Book-style foldables now a mainstream trend
Expect diminishing returns with future generations.
As Oppo shows off its upcoming Find N5 smartphone, the book-style foldable is now a mainstream form factor that's here to stay.
Oppo has been teasing its latest flagship foldable, set to be officially unveiled later this week. Unlike previous releases, the Find N5 will be sold globally at launch.
Benefits of foldables
In 2021, I contributed a piece to the Straits Times outlining the benefits of foldables. Four years later, the benefits of getting one have stayed the same:
- Run two apps side by side.
- Read magazines on Libby app.
- Review PDFs and spreadsheets.
- Browsing website in "desktop" mode.
- Pair with keyboard for on-the-go writing.
Except now the hardware is significantly better.
Slowdown in improvements
Indeed, refinements have started slowing down of late as book-style foldables gain maturity. Over the last couple of years, improvements have mainly revolved around:
- Less visible crease.
- Slightly slimmer devices.
- Minor reduction in weight.
- Water and dust resistance.
The only thing that hasn't changed though, would be its exorbitant prices. Then again, an Apple iPhone Pro 16 (512GB) is almost SG$2K, similar to the Honor Magic V3.
To foldable or not?
I personally love the ability to review PDF files or photos on a larger screen, as well as use the Obsidian mobile app to write when I'm away from my desk.
Do you see a use for a foldable or do you currently own one? For the latter, what do you love most about it?