Will Foldable Phones Eliminate Tablets In The Long Run?

Samsung has announced the Galaxy Fold as its first foldable smartphone. At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019, Huawei had unveiled the Mate X foldable phone. Various manufactures such as Apple, Microsoft, Xiaomi, Oppo, Motorola are rumored to be working on their iterations of foldable phones. With new foldable phones in the pipeline, tech enthusiasts are speculating that it will take over tables in future.

Foldable phone is small enough to slip in a pocket whereas a tablet is bigger, and it can be easily tucked inside a bag when traveling around. Tablets are usually heavy because of the battery weight. The battery in a foldable phone is smaller and therefore it is lighter to carry. A foldable phone will not make your hands tired if you want to hold it for long hours to play games or watch movies. The display of the foldable phone is also comparable with tablet. For example, the Galaxy Fold, when unfolded can reveal a big display of 7.3 inches.

As stated above, multiple Android manufacturers will also be coming up with their own versions of foldable phones this year. According to ZDNet, Google is also in the process of upgrading the Android platform so that it will offer more optimal user experience for foldable phones.

Some foldable phones have a gap in the middle hinge that join two parts together which can disturb the user's screen viewing experience. However, one should also consider it is a benefit as there is less risk of cracked screen experience, Android Authority reported.

The Galaxy Fold is priced at $1,980, whereas the Mate X costs 2,299 euros ($2,620). At present, foldable phones are pricey and people who earn a mediocre income may not be willing to invest their money on such devices. On the other hand, people with deep pocket along with desire for latest cool gadgets may be interested in getting a foldable phone. Currently, various manufacturers are selling tablets for as low as $200. Hence, unless the prices of the foldable phones drop significantly, it is unlikely to replace the tablet market.