Foldable devices, with their larger screens and unique form factor, will require developers to consider new design considerations.
Introduction
Is there a future for mainstream smartphones that includes foldable phones? It's no secret that foldable phones are all the rage right now.
Although one early prediction forecasted a staggering 50.1 million foldable units to be shipped worldwide in 2022, the number was closer to 14 million units worldwide. Another report by IDC suggests that worldwide foldable shipments will be close to 42 million units by 2026, resulting in a CAGR of 38.7% for 2021–2026.
The flip phone era was the pinnacle of mobile phone design. And now, with a unique twist, that golden era has returned: foldable smartphones. Global smartphone behemoths such as Samsung, Motorola, and Huawei have already released iterations of foldable smartphones, with positive feedback. The compact tablet-smartphone hybrid is now an intriguing piece of technology. However, the novelty of foldable smartphone app development has perplexed many app developers and designers.
The popularity of foldable hinges on a few things - let's dive in:
Factors for the adoption of foldable smartphones
1. Cost & Demand
Five years ago, the cost of smartphones was probably at or under $1000, but would soon cost more than $1000, or even $2000 and above. The rise in new smartphone form factors, such as folding, rolling, and swivelling phones, has led to these prices appearing more frequently. But the demand for these types of phones seems to be growing in tandem with the prices as well. It may well be a few years before we see a break even.
2. Strong main screen
This discourse is unavoidable given the obvious requirement for a soft and flexible material, which would allow for the folding action that these phones entail. Manufacturers are working hard to improve the technology, but it is safe to say that the prototypes and material samples are simply not mature enough to survive the modern smartphone user.
3. No crease
A crease on the folding screen is another unavoidable issue for all foldable. Because normal smartphone glass is static and resistant, it can be made into a fully durable material. Creating a foldable phone with no creases is a significant challenge.
4. No air gap
The air gap is another common hardware issue with foldable. Foldable phones do not close perfectly flat because doing so would break the screen inside. To avoid this, the screen bends to create a gap through which air, dust, and water can pass.
This issue should be much easier to solve as we move forward, as we've already seen technology pioneer, Huawei, do an excellent job of virtually closing the gap by folding the device closer to flat than the competition in their flagship Mate X2.
5. Good battery performance
To house all of the moving parts in a foldable phone, a lot of internal real estate must be sacrificed. The hinge itself is quite large. As a result, foldable phones frequently have mediocre battery life, not as good as they could if the moving parts didn't take up so much space.
LED displays consume a lot of power due to their brightness and high refresh rate. And, because many foldable phones have larger main screens, they require more power to operate for as long as regular phones.
This means that if you have a foldable phone, the chances of it dying on you when you need it the most are higher than usual, limiting the device's usefulness, for now.
6. Supported apps
App developers usually create apps for the general public - they cannot afford to focus on the needs of a small group of enthusiasts. For instance, since iPhones are more ubiquitous than foldable now, they usually have better app support and optimization.
Foldable phones simply do not have enough users for all app developers to be concerned as of now. However, Google is working hard to persuade global developers to create apps for foldable phones, indicating Google's support for the foldable trend.
Conclusion
A mobile app development company will have to consider the above when developing apps for foldable devices. We guess, when foldable phones will become mainstream is as good as anyone else's at this point.
Some compromises are simple to overcome and can even be completed within the next year, whereas others are more difficult and can take years to fully overcome. Whatever the case may be, there is plenty to get excited about. While some argue that today's smartphones all look the same, there hasn't been a more revolutionary time for smartphones in the last decade. At this point, it is simply too early to make any firm predictions, but it appears that the traditional smartphone form factor will continue to be challenged.