The quest for the perfect foldable phone – a device that seamlessly blends the functionality of a computer with the convenience of a smartphone. For Allison Johnson, senior reviewer at The Verge, the current offerings in this space fall short of her lofty expectations.
Johnson's journey began with the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. While both devices excelled in certain areas – like their robust dust resistance for the former – they were also weighed down by limitations. For instance, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's substantial weight made it a cumbersome companion on longer trips. Conversely, the Galaxy Z Fold 7's lightness belied its lack of full dust protection.
One notable omission on both phones was the presence of integrated Qi2 magnets, which enable seamless pairing with external chargers and accessories. This feature proved particularly problematic for Johnson, who found herself fiddling with low-profile cases that added bulk to her otherwise slim device.
A more practical issue arose when using the Galaxy Z Fold 7 on flat surfaces – its propensity to wobble caused it to stumble while capturing images. Here again, a simple ring stand would have alleviated this problem, but one Johnson couldn't bring herself to use due to a lingering aversion to cases.
When it came to software, however, both phones proved surprisingly palatable. The Pixel's Android implementation remained intuitive and user-friendly, while Samsung's permissive approach to running multiple apps on the inner screen proved a welcome respite from the clutter of preloaded applications.
Johnson's conclusion? A perfect foldable phone remains an elusive dream – one that must balance competing demands for performance, portability, and usability. As she wistfully notes, "I've been greedy here because I've seen so much potential in these devices over the past few months... but if you'll indulge me for a minute, I'm being greedy here because I've never been so convinced about their real-world utility as I am now."
Ultimately, Johnson's quest serves as a poignant reminder that even the most advanced technologies can fall short of our lofty expectations – a sobering truth we'd do well to confront head-on in our pursuit of innovation.
Johnson's journey began with the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. While both devices excelled in certain areas – like their robust dust resistance for the former – they were also weighed down by limitations. For instance, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's substantial weight made it a cumbersome companion on longer trips. Conversely, the Galaxy Z Fold 7's lightness belied its lack of full dust protection.
One notable omission on both phones was the presence of integrated Qi2 magnets, which enable seamless pairing with external chargers and accessories. This feature proved particularly problematic for Johnson, who found herself fiddling with low-profile cases that added bulk to her otherwise slim device.
A more practical issue arose when using the Galaxy Z Fold 7 on flat surfaces – its propensity to wobble caused it to stumble while capturing images. Here again, a simple ring stand would have alleviated this problem, but one Johnson couldn't bring herself to use due to a lingering aversion to cases.
When it came to software, however, both phones proved surprisingly palatable. The Pixel's Android implementation remained intuitive and user-friendly, while Samsung's permissive approach to running multiple apps on the inner screen proved a welcome respite from the clutter of preloaded applications.
Johnson's conclusion? A perfect foldable phone remains an elusive dream – one that must balance competing demands for performance, portability, and usability. As she wistfully notes, "I've been greedy here because I've seen so much potential in these devices over the past few months... but if you'll indulge me for a minute, I'm being greedy here because I've never been so convinced about their real-world utility as I am now."
Ultimately, Johnson's quest serves as a poignant reminder that even the most advanced technologies can fall short of our lofty expectations – a sobering truth we'd do well to confront head-on in our pursuit of innovation.
she's been testing out these foldable phones for ages and it's like they're so close but still not quite there 
my biggest issue with them is the weight and bulk of the cases, idk how people are gonna rock these on long trips or anything 
and yeah a ring stand would make all the difference lol 
at least she likes the software tho, that's def one thing these phones get right 
like jessica from techcrunch said, the camera game needs a major upgrade ASAP 
also, who else is tired of all the bulk from cases? i swear, i've had my phone stuck in this ring stand for months and it's still not worth it 
. Like, you could just clip them to your backpack or purse and listen to tunes on the go. And they're so affordable too! I swear, I saw a pair for like $20 
. It's crazy how much tech has shrunk down in recent years.
anyways, i feel j Johnson's pain her expectations were way too high and it's hard to see these devices living up to them fully. still, gotta give props for trying to make foldables more practical 
[
. The Samsung one's camera issues had me wincing too 
. I'm just glad the software is solid on both phones. It's all about finding that sweet spot between performance, portability, and usability, you know? 
anyway i guess what allison said is true we need foldables that balance performance, portability, and usability cuz right now they're just not getting it 
i mean they got some great features like the qi2 magnets which is def a game changer 
but at the same time i can relate to allison johson's frustration, we've been waiting for so long for a perfect foldable phone and now that it's finally on our radar, they're still holding us back 
. Allison's right, it's all about balance - performance, portability, usability... how do you prioritize that? I'd love to see someone come out with a better solution 
. The ring stand idea is genius btw, why didn't I think of that?! 
... I mean, who wants a phone that's basically just a giant tablet but you can fold it up and put it in your pocket? It sounds like a sweet setup, but honestly, the trade-offs don't seem worth it to me. Like, I love the idea of having all that computer power at my fingertips, but if it means sacrificing usability and convenience... no thanks 
. And let's be real, we've been seeing some crazy tech trends come out lately, so maybe it's time to take a step back and focus on what really matters: making our phones actually useful and easy to use 
.
anyway, i guess johnson's right, innovation is all about balancing stuff but it's not like we haven't been promised the moon by tech companies before... 
Android is still the winner here (97% user satisfaction) vs. Samsung's "inner screen" chaos (63%). On a scale of 1-10, I'd say these phones are both solid 6s, but who needs perfect when you can have great?