Prabhu RamAnnounced during the last week of February, foldable smartphones have caught the attention of many. The Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X have indeed made smartphones hot again. Both have large screens that measure above 7-inch and fold right in the middle, providing users access to a much larger screen. Yet, there are concerns about this new form factor, ranging from durability to the impact on user experience.
Wear and tear: Experts believe folding/unfolding of the screen will lead to more wear and tear resulting in a shorter life-cycle, compelling users to upgrade to new phones more frequently.
“The polymers of flexible displays would eventually wear out from a lot of folding and unfolding. This, in turn, could cut short the long upgrade cycles that the market is witnessing currently,” points out Prabhu Ram, head, industry intelligence group, CyberMedia Research.
