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Are tri-fold phones likely to be more delicate than standard foldables?
Rick asks:
I find the concept of a phone with a significantly large display that can fold into a more pocket-sized device very appealing. Tri-fold phones have caught my eye! However, I have concerns about their durability. Foldables, in general, faced initial challenges, and I tend to keep my phone for a full two years. I’m curious about how the presence of more glass and a second hinge will impact the device’s longevity.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Rick. You also noted that English isn’t your native language and apologized for any mistakes, so I must say your English surpasses mine!
Regarding your inquiry, it’s quite significant. It’s also an aspect that most individuals aren’t considering, and likely won’t until there are enough people showcasing images of damaged tri-fold devices on social media. This makes it even more crucial in my eyes. We witnessed a similar situation when Samsung introduced the Z Fold, and screens began to separate and crack.
Your reasoning is very logical. The mechanical issues with foldables arise from the use of ultra-thin glass and hinges. A tri-fold will incorporate an additional one of each. When glass is manufactured to such thin specifications, any flaw will (not may, but will) lead to a fracture. Consequently, that crack will expand until reaching the border of the glass itself, stopping there.
When the display layer is integrated into the glass composite, there is more than just a crack in the glass to consider. Any dent or even a fingernail indentation could render the screen unserviceable.
To mitigate this, phone manufacturers continually experiment with layering the glass, display components, and highly durable and flexible polymers to strengthen the structure. A phone like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is significantly improved compared to the original Z Fold, and even better than last year’s Fold 6 concerning display materials.
Nonetheless, everything revolves around the hinge. It may not be the showy highlight of a foldable phone, but it should be because it’s the most critical element. The hinge has one primary function: to open and close. Yet it must perform this flawlessly; otherwise, it could exacerbate issues with thin glass.
The hinge requires preventing the glass from twisting during bending. It must also be sturdy enough to hold the glass securely in either an open or closed position. Achieving this balance is challenging, but contemporary phones with hinges are significantly enhanced compared to earlier models.
I suspect that technology has advanced sufficiently for tri-folding phones to be no more troublesome than “regular” foldables. This implies they should endure typical usage, but it also introduces two potential failure points. Consequently, we may encounter more issues due to that added moving part.
I wouldn’t purchase a tri-folding phone until at least the second version is released. This allows a company to assess what succeeded with the first iteration and what fell short.
That said, you can indeed acquire a tri-fold today. While the Huawei Mate XT may not have sold millions just yet, the web isn’t overflowing with reports of broken screens or other issues. Samsung’s Z model tri-fold, anticipated to launch this year, is likely to sell more units, so we will observe if additional problems arise.
Nevertheless, the concept of a tri-fold phone fascinates me for the same reasons as the Motorola Razr; it compacts into a smaller form, just as you indicated. I believe these will evolve into devices that unify mobile computing and ultimately can replace a phone, tablet, and laptop.
Like you, I need reassurance that they will be constructed to last.
Powerful and slim
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is Samsung’s newest foldable phone, boasting impressive power and remarkable thinness. It features the latest Snapdragon chipset and a sizable, folding display to meet all your productivity or content-consumption requirements within a frame that folds up to resemble a standard phone.
