Having existed in the wild since 2019, folding phones have shaken off many early misgivings in their move to be taken seriously as mobile devices. Just because they are now widely accepted as viable, however, does not mean people are yet eager to make the move. While this could change in the next few years, just as important is what is happening now.
Playing into adoption is how mobile gaming has rapidly become the most profitable arm of the gaming industry. Both in terms of traditional video games and the subset of online casino games, this market is now worth billions of dollars annually.
Taking just two examples from these respective areas, the combat game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and the online casino game bingo, we want to examine how these operate within the folding phone environment. What advantages are found, where might folding phones fall short, and what contributions could these make to the future of the folding phone industry?
Advantages of Folding Phone Gaming
Of the two main advantages of folding phones, the most obvious is that of increased viewing size. In a game like PUBG, this viewing size could generate an appreciable change in gameplay success. This is because, even at high resolutions, a smaller screen will make it difficult to spot an enemy at a distance. On a larger screen, spotting an enemy you could otherwise miss is much easier, as explained in this review at https://gamertweak.com/.
The second main advantage of folding phones comes from increased performance capabilities. As physically thicker devices, these can fit more processing components and cooling inside. In a game like PUBG, this can again make an appreciable difference.
For players who prefer something like the online bingo games at https://bingo.betfair.com/, the advantages will come from simple increased engagement and slightly easier control. Games like Age of the Gods and Grease are always going to be more enjoyable with a larger viewing screen, and this larger screen can also allow easier touchscreen input.
Potential Shortcomings
For shortcomings, we need to look at what limitations already exist across all mobile devices. For a game like PUBG, the biggest shortcoming is still one of input. A larger screen on a folding phone will do nothing to improve tactile feedback, with the limitations explored by https://www.i-programmer.info/ still on display. On the other hand, this is an issue which barely affects a game like bingo.
Looking closer at bingo specifically, users would have to measure that an upgrade for this form of gaming is likely not worth the cost. Unlike a game like PUBG, which unquestionably raises potential game success on bigger screens, a game like bingo comes with no such advantages. Bingo already runs perfectly on a standard mobile, and no screen upsizing, no matter how much more appealing, is going to affect your win-rate.
An Undecided Future
There is no question that mobile gaming will help drive folding phone popularity, but as the examples above show, the relationship here is hardly a linear one. While traditional video gamers could very well enjoy the advantages of bigger screens and improved frame-rates, players of online casino games like bingo will see only minor improvements. Factoring in the necessarily increased cost for folding phones, the ultimate choice regarding upgrades is where it has always been, in the hands of the consumer. If you like betting, then you’re probably fine on a traditional device, if you want something more demanding on hardware, then consider a folding phone, and maybe pick up a dedicated controller while you’re at it.
