The Motorola MicroTac (first flip phone) was $2500 in 1989. Inflation-adjusted that's $5100 today.
The Motorola StarTac (first clamshell phone) was $1000 in 1996. Inflation adjusted that's $1650 today.
So $2000 isn't really that outlandish for a completely new form factor phone. Especially considering you're basically getting 2.5 to 3x the screen area of a current flagship phone. Yeah it's going to be priced to high for most people. But still remember the first flat-screen TV costing over $15,000. HDTVs wouldn't be where they are today (size, quality, and price) without having first gone through that early high-priced phase to recoup R&D costs. It just remains to be seen whether this form factor is a harbinger of the future, or will be forgotten as a footnote in history.
$2500 in 1989 adjusted to $5100 today with inflation? That number can not be right. $5100 today is more like $2500 in 2003, I remember when gas was $1.39 a gallon and eggs were $0.50 a dozen.
The phones you mention as an example represented technological breakthroughs in multiple practical aspects. They didn't cost that much because they could fold (or flip). They were some of the first examples of mobile telephony, an almost untapped field at the time.
The current crop of foldable phones are no breakthrough as far as the phone is concerned. It's still a regular phone with a screen that folds. And while that in itself is an achievement, it is not in the same practical vein as the ones above.
Bring me a phone with current day top specs but a battery that lasts 1 week without making the phone look like a brick. That's a technological advancement. Otherwise between this and an iPad Mini (for example) there not *that* much of a difference in portability terms. Still need to basically fit 2 phones in one pocket.
It's not about your perceived value of it; it's about how much it cost to develop, costs to produce and how much they think people are prepared to pay for it (which goes beyond just you).
I just highlighted that the comparison to phones like MicroTAC and StarTAC is not really appropriate.
And the price of a product is what the market is willing to pay for it and has nothing to do with development or manufacturing costs, etc. You can very well sell a product at a loss (famous example, Xbox), or with an obscene profit margin (famous example Shkreli's Epipen).
And two motor cycles equal a car in your mind? Being a foldable phone with two screens separated by a bezel is not the same thing as being a foldable phone with a 4.6" front screen and a 7.3" backscreen which are both unbroken over their whole area.
dude that's hilarious (two motor cycles = car). cellphones existed in 1989, and i would say were not quite the niche you put it as. I remember my first car had a built in cellphone (mind you, it was a benz). I would still say when clamshell and flip phones first started coming out, they were significantly more than the traditional brick-like cellphones we had. Even when touch screen phones came out like the Motorola Ming and Sony versions, those were almost double a traditional cellphone's cost (i know cause i bought them!). This new foldable phone is just like the others, a flagship halo product with many knock-offs to reduce the price soon to come.
10/10 - easily repaired. Just heat up a little glue, stick 5 picks under the glass to lift the screen, undo 15 microscopic connectors with a spudger, undo 117 nano screws from the proprietary hinge mechanism, and voila! You can buy a new Galaxy Fold because you broke yours.
Are those battery figures right? 4380mAh for 3X the normal number of OLEDs? Granted, you probably switch between having just one on or the double-wide on at a time, but that's still a lot of draw, I think. I was expecting something closer to double the S10 or S10e, so more like over 6,000mAh. If you're going to have a bulky phone it may as well be heavy with battery, right?
I got the 10e at launch (it's great) and for my use case, the 3100mAh battery lasts from 5AM to 10PM with ~60% left. Half the day is on WiFi, half on LTE, mostly texting, some emails, mild web browsing, and lots of YouTube/podcasts. I would imagine someone like me could probably get away with using the Fold all day, but probably not the intended power users using that double-wide screen all day. I'm prepared to be wrong, though.
Spread out over the period of a phone contract, assuming no interest fees for making monthly payments, that means about $83 each month on top of the various service costs. Although there will be people who are attracted to the folding phone, I think its fair to say this will be a niche product. Maybe if they prove popular, the prices will come down in future models. I like the idea of a unified device, but I'd prefer a connection to an external screen and physical interface devices over a flexible screen and hinge mechanism. Everyday use may put such a piece of hardware in considerable danger.
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shabby - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
Can't wait for all the "Look at the crease!" videos on YouTube.Jorgp2 - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
I wonder if the warranty doesn't cover creaaesshabby - Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - link
It'll probably say that a crease might form and it's normal, therefore not covered by warranty.Mikewind Dale - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
Wow, almost $2000m? I'll stick with my foldable ZTE Axon M then.Mikewind Dale - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
* $2000Solandri - Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - link
The Motorola MicroTac (first flip phone) was $2500 in 1989. Inflation-adjusted that's $5100 today.The Motorola StarTac (first clamshell phone) was $1000 in 1996. Inflation adjusted that's $1650 today.
So $2000 isn't really that outlandish for a completely new form factor phone. Especially considering you're basically getting 2.5 to 3x the screen area of a current flagship phone. Yeah it's going to be priced to high for most people. But still remember the first flat-screen TV costing over $15,000. HDTVs wouldn't be where they are today (size, quality, and price) without having first gone through that early high-priced phase to recoup R&D costs. It just remains to be seen whether this form factor is a harbinger of the future, or will be forgotten as a footnote in history.
airdrifting - Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - link
$2500 in 1989 adjusted to $5100 today with inflation? That number can not be right. $5100 today is more like $2500 in 2003, I remember when gas was $1.39 a gallon and eggs were $0.50 a dozen.close - Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - link
The phones you mention as an example represented technological breakthroughs in multiple practical aspects. They didn't cost that much because they could fold (or flip). They were some of the first examples of mobile telephony, an almost untapped field at the time.The current crop of foldable phones are no breakthrough as far as the phone is concerned. It's still a regular phone with a screen that folds. And while that in itself is an achievement, it is not in the same practical vein as the ones above.
Bring me a phone with current day top specs but a battery that lasts 1 week without making the phone look like a brick. That's a technological advancement. Otherwise between this and an iPad Mini (for example) there not *that* much of a difference in portability terms. Still need to basically fit 2 phones in one pocket.
Tams80 - Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - link
It's not about your perceived value of it; it's about how much it cost to develop, costs to produce and how much they think people are prepared to pay for it (which goes beyond just you).close - Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - link
I just highlighted that the comparison to phones like MicroTAC and StarTAC is not really appropriate.And the price of a product is what the market is willing to pay for it and has nothing to do with development or manufacturing costs, etc. You can very well sell a product at a loss (famous example, Xbox), or with an obscene profit margin (famous example Shkreli's Epipen).
Death666Angel - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
And two motor cycles equal a car in your mind? Being a foldable phone with two screens separated by a bezel is not the same thing as being a foldable phone with a 4.6" front screen and a 7.3" backscreen which are both unbroken over their whole area.Sushisamurai - Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - link
dude that's hilarious (two motor cycles = car). cellphones existed in 1989, and i would say were not quite the niche you put it as. I remember my first car had a built in cellphone (mind you, it was a benz). I would still say when clamshell and flip phones first started coming out, they were significantly more than the traditional brick-like cellphones we had. Even when touch screen phones came out like the Motorola Ming and Sony versions, those were almost double a traditional cellphone's cost (i know cause i bought them!). This new foldable phone is just like the others, a flagship halo product with many knock-offs to reduce the price soon to come.Opencg - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
dimensions: (thicc)Sttm - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
That notch is just so stupid. Take your selfies from the smaller front display!WPX00 - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
video calls bruh.Cullinaire - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
Can't wait for the iFixit analysis.JohnZim - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
10/10 - easily repaired. Just heat up a little glue, stick 5 picks under the glass to lift the screen, undo 15 microscopic connectors with a spudger, undo 117 nano screws from the proprietary hinge mechanism, and voila! You can buy a new Galaxy Fold because you broke yours.Cullinaire - Monday, March 25, 2019 - link
You got it - and for the creased screen, nothing a little ironing action can't fix.Tams80 - Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - link
"proprietary hinge mechanism" never knew there was a standard.nathanddrews - Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - link
Are those battery figures right? 4380mAh for 3X the normal number of OLEDs? Granted, you probably switch between having just one on or the double-wide on at a time, but that's still a lot of draw, I think. I was expecting something closer to double the S10 or S10e, so more like over 6,000mAh. If you're going to have a bulky phone it may as well be heavy with battery, right?I got the 10e at launch (it's great) and for my use case, the 3100mAh battery lasts from 5AM to 10PM with ~60% left. Half the day is on WiFi, half on LTE, mostly texting, some emails, mild web browsing, and lots of YouTube/podcasts. I would imagine someone like me could probably get away with using the Fold all day, but probably not the intended power users using that double-wide screen all day. I'm prepared to be wrong, though.
PeachNCream - Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - link
Spread out over the period of a phone contract, assuming no interest fees for making monthly payments, that means about $83 each month on top of the various service costs. Although there will be people who are attracted to the folding phone, I think its fair to say this will be a niche product. Maybe if they prove popular, the prices will come down in future models. I like the idea of a unified device, but I'd prefer a connection to an external screen and physical interface devices over a flexible screen and hinge mechanism. Everyday use may put such a piece of hardware in considerable danger.