It’s no secret that the smartphone world is constantly changing, but now increasing numbers of developers are looking back to the past for inspiration. Over the years, companies have experimented with numerous different styles. This approach has seen many concepts come and go, but it hasn’t stopped foldable phones from making a comeback.
In 1996, Motorola released the StarTAC phone, which kick-started the flip phone craze. However, it wasn’t until the early-2000s that the concept took the phone world by storm. In 2004 and 2005, Motorola followed up the StarTAC with the Razr V3 and the Pebl, respectively. At the time, the craze was revolutionary, although it was overshadowed towards the end of the decade by Apple’s iPhone. But, flip fans, fear not, as the phenomenon is back!
Making an Unexpected Comeback
Flexibility and smartphones don’t traditionally go hand in hand, but that hasn’t stopped developers from reinventing the flip-phone movement. It comes as no surprise that Motorola was at the heart of bringing foldable phones back to the market. After leading by example during the mid-2000s, the American telecommunications company released an updated version of the Razr on October 2nd, 2020.
Unlike in years gone by, however, Motorola had to tackle the difficulty of combining the flip motion with advanced screen technology. To combat the issue, they created a zero-gap hinge that protects the screen when closed. The updated Razr combines modern-day smartphone advancements with the nostalgic appeal of flexibility. At the time of writing, the mobile will set consumers back around £1,199, and this is predominantly because of its complex folding mechanism.
Motorola’s contributions throughout the 21st century opened the door to new concepts, and smartphones folding along the horizontal axis hit the market in 2018. The first commercially available phone of this type came from Royole, a Chinese company, before Samsung took the concept to the mainstream market in September 2019. With the Samsung Galaxy Fold, the smartphone giants sought to develop the foldable concept. However, the revolutionary design is pricey, retailing for around £1,442, according to SPY.
What Are the Best Foldable Phones to Buy?
As touched on above, modern-day fold phones are in the top bracket from a price standpoint. However, these revolutionary designs offer an unrivalled smartphone experience. While Motorola dominated the 2000s, Samsung are at the forefront of flexible mobiles in the 2020s. In August 2021, the South Korean multinational conglomerate unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3. According to the official Samsung website, the primary display features Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, while the fold-out screen integrates Dynamic AMOLED advancements.
With 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal memory, the mobile can handle various tasks, from gaming to streaming. However, Tech Radar states that there is one significant drawback to the Galaxy Z Fold3; few apps support the full unfolded screen display. Although this may change over time, the phone’s capabilities are currently somewhat limited regarding the second display’s purpose.
Instead, the Galaxy Z Flip may be more appealing. Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold3, this creation folds traditionally, much like the early Motorola designs. Along with its captivating appearance, the foldable smartphone features entertainment-friendly specifications. Fitted with the Snapdragon 865 Plus, users can enjoy fast, smooth gaming speeds and impressive graphics on the 6.7-inch display.
Not only that, but as it folds vertically, apps are compatible with Samsung’s one-screen style. This means that consumers can play the latest smartphone games, including Crash Bandicoot: On the Run and League of Legends: Wild Rift. Aside from mainstream titles, the Galaxy Z Flip also offers uninterrupted experiences at the best live casinos in India for 2021. Nowadays, Android users can enjoy real-time offerings by downloading secure casino applications at the Google Play Store. This opens the door to immersive live-dealer games on the Fold3 at bonus-offering platforms like Dafabet and ComeOn. Unsurprisingly, the best live casinos were ranked by those who offer notable customer service and a wide variety of live casino games.
Will Price Be an Issue?
The Galaxy Fold currently retails for £1,598, making it another costly smartphone in the foldable category. In the long term, this could be the design’s downfall. Each of the above mobiles comes with a sizeable price tag, featuring a forward-thinking hinge. However, if consumers can overlook that, the phones’ specifications are impressive, so there’s unquestionably a place for them in the ever-competitive market. Do you think they’re worth the money, or will you wait for some improvements in their successors?
