Wasn't the Surface Duo actually 2 seperate screens?

Have you used a phone like this for a while or are you saying how you think you'll feel?

i was hoping for a vertical iphone flip phone so it would be smaller oh well

Folding up like that is potentially very robust if it's done right, keeps your screen safe. Personally I'd also go for a screen+keyboard combo (wow I just invented the laptop). A thin keyboard that doubles up as a screen protector, that should be a thing

Also the screen on the outside (if any) should probably be an eInk display and it should be at least as sturdy as a nokia 8110 when it's closed...

Drives me crazy how small phones died because "not enough demand" but a fragile gimmicky $2000 folding phone is perfectly commercially viable

Call me crazy but I miss 16:9 5"/5.5" standard smartphones(aka pre 2018) made it possible to comfortably 1-hand. Then they had to switch to doom-scroll long ratio sizes.

Didn't one company basically made a GBA SP kind of phone, where you fold vertically to make a small square?

Edit: samsung galaxy z flip i think

You want small? There you go: https://gadgetbond.com/bluefox-nx1-4-inch-compact-android-15-smartphone/

But yeah, it’s a shame there isn’t really a market with competition. Basically all serious phones are already too big for my taste. I have an iPhone 13 Mini and that is already slightly too big and I couldn’t even replace that with a similar sized one if I wanted to.

The Unihertz Titan 2 Elite is surprisingly small. The Minimal Phone 2 might be as well. And they have physical keyboards — yay.

Unihertz Jelly Star

Comfortably reach all points with one thumb? Would that not be really small? For me that would be like 1/2 the size of a normal phone when I don't actually hold it but just having it lay on my hand (aka high drop risk). When I actually hold it like usual I can reach, with that is thumb, maybe 1/4th?

Yeah, I'm on Pixel 10a, which is ostensibly the same size as the 7a I had prior, and for that I give a real half-hearted thanks to Google for at least not making it bigger. I still miss phones the size of my s4. I want a phone that discourages watching long form content, and we're unfortunately in the opposite direction.

How much could it cost to design and mass produce a phone that's exactly the size I want?

I have seen one of these, folds lengthways into more of a square shape. No idea what the model is though.

I also can’t deal with the …. Texture? Of the screen. I want that screen to be hard hard hard. And a foldable… can’t be.

I don't really get the ones that are tablet sized but fold down to phone size, but I do love my regular sized phone that folds in half.

It fits in all my pockets, it's easier to carry in my hands, the folding in half is great for using the flashlight and the camera because you can be hands free, and while you could have this on a non folding phone I do really like the half screen on the back.

I did break mine eventually after a year, but that is honestly pretty par for the course for me - and it was fixable. In its defence I am officially clutzy and drop things regularly, and also it fell out of my pocket at one point and got driven over by an SUV (and it still worked for another month, I was impressed. I dropped it one last time a month later and the screen detached at the fold and the hinge went askew).

Something that fits the pocket like a phone, with a larger screen you can read a book on is something very enticing.

But those things can't do either, and as you said, are expensive and unreliable.

Cause I want a phone for pocket fit, but I want the screen size of a tablet.

I like being able to open it up and read comics or watch videos, but still have it conveniently usable as a regular phone. I had one for a few years that I kept in my pocket daily in a very physically demanding job and never had any problems with the fragility. Only reason I got rid of it was because I'm done having Google hoovering up everything on my phone

They are much more durable than you think. The hinge absorbs impacts really well so they are much more likely to survive falls, the inner screen scratches easily but since it is closed when not in use thats not really a concern. I do wish mine didnt have the outer screen since I barely use it, but I find the larger screen is really useful in general.

For book-styles: mostly, it's not having to charge, carry and sync two separate devices. It's a lot nicer to type on 2-handed than a bar-style phone, especially for those of us with fat fingers, the inner screen is much better for content and games. Outer screen's aspect ratio matters little as it is mostly for quick things anyway Yes, the flexible screen is a little fragile, but is fairly well protected when folded - moreso than a naked tablet. I've shattered the outer screen of my fold and the inner was fine.

I tried carrying a cellular iPad Mini as a phone for a while but kept having to find coats and pants with giant pockets - and I cracked two of them.

I've found that a good grip is essential to ease of use on folds though (and I drop it much less).

The phone-to-square ones seem to be most popular with those with pocket space problems, as they fit neatly into small pockets and are less bulk to hang from a lanyard, belt clip etc when you have no pockets.

Because I can't put a tablet in my pocket. Front screen is fine, inner screen is fine, big enough to be a significant improvement. Fragility isn't an issue if you're not needlessly rough with it.

They made a “better” hinge. Apparently that’s what’s failing and breaks the screen.

No, I assure you it's just boredom.

yeah, is not like this is news

I had a Nokia 7110 and the slide of the Keyboard Cover is a tactile Sensation I still yearn for…

Weird how my gameboy uses less battery than my tv

The damage happens at the fold. Not sure anything can be done about that.

I have that exact phone with jailbreak. It runs a dual boot of iOS 6 and iOS 8. It’s so nostalgic everytime I boot it up. I miss slide to unlock.