For years, I dismissed foldable smartphones as expensive novelties—clever engineering wrapped in a gimmick. The crease down the middle, the bulky hinge, the premium price tag that felt harder to justify than a designer handbag: none of it added up to a device I’d actually want to use daily. But after spending extended time with both Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold series and Apple’s long-rumored entry into the foldable market, something shifted. The practical benefits have finally caught up to the promise and for the first time, I can genuinely see myself carrying one—not as a tech enthusiast showing off, but as someone who values a seamless blend of portability and screen real estate.
This isn’t about hype or speculation. It’s about what happens when two of the world’s most influential tech companies refine a concept through generations of iteration, listening to user feedback, and solving the very problems that made early foldables frustrating. Samsung, having shipped over 10 million foldable devices since 2019 according to its 2023 annual report, has turned its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip lines into reliable mainstream options. Meanwhile, Apple’s reported development of a foldable iPhone—potentially launching as early as 2026 based on supply chain analyses from TrendForce and Display Supply Chain Consultants—signals that even the company known for waiting until a technology is mature sees value in the form factor.
The turning point for me wasn’t a single feature, but the cumulative refinement of everyday use cases. Multitasking on a foldable isn’t just possible anymore; it feels intuitive. Running three apps side by side—Samsung DeX mode turning the Fold into a pseudo-laptop experience, or using Apple’s rumored adaptive iOS interface to drag and drop between Messages, Notes, and Safari—reduces the constant app-switching fatigue that plagues traditional smartphones. The larger unfolded screen, now routinely exceeding 7.6 inches diagonally on Samsung’s latest models and expected to match or surpass that on Apple’s prototype, transforms media consumption, reading, and light productivity into experiences that rival small tablets, all while folding down to a pocketable size.
Durability, once the foldable’s Achilles’ heel, has seen measurable improvement. Samsung claims its latest Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) and Armor Aluminum frame can withstand 200,000 folds—equivalent to over five years of heavy use—based on internal testing detailed in its 2024 sustainability report. Independent teardowns by iFixit have confirmed advancements in hinge design and dust resistance, though the company still rates water resistance at IPX8 only, meaning no official dust protection. Apple, known for its rigorous reliability standards, is reportedly delaying its foldable launch until it can meet or exceed the IP68 rating of its current iPhone lineup, according to multiple analyst notes from TF International Securities and Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities.
Price remains a barrier, but the gap is narrowing. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 starts at $1,799, a significant drop from the $1,980 launch price of the original Fold in 2019. Trade-in programs and carrier subsidies frequently bring effective costs below $1,000. Apple’s foldable, if it follows the company’s premium pricing pattern, could start at $1,799 or higher—but given Apple’s history of leveraging economies of scale, a price drop within 12–18 months of launch is plausible. For context, the average selling price of smartphones globally was $363 in 2023 per Counterpoint Research, making foldables still a premium niche—but one increasingly justified by utility rather than novelty.
What Changed: From Novelty to Necessity
The early promise of foldables centered on having a tablet-sized screen that could fit in your pocket. That vision never fully materialized because the software didn’t match the hardware. Android’s initial multitasking was clunky; app developers ignored the unique aspect ratios; and the crease was a constant visual distraction. Today, Samsung’s One UI and Google’s ongoing work to optimize Android for large screens—evident in the stable release of Android 14’s improved taskbar and persistent dock—have made the unfolded experience sense cohesive. Apps like Microsoft Office, Adobe Lightroom, and even popular games now adapt fluidly to the Fold’s 7.6-inch main display when unfolded.
Apple’s potential entry raises the stakes not just for competition, but for ecosystem cohesion. If Apple launches a foldable iPhone, it would likely bring iPad-level app continuity to a phone-sized device—imagine starting an email on your foldable during your commute, then seamlessly continuing it on your MacBook via Handoff, all without changing devices. That level of integration, combined with Apple’s industry-leading software support lifecycle (typically five to seven years of iOS updates), could address one of the lingering concerns about foldables: long-term value.
Critics still point to the crease as a dealbreaker, and while it’s visible under certain lighting, user reports and professional reviews from outlets like The Verge and CNET suggest it becomes less noticeable with time—much like how early adopters stopped seeing the notch on iPhones after a few weeks. More substantively, Samsung’s latest Fold models have reduced the crease’s visibility through improved layering of the UTG and polarizer, a detail confirmed in display analysis reports by Ross Young of DSCC.
Who Benefits Most—and Who Should Wait
Foldables aren’t for everyone. If your smartphone use is limited to calls, texts, and light social media, the added cost and complexity offer little return. But for power users—those who juggle communication, document editing, media consumption, and light creative work on a single device—the advantages are tangible. The unfolded screen provides a canvas large enough for comfortable reading and annotation, yet the device remains small enough to use one-handed when folded, a balance traditional large-screen phones struggle to achieve.
Travelers, students, and mobile professionals stand to gain the most. Imagine replacing a phone, small tablet, and even a lightweight laptop for certain tasks with one device that adapts to your needs. Samsung’s DeX mode, which allows the Fold to connect to a monitor and function as a desktop-like environment, has matured significantly, with wireless DeX now supported on many smart TVs and monitors. While Apple hasn’t announced an equivalent for its rumored foldable, the company’s existing Sidecar and Universal Control features suggest a similar vision could be realized.
That said, waiting for the next generation remains a valid strategy. Samsung typically releases new Fold and Flip models annually in late summer or early fall, with the Z Fold 6 expected in July 2024 based on historical patterns and leaks from reliable sources like Ice Universe and @FrontTron on X (formerly Twitter). Apple’s timeline is less certain, but multiple supply chain reports point to a 2025 or 2026 launch, giving early adopters time to observe real-world performance and software maturation.
The Road Ahead: What to Watch For
The next wave of innovation in foldables won’t just be about screens getting bigger or hinges getting stronger—it’ll be about software catching up to the hardware’s potential. Google’s continued investment in Android’s large-screen optimizations, including better drag-and-drop support and persistent app pairs, is critical for Samsung’s ecosystem. For Apple, the challenge lies in adapting iOS—historically rigid in its interface assumptions—to a device that fundamentally changes shape during use. Patents filed by Apple in 2022 and 2023, publicly available via the USPTO, reveal explorations of adaptive UI elements that resize and reposition based on fold state, suggesting deep consideration of this challenge.
Battery life remains a practical concern. Powering two displays (even when one is idle) and a more complex hinge system demands efficient energy management. Samsung advertises up to 21 hours of video playback on the Z Fold 5’s 4,400 mAh battery—a figure verified in lab tests by GSMArena—but real-world usage with multitasking often falls short of that. Apple’s rumored foldable would need to match or exceed the iPhone 15 Pro’s all-day battery performance to be competitive, a challenge given the increased power draw of larger flexible OLED panels.
Environmental impact is another factor gaining attention. Samsung reports that its 2023 Galaxy Z series used increased amounts of recycled materials, including ocean-bound plastic in certain components, per its annual sustainability report. The company also offers a trade-in program that refurbishes or recycles old devices, reducing e-waste. Apple’s environmental goals—including its commitment to carbon neutrality across its supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030—would likely extend to any foldable device, though specific details remain unpublished.
For now, the decision to buy a foldable comes down to whether the benefits align with your habits. If you find yourself constantly wishing your phone screen were larger for reading, working, or creating—yet balk at carrying a separate tablet—the math is starting to favor the foldable. The devices are no longer prototypes searching for a use case; they are refined tools proving their worth in real-world scenarios.
As Samsung prepares its next Unpacked event—historically held in August, with invitations typically sent four to six weeks prior—and Apple continues its reportedly quiet development cycle, the foldable market is poised for its most competitive phase yet. The coming months will reveal whether Apple’s entry accelerates mainstream adoption or if Samsung’s continued refinement alone will push foldables past the tipping point.
What’s clear is that the skepticism I once felt has evolved into cautious optimism. The foldable phone isn’t just surviving—it’s finding its purpose. And for the first time, it’s one I’d seriously consider slipping into my pocket.
If you’ve used a recent-generation foldable or are weighing your options, share your experience in the comments below. What features matter most to you—and what would make you take the leap? Don’t forget to share this article with anyone still on the fence about whether foldables are worth it.