will sell, it will have pros and cons, and it will cause a splash – sink or swim – when it hits stores on April 26. The big question is what this will mean for other developers, including Apple. For example, Huawei has already announced that the Mate X will be released later this year, so with China and South Korea leading the way in foldable smartphones, what next for the U.S. tech giant – and the rest of us?

IT MAY BE FAR FROM A FOLDABLE ‘FLASH IN THE PAN’

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