In case the title didn’t make it clear, I think the Pixel 6 Pro might be the last traditional Android phone I’ve ever spent money on.
Now, this is not the case completely Due to the bad and buggy experience with my Pixel 6 Pro but also thanks to a few other factors, one of which (ironically) is the fact that Android he Correct a few things, and these things… Folding phones!Just look at Samsung’s first attempt at a foldable design (pictured below)…the Galaxy Fold 2019 looks like a prototype that shouldn’t have seen the light of day. In fact, the first Galaxy Fold had to be recalled due to hardware defects. But this is not the point… The point is, the first foldable phones went so far that foldable devices can be powered today!
A quick examination of the market today shows that foldable phones have come a very long way, in a relatively short period of time. We’re talking hardware that’s leaps and bounds ahead of the first Galaxy Fold and software most poised to rival Apple’s iPad, taking full advantage of the larger screens that hide inside foldable phones.
So, I know this may sound harsh, but if I’m going to risk it Another buggy experience with another Android deviceI’d better if this phone was… “worth it”. But here’s more…
The Pixel 6 Pro will likely be the last of the Android flagships (that don’t fold); iPhone 13 is the most reliable phone I’ve used in a while
From left to right – Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Z Fold 2, and Xiaomi Mix Fold. Image courtesy of Michael Fisher.
To be clear, I actually prefer the way Android slabs look, feel, and even perform compared to an iPhone, which is the only alternative out there… But, IMorning MacBook user (which is far from my main reason for owning an iPhone), but also – my recent experience with Android (as a whole) has been a hit or miss, to say the least…
- I liked Huawei P30 Prowhich I’ve used for about a year and a half, but simply haven’t been able to upgrade to Huawei P40 Pro (Which I really liked), because this app literally can’t run Google apps; Sure, it’s not Huawei’s or Android’s fault at all, but it’s still a huge disappointment
- for me Pixel 6 Pro, which to this day is the best phone I’ve ever had, simply wasn’t a reliable phone due to a number of obvious bugs that took Google nearly a year to fix; the Pixel 7 Prowhich I’ve been testing for a while, also fails to deliver the consistency I’ve come to expect from a $900 phone (although it’s far more reliable than the Pixel 6 has ever been).
- I already knew but recently discovered that unlike Apple’s iPhone, Android flagship phones (like the Pixel 6 Pro) have distastefulResalethe valuewhich is simply not great for someone who likes to switch phones a bit more than the average user
My “escape” from what was a buggy and unreliable Pixel 6 Pro was the iPhone 13 mini and I haven’t looked back!
I’ve decided to keep the tiny iPhone 13 mini as my primary phone (for now), as nothing else comes close in terms of looks and performance (also, a used but new-looking iPhone 13 mini set me back only €450, or half of what I have a Pixel 6 Pro) . The 13 mini has been my primary phone for a while now, and it looks like I’m going to stick with Apple when it comes to the device I always have in my pocket and the one I have to rely on to get things done…
Android phones (and iPhones) are nearing their peak right now
But there’s something else that’s slowly but surely pushing me away from traditional phones, and that’s the fact that they seem to be nearing their peak right now.
Just look into the future Galaxy S23 series – How much better can your traditional Android phone (or iPhone) get from now on? Slab phones have amazing displays (much better than your TV), exceptional camera systems for social media use, and good battery life (most phones will last you a full day of use).
DefinitelyThere might be some “finishing touches” left that would make a more “perfect” Tile phone… under-display cameras for a “full” full-screen look; A more advanced camera system, which looks more like a “real” camera, and a two-day battery life would be appreciated, but some phones really do check at least one of those boxes…
Material for thought: Apple’s iPhone might be at an advantage here, thanks to the fact that Cupertino likes to play the long game, and takes longer to implement certain features than Android. Technically, this makes it likely that the iPhone will reach its “peak” after the Android competition.
Foldable phones may not be the “future” but they’re getting good; Google and Xiaomi challenge Samsung in the global market (hopefully competitive prices too)
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 (which is no thicker than an iPhone with a case on) will not be sold globally but the Mix Fold 3 will!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I don’t think foldable phones are the “future” of what we know as a “phone”.. The fully foldable form factor seems better suited to a laptop (Google Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold), while the future of “phones” could very well be Rollablethe design.
- The Galaxy Fold wasn’t waterproof, which isn’t the case with Samsung’s latest foldable phone (which makes it much easier to recommend)
- The 2019 Galaxy Fold was about 16mm thick when folded; Today, the thinnest foldable phones (Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 and Huawei Mate Xs 2) are 11mm thick, or should I say… 11mm thin
- Samsung’s first foldable phone weighed 263 grams, which is roughly the same weight as the iPad mini 6; The new Oppo Find N2 weighs just 233 grams, which makes it lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max and as heavy/light as the upcoming Galaxy S23 Ultra (according to leaked info)
- The three-year-old Galaxy Fold came with a mid-range camera system, while newer foldable phones like the Oppo Find N2, Xiaomi Mix Fold 2, and to some extent the Galaxy Z Fold 4, are now more powerful and versatile. Top notch camera set (with larger sensors and more advanced image processing)
As you can tell by this quick “check progress”, the key to that has to be the fact that Samsung finally has it Some competition. There are actually better-looking foldable phones out there Galaxy Z Fold 4 There is but it is not sold globally… Until now. However, this will not be the case for much longer!
Pixel Fold vs Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 vs Galaxy Z Fold 5 – Choosing a new foldable Android phone might be more difficult than ever (and that’s great news)
Again, foldable phones have come a very long way! Oppo Find N2 is lighter than iPhone 14 Pro Max and much thinner than Galaxy Z Fold 3 (pictured)!
the Google Pixel Fold It is expected to be released before Galaxy Z Fold 5While the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is likely to be the first foldable phone made by Xiaomi to make it outside of China. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look stellar OPPO Find N2 It will be sold globally, however Some competition is better than none! right?
So yeah, having decided not to buy another traditional Android flagship phone, I can now turn my focus towards the upcoming foldable phones in 2023! I think at least one of the foldable phones coming this year might be good enough to be worth my attention (and money). As mentioned earlier, the Pixel Fold and Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 come in first, followed by the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which is expected to arrive later.
Personally, as someone who has a preference for the Google version of Android and the Pixel camera, I hope the Pixel Fold will be as good as the leaks suggest. Speaking of leaks, they say the Pixel Fold will cost as much as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 ($1,800), but I’ll only believe it when I see it. Google’s Pixel 7 flagship phones are significantly cheaper than their Samsung counterparts (in all markets where they’re sold), and so I would expect the Pixel Fold to undercut the new Galaxy Z Fold 5. Or at least I hope so!Of course, if Google introduces another buggy phone (like the Pixel 6) and decides the Pixel Fold’s price is as high as the Galaxy Z Fold 5, I might need to look elsewhere, and that’s where the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 and Galaxy Z are. Fold 5 may come into the picture.
Regardless, unless there’s an extraordinary deal, I’ll very likely buy my next foldable phone off eBay, which is exactly how I got the Galaxy Z Fold 3 for half the price (I ended up returning it), as-new condition. Of course, as far as the average user is concerned, this is another great reason to try out a foldable phone — it doesn’t simply get the quality, but it’s also very affordable (if you shop smart).
Would you like your next Android phone to be foldable?