Today's smartphones are a bit like math problems, they have a set of conventional solutions, and eventually often lead to a clear "answer".
That is, the high-end machine can not have a short board, the mid-end machine should have a full cost performance, and the entry product cannot be reduced too much.
Coupled with the gradual convergence of forms, smartphones are more like a content intermediary, and we are gradually becoming content consumers rather than consuming hardware.
As a result, we flocked to large screens, and the screen size of mobile phones jumped from 3.5 inches of gold to 6.7 inches.
The reason why the size of the screen has not continued to explore, there is a physical iron law in the block, the larger volume and weight is obviously not suitable for carrying, naturally can not become the "mobile phone" in people's pockets, screen size and fuselage have a delicate balance.
The iron law can't be broken, can't you just go around it? Folding screen is such an effective solution at present.
Fold it up, fold it in one fold, and the 8-inch screen fits into your pocket. In fact, the folding screen solves the "pocket" step, but it also brings many problems.
What problems does the folding screen solve?
The "big screen is stuffed into the pocket" and the folding screen solves the problem of carrying around in physical form. It is not so much to solve the volume, but rather to solve the "width" of the square screen, which is convenient for one-handed holding and one-handed control after folding.
The process of "folding" thus introduces 3D usage scenarios for 2D screens.
For example, the latest folding screen now uses the free hover of the hinge, with the corresponding software, to bring a PC-like experience in video, photography, input and other scenarios.
In addition, each manufacturer has a different concept for folding concepts, and there are basically three folding sizes on the market, the "flip", the mini size Find N, and the full-size Fold.
Flip, the biggest advantage is "small", it is almost half the size of a straight phone, almost all the functions of a straight board.
Fold, can be called the full size of the current folding screen, 8-inch inner screen with 6-inch external screen, almost a mobile phone plus tablet function.
In between, it is Find N, which is a circle smaller than the full size, but does not abandon the function of mobile phones and tablets, and the smaller size is for better portability.
Folding screen was born not long ago, but the body size has three different branches, the evolution speed is quite fast, and each size has the manufacturer's insight into the market.
In addition, a few years after the appearance of the folding screen, its price has also dropped rapidly from five digits to four digits, taking the vivo X Fold that has just been launched with a full configuration, the price has also been compressed to less than 9,000 yuan, and it is no longer impossible for ordinary consumers to climb high.
The deepening of the understanding of the "folding" form has made more manufacturers start to think about how to tap more functions of the folding form, which is a bit like the era of mobile phone styles before the emergence of intelligent systems.
▲ Folding screen market share great leap forward (Samsung or big head). Image courtesy of Counterpoint Research
Whether it is DSCC or Counterpoint Research, many statistical agencies have the same prediction of the folding screen market, and the shipment volume of the "folding screen" will increase exponentially year by year, and even throw out, "The shipment of folding screen mobile phones in 2023 will increase by nearly 10 times compared with 2021."
▲ The original protective film is similar to the film, and the screen is torn apart and broken. Image credit: MKBHD
Folding screens have become more universal.
What problems does the folding screen bring?
So, the universal folding screen has become mature?
The answer can be summed up as yes and no.
Becoming mature refers to the fact that the current "folding screen" product has the best solution at present, or in the case of vivo X Fold, it may not have so many "innovations" in itself, but its emergence makes up for all the regrets of the previous folding screen products.
The specifications of the inner and outer screens are different, the frame rate is different, there is no fingerprint under the screen, the camera is castrated, the fast charge power is limited, etc., these problems vivo X Fold solve one by one.
As mentioned in the experience, it is the "strongest" full-size folding screen at the moment.
I believe that with the pearl jade of the X Fold in front, the subsequent folding screen should no longer have obvious shortcomings.
Immaturity, in fact, refers to the form of "folding screen".
▲ It is more reasonable to hold it with both hands.
The 8-inch flat panel is folded up, coupled with the complex "gold" folding hinge, its own weight goes straight to 300g, and after stacking, the thickness of the fuselage is more than 1cm, which is basically not related to thinness.
After commuting with the folding screen for a few days, after several struggles, I finally inserted the SIM card back into the ordinary bar phone. The folding screen lies in the bag, and after sitting down, it is taken out to use the large screen for content consumption.
The above-mentioned change in the use of habits, almost every folding screen I encounter, will go through a process, even though the current folding screen has reached a considerable height.
In addition to the weight and thickness, there is a large number of mechanical structures in the folding screen body, which is also contrary to the development law of smart phones.
▲ Samsung's third-generation folding screen already supports IPX8 dustproof and waterproof. Image courtesy of Androidcentral
In fact, including smart phones, many consumer electronics are developing in the direction of "removing mechanical structures", one is due to the instability caused by mechanical structures, the other is the problem of life, and the third is not conducive to miniaturization.
Although the shaft life of many products has now reached a considerable level, with hundreds of thousands of lifespans, it is undeniable that the mechanical structure is not much like the tomorrow's trend of consumer electronics.
Immature also has an inner screen.
▲ The original protective film is similar to the film, and the screen is torn apart and broken. Image credit: MKBHD
Samsung's original Galaxy Z Fold inner screen is covered with a layer of polyimide film, which has limited protection and can easily cause damage to the inner screen.
Subsequent products have turned to UTG ultra-thin glass, the protection has been improved, but it still cannot reach the level of conventional Gorilla Glass, and it is very afraid of sharp objects, which is easy to leave traces that are difficult to recover.
▲ UTG protection is still not as good as ordinary mobile phone screen glass. Image credit: Zack Nelson
Due to the particularity of the inner screen, its maintenance cost is also very high, almost different from the second-hand folding screen products. Even, the corresponding film needs to be booked in advance, as well as a fixed after-sales store to be eligible for repair.
Finally, let's talk about the ecological problem, the folding screen has two sets of operating logic of small screen and large screen, which requires manufacturers to optimize the system at the same time, and third-party apps also need to be optimized.
However, now the adaptation of third-party apps to the inner screen is still in the state of "group magic dance", directly enlarged, and the keyboard pops out to block the input box.
However, the problem of software ecology, inner screen protection, can be solved by technology, but the instability caused by mechanical structure and the problem of excessive weight of the fuselage may always be accompanied by the folding screen.
The current folding screen is more like to solve the problem of large screen carry-on, and has caused a lot of problems, not a perfect solution, more like a compromise choice.
Why do manufacturers look at the folding screen?
I vaguely remember that when discussing the folding screen with colleagues, the current trend of folding screens is very similar to the previous 5G mobile phones. However, with the passage of time, 5G mobile phones have almost become the standard of the moment.
▲ Samsung canceled the Galaxy Note series, and in the second half of the year, the flagship began to focus on the main promotion of folding screen products. Image courtesy of digitaltrends
The folding screen may become a branch of the product line that many "naturally" do, and it will also become a product in the flagship product line of many manufacturers.
Even though the folding screen has been promoted for several years, the size of the market is still small and the depth is not enough. For many ordinary consumers, the folding screen still has enough freshness, and the market still has enough potential.
▲ Galaxy Z Fold 3 supports IPX8 waterproofing, and the hinge design is more complex and precise. Image credit: Samsung
Folding screen products, but also test the manufacturer's manufacturing capabilities for this complex product, hinge design, internal and external screen design, dual screen collaboration, etc., like a big test.
The prominence of such comprehensive strength has also dissuaded many small manufacturers, and the folding screen has also become a product for the industry's head players to show muscles. Stronger product power will undoubtedly leave a deeper impression on the hearts of many consumers.
▲ Xiaomi MIX FOLD.
After using a circle of folding screens of domestic manufacturers, it is possible to understand the manufacturers' consideration and comprehensive strength of the products.
The folding screen products of the head players continue to emerge, and they have also rapidly revitalized the win-win industrial chain, and while the technology is improving, the cost is also falling.
Last year's folding screen new products continued to reduce the price, but also made many of the current folding screen new products are maintained in four digits. Especially OPPO Find N, the starting price fell on 7699 yuan, almost covering up the small regret that the outer screen only has a 60Hz refresh rate, and it was once out of stock after the sale, and the sales were gratifying.
Less mature folding screen, along with the investment of manufacturers, has gradually entered the mature machine ideas, after the hardware is stacked, the final competition may be the brand attractiveness of the manufacturer.
At present, the folding screen with a price of seven or eight thousand is expected to impact the high-end market, which is partly due to the high cost of the product, and partly because of the positioning of the product, more importantly, to create a folding screen full of blood, which is the only way for every manufacturer to go through in high-end.