• WesternInfidels@feddit.online
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    1 day ago

    Every phone maker seems convinced that if they can be the one to make this work, they’ll be the champion of world forever, or something.

    I can’t understand why a user would even want this. How many users do want this?

    • kepix@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      this is a solution for a problem they made. they took away the small devices, so they could force these idiotic foldables.

    • ObsidianZed@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      I’m on my 3rd or 4th foldable now, not because they’ve been failing, but because I want it and honestly don’t see myself going back to a non-foldable now.

    • Strider@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      Well, I’ve tried it (fold6) and after 23 months the inner foil started having bubbles, then it grew to a huge bubble along the crease and shortly after the display below the bubble was black.

      So while it worked well and was useful, mostly with watching movies, photos or maps I switched back to a standard phone and would never use a foldable display again since my assumptions were proven.

    • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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      9 hours ago

      For the same price with no tradeoffs? I’d like one. For a lot more with downsides? Nah, I’m good. I have very little need or desire for this. A normal phone shape handles 99.99% of my phone use cases perfectly. It’d be nice to have, but it’s not worth much.

    • stumu415@lemmy.zip
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      15 hours ago

      China phone manufacturers like Xiaomi, OPPO, Huawei already have 5th or 6th Gen folds and they are awesome. Many people here use folds. The build quality is outstanding.

      Plus the software is actually designed to use either the full screen or split screen. What Apple have done is a joke. The few people that bought the Apple fold, are returning it because the software is useless.

      • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
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        4 hours ago

        I have been using the same phone for 9 years and only had to replace the battery. There is literally no way these folding phones are lasting that long, even with “outstanding build quality”.

      • Buelldozer@lemmy.today
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        6 hours ago

        I’m confused, are you in China or the United States? Your comment history strongly alludes to both, depending on what you’re saying.

        • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
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          4 hours ago

          They’re only from the US when meddling in elections or pretending to be smugly superior. Standard tankie behavior.

      • amelia@feddit.org
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        7 hours ago

        Been using my Honor Magic V2 for 2.5 years now, might be the best phone I’ve ever had. If I could change two things, it would be perfect: I’d love for it to be 1-2cm shorter and properly support third party launchers. Otherwise, no complaints at all.

    • otp@sh.itjust.works
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      1 day ago

      I like the idea of it, but I can live without it.

      A foldable phone has the benefits of a tablet (screen size) and a phone (more compact), allowing you to alternate between the two at will. I can see the appeal.

      • JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz
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        9 hours ago

        Kinda. They tend to result in a phone that is too big to be comfortable, that open to a tablet that is too small to be all that useful.

        The Duo has a cover screen that is 5.4 inches and it unfolds to 7.6", while being thicker, bigger and heavier than a 18 pro max with a 6.9" screen. Is the pro max a tablet already then, it’s quite dang close in screen size after all.

        • jaygray91@piefed.zip
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          8 hours ago

          To me, it’s the aspect ratio of the screens.

          This passport style ratio is what I want from such a device because that’s how all paper looks like in my country. We use the ISO paper standard being A sizes. They’re like the Goldilocks shape for books and media. Modern smartphones right now is closer to cinematic ratio of 21:9, but most TV content are still 16:9. Letter boxing is at the left and right side and I somehow dislike this.

          This more bookish shape puts the letter box on top and bottom and somehow that’s more preferable for me.

          It also fits a lot better with papers and documents as A4 paper size is proportional to the passport ratio.

          I’m going by the assumption that the duo is following the ISO paper ratio though. IIRC the Samsung fold 8 outer screen does follow it, but due to engineering the inner bigger screen is 4:3, which is not ISO paper ratio, but close enough.

          All this to say that a 7.6" screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio will not fit the same way with a 1:1.4 ratio for non progressive web content. And I prefer the latter.

      • BeelzebubEiNukuKoskaan@piefed.social
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        9 hours ago

        To me it just seems like you get a tablet that is too small with the cost of having a chonky and heavy phone and a screen that has a added failure point.

        But I’m one of those weirdos who doesnt know where my phone is 95% of the time. I check KDE Connect for notifications once or twice a day and if it shows that the battery is low, I find the phone and plug it in. So I guess I’m not the person these new phonetablets are marketed to

        • Strider@lemmy.world
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          6 hours ago

          Yes that is a good point I noticed all the time when using a foldable. Most uses are just optimized for the standard format. Also phone holders and such.

        • Martineski@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          13 hours ago

          Stuff like this doesn’t mess with websites that much as it’s all rectangles anyway. And as the comment above said you get to alternate between the sizes/proportions at will so this becomes a non issue. Use smaller screen for common stuff and then the bigger one for movies, games, comics, ebooks, displaying recipes in big text to see from far away, and whatever else you want. People could simply carry around a tabled at all times but there’s the extra convenience of it fitting in your pocket and being the same device as you wouldn’t have to sync data between them. This is something similar to an argument for cameras in phones, you always have it with you ready when a need comes up and a camera you don’t have with you when you need it is useless.

      • Zarobi@aussie.zone
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        17 hours ago

        Why not make something like the 3DS? Like, it flips open and you have 2x screen size. It doesn’t actually have to be one continuous screen, with all the failure points that entails; you’re allowed to have two separate screens that join into one. Every dual monitor home PC setup works this way.

        Heck, take it one step further and have a little keyboard that can slide out from the bottom if you’re feeling brave.

        • otp@sh.itjust.works
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          6 hours ago

          That’s what I think. I miss physical keyboards on phones, and generally don’t mind a phone on the heavier side.

          People absolutely hate bezels though, so it’d never fly with the flagship phones.

      • Bluewing@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        Nope I cannot. But I’m just fine leaving the house without any kind of device on my person at all. I’ve had to be “connected” by pager(s) and phone 24/7/365 for years when I worked in public safety. And now that I’m retired, I’m so over it.

        It’s taken a few years, but I’m finally free.

        • youmaynotknow@lemmy.zip
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          9 hours ago

          I want to follow in on your footsteps, for sure. I can’t right now because of work and kids, but I’ve been slowly going out to walk with nothing but an MP3 player, and have my phone off during commute as well.

          The first few times I was honestly anxious. Now, shit, I was part of that army of drones out there, what a fucking eye opener, honestly.

      • FrChazzz@lemmus.org
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        22 hours ago

        For real. Just last weekend I was at a conference and realized that I left my tablet at home and the agenda/workbook for the event was PDF. I was pinching and scrolling with my iPhone while my colleague next to me opened up his Galaxy Fold and was reading everything fine. I mean, yeah, it’s not a common need for me, but there’s definitely use-cases for this–especially for people who have to read digital documents on the go a lot and don’t want to have to carry extra devices just to do so.

      • halcyoncmdr@piefed.social
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        22 hours ago

        You’re saying there’s been zero times you’re looking at something on your phone and would like a bigger screen for it? Not once have you had something on your phone and wished it was full size? Or gone to open it on a tablet or computer instead?

        • XiJinpingStanAccount@lemmy.ml
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          12 hours ago

          Not the person you asked but yes actually. I never want more screen on my phone. I barely use it. I have the Pixel because it can run Graphene OS, and I want that, but if I could run Graphene on it I’d want something smaller. It’s so annoying to carry the thing around. I use my phone to test and call people. And to use organic maps and gps to tell me when my next turn is. Basically nothing else. Altho if people want to use their phone as their everything device then they’re free to I guess. Just not for me. So I’d never want a folding one.

          • halcyoncmdr@piefed.social
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            22 hours ago

            I can say as a Pixel 9 Pro Fold owner, I have used it. And never once have I really needed a full keyboard and mouse for what I’d even think of using my phone for.

            I only use it for some mobile gaming, and websites that do very poorly on mobile despite that being the only online device for so many people nowadays.

            Having actually use one as a daily driver for over a year,… it’s not worth it. It’s not worth the additional weight and bulk, carrying it around all the time for the handful of times I do use it. And without a significant battery increase to justify despite being literally twice as thick as a normal phone.

            • shartgargle@lemmy.zip
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              14 hours ago

              You’re the problem when it comes to big tech, you realize this, yes? Why shouldn’t I buy this unnecessary tech? Why shouldn’t I use AI as much as I want? Sure, put on the ring, what harm could come of it? Of course I want a camera on my glasses!

        • crystalmathadept@lemmy.zip
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          22 hours ago

          Having never owned a tablet, it’s either a phone or my pc monitor. I even have an iPhone 12 MINI, and I’m a bigger dude so it looks like a business card in my hand.

          • anotherandrew@lemmy.mixdown.ca
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            21 hours ago

            Same here. iPhone 13 mini and I’m a bigger dude too. Can’t stand these gigantic phablets, and the form factor of this foldable is dumb.

            • alternategait@lemmy.world
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              9 hours ago

              I was actually hoping that the form factors would be a compact phone that would fit into women’s pockets that unfolded to a “standard” phone size (I also have a mini but it is clearly on its last legs)

          • halcyoncmdr@piefed.social
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            17 hours ago

            And you always have a laptop when out and about during the day? While on transit? Waiting for an appointment?

            There are a lot of people that don’t own a computer anymore. Their entire digital life is through their phone. It’s the only portal to the web that have.

      • anotherandrew@lemmy.mixdown.ca
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        21 hours ago

        Not in this form factor, no. It’s too wide and… square to be convenient in either mode. The BlackBerry passport was a bad form factor for similar reasons.

    • WereCat@lemmy.world
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      13 hours ago

      The only reason I’d want this is to have a smaller phone which I can open to a currently normal sized phone.

      I don’t know why they keep pushing tablets on us.

    • TheRealKuni@piefed.social
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      20 hours ago

      I can’t understand why a user would even want this. How many users do want this?

      I dunno what to tell you, I love the thing. I’ve liked the idea of foldables for a while. My buddy got the Z Fold 7 and loves it, I picked up the Duo and it’s great for me.

      Foldables certainly aren’t the right fit for everyone, there are inherent trade offs. But I love the concept. I love having a small tablet with me everywhere. I love how compact the device is when folded. I’m enjoying a phone that is substantially different from every smartphone I’ve ever used. It reminds me of when smartphones were new and each one had things that made them unique.

      I can certainly understand why people wouldn’t want one. But I find it surprising that you can’t understand why someone would.

      • selokichtli@lemmy.ml
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        19 hours ago

        Because it costs 2000 USD and breaks easily? There, that would be my number one reason I wouldn’t want one, and my number one reason I don’t understand why someone would want one.

        • TheRealKuni@piefed.social
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          19 hours ago

          Again, I can understand why someone wouldn’t want one. Are you truly incapable of recognizing that other people have different device priorities than you do?

          I use my phone more than any other device I own. It being expensive is justifiable if I get better use out of it. And it being fragile isn’t a problem for me, it’s plenty sturdy enough. I’ve not broken a phone in a very long time. So for me, personally, the two issues you raised that make you unable to understand why someone would want one do not deter me. Does that make sense?

          • selokichtli@lemmy.ml
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            5 hours ago

            No, that’s not the point at all. I can understand why someone would want a foldable device. What I can’t understand is why anyone would want a foldable, expensive, piece of junk.

    • CombatWombat@feddit.online
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      1 day ago

      I do. Consolidating my phone and tablet into a single device would be very convenient. Adding support for an external monitor, keyboard and mouse to replace my laptop would be even better. I didn’t buy a Duo not because I don’t want the product, but because I know they won’t work well for another few iterations (at least).

    • wjrii@lemmy.world
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      24 hours ago

      I’ll join the chorus. If the price-point were right and the tech were reliable, I’d happily trade a good amount of thickness in order to have the option of an iPad Mini or an iPhone, but in the footprint of the latter when not in use. I really prefer to carry my phone in my front pocket and not to EDC a bag.

      It’s just that the price-point is wrong and the tech is not reliable.

    • mechoman444@lemmy.world
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      20 hours ago

      I want one but then I go to T-Mobile and see that dammed crease in the middle and I know my OCD ass won’t be able to handle it.

      And I work in the repair industry so it wouldn’t last very long. And it has no practical use. At all. It’s just a keeping up with the Jones gimmick and it’s made by apple. All their tech sucks they survive on nothing but name.

    • lobut@lemmy.ca
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      22 hours ago

      Why would I want this? Because I’m sad and I fly around the world and I thought that instead of having a tablet and phone I could have it in one!

      Then I listen to these tech YouTubers say that this is it! I bought my folding phone and I very rarely unfold it. Wasted so much money and I’m like bleh …

      Then guess what? I see the YouTubers say, last year’s iteration wasn’t it, but this year’s one fixes it!

      Urgh …

      • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        22 hours ago

        I bought my folding phone and I very rarely unfold it. Wasted so much money and I’m like bleh …

        Basically the experience I had with my first smartphone: I got it into my head that having a foldout QWERTY keyboard would make writing more than just short text messages on a phone less weird and that getting a Nokia would also help ease the transition from dumb to smart since most of my previous phones had been Nokias.

        Turns out I quickly stopped using that keyboard and the Symbian OS Nokia used back then was compatible with like a dozen apps or so 🤦🏻

    • we is doomed!@lemmy.world
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      19 hours ago

      me, i have a Motorola flip, excellent pockeabikity, tried the Samsung Fold 8 (not ultra) looks excellent for my use but I’m poor, so it stays on the display.

      • youmaynotknow@lemmy.zip
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        9 hours ago

        I for one can’t wait to see what Motorola brings out next year on the RAZR lineup that is fully compatible with GrapheneOS. If they manage that, with an inner screen that is 6.7" then I’m selling my Pixel. Otherwise, I guess I’m keeping the Pixel until it dies.

        • jaygray91@piefed.zip
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          8 hours ago

          I thought the first Motorola with grapheneOS have been confirmed and it’s not a flip form factor. And it’s flagship. This caused a lot of jimmies rustled. I understand why, because Motorola is more known for their budget offering, but I also have seen why it has to be flagship because there are hardware stuff that’s needed by grapheneOS.

          The Pixels having the proper security hardware on their poor performing on benchmarks SoC seems more like a happy coincidence to me. I’m happy to be politely corrected.

    • FireWire400@lemmy.world
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      21 hours ago

      The concept is kinda cool. Take the Galaxy Fold 8 for example; a nice and compact phone that actually fits in your pocket and can be a tablet if you wanna watch a movie or something in bed or public transport.

      I still wouldn’t buy one; spending over a grand on a phone that even if it holds up fine can be damaged by accidentally tapping on the screen wrong seems dumb. Nevermind that I personally wouldn’t buy a Samsung for multiple reasons.

      • Bilb!@lemmy.ml
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        18 hours ago

        can be damaged by accidentally tapping on the screen wrong

        That’s not really a thing unless you mean tapping with a hammer or something. I’ve been using these since the Z Fold 3.

        It’s not the most wise way to spend your money of course, but not everything needs to be.

          • Bilb!@lemmy.ml
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            17 hours ago

            Pressure damage? Like, accidental, with your fingers? No, neither is it especially scratch prone.

            • FireWire400@lemmy.world
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              14 hours ago

              I think I was talking about the small permanent ridges you could make with your fingernails. It’s entirely possible that they solved that problem a few generations ago, though.

              • Bilb!@lemmy.ml
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                14 hours ago

                Nah, the outer layer of the flexible screen is quite rigid to the touch. You don’t leave marks with your fingernail. I’ve used TPU screen protectors on the inner screen that have that property, I think. If you look at the glare from a light source, you can see indents in that. But even then, it’s not something you otherwise notice.

                I don’t want to seem like a breathless booster for flexible phones, they are too expensive to be considered practical, I think. But there are some misconceptions about them, some which seem to come from the first version of the Z Fold, which honestly does sound like a nightmare device.

                • FireWire400@lemmy.world
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                  1 minute ago

                  I love the concept of phones like the Z Flip, don’t get me wrong, if someone convinces me that they’re just as durable as a normal phone I’d buy one

    • farmgineer@nord.pub
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      21 hours ago

      I get the appeal, especially as I get older and my vision isn’t as good. Having a screen that can be bigger as needed helps in a number of ways. That said, no way I’d buy one because I don’t see how they survive in the long term.

    • zewm@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I wanted one. I tried to buy one. It sold out faster than I could click add to cart.

      I currently have an iPhone 16 pro max and it isn’t big enough. I liked the idea of having a bigger screen on-demand, in a portable cellular form factor.

    • Joelk111@lemmy.world
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      24 hours ago

      Guys, we had the optimal form factor, the LG Wing, years ago! No folding displayed required!

      I’m not even joking. I used mine for years and loved it.

      • jaygray91@piefed.zip
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        8 hours ago

        I really miss my LG Wing. The USB port went out first and I used to charge it only with wireless charging for a few months but that’s just not viable for longevity. No shop around here wants to take a crack at repairing it for me.

        Genuinely the second small screen is so useful. I can have my navigation and music player on screens and not muck about as much. I can list more but now I’m ashamed as most of what I use both for are for media consumption lol

      • kkj@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        20 hours ago

        I like the Surface Phone 2 form factor. Having the display be glass helps a ton, and the bezel inside is pretty small. It would be even better with an e-ink outer display; that’s plenty for most phone things, and then you could open it up for videos and such.

        • Joelk111@lemmy.world
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          17 hours ago

          Yeah, another great phone that we need more versions of. LG also tried that via a case for the Velvet.

          • jaygray91@piefed.zip
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            8 hours ago

            And the G7 and G8 before the Velvet.

            In fact LG was one of the few ones to try the dual screen phones. For them, it’s via add-on cases. Then there’s the Microsoft Surface phones. But then you have no choice because it’s always attached. They’re more like prototype current foldable phones though.

      • bandanawearingbanana@lemmy.world
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        22 hours ago

        Guys, we had the optimal form factor, the LG Wing, years ago! I used mine for years and loved it.

        I genuinely thought this would be some old ass phone from when before smartphones were a thing.

        It came out in 2020. The phone I’m typing this on came out 1,5 years after that.

        Also what is this monstrosity??

        • Joelk111@lemmy.world
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          22 hours ago

          It’s awesome multi-tasking bliss, and it’s durable, and it’s easy to repair if you do break it!

    • OctopusNemeses@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Investors want repeats of the iPhone and social media revolution. They won’t get it by making tweaks to the smartphone or social media platforms. Nothing will stop them from trying, but all of this is just spinning the wheels.

    • Tim_Bisley@piefed.social
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      21 hours ago

      I have no desire for this. Id rather have an old school folding style type phone that folds flush so when you open it the display is across two sections with a miniscule gap. Like a phone sized Nintendo ds. Instead we get DS sized phones that are awkward as hell with so many typea of clothing.

    • Flames5123@sh.itjust.works
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      19 hours ago

      I would’ve loved it if it had the flagship processor and cameras. Having an iPad mini in your pocket is great for things, plus being able to have dual applications running is great. But I can live without it for now. It wasn’t an upgrade like a pro max iPhone was.

    • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
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      23 hours ago

      These things would sell like hotcakes if they didn’t cost so much and were reliable. People want them, the tech just isn’t perfected yet, and who knows if the price will ever be reasonable.

    • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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      23 hours ago

      Meh I like no tech and making attempts. I would never spend that money on a phone. I have never spent half that on a phone.

      I like products not designed for absolutely everyone though, niche is nice