Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Will 2020 break the curse of the folding
phone?
Which type of smartphone do you prefer, one
that can be folded to carry easily or one that can be unfolded to double the
screen size? Whichever the type is, the screen needs to be flexible and durable
for daily use. The stress the folding part gets, especially the screen, is very
severe as it could be opened and closed dozens of times each day. Today’s technology
is nearly there to provide such durability but not yet at a marketable or
affordable level. Some manufacturers launched folding phones last year, but the
deliveries were delayed. One manufacturer says that their model can be folded
over 100,000 times, which means you could fold it nearly 100 times a day for
three years. But will it hold any residual value after three years? Also, folding
phones still cost staggering prices, around or over $2,000. You could buy two
or three iPhones at the price that usually keep a reasonable resell value after
two years.
The question is whether the functions or
style that people value more for their smartphones? Well, if you add two more
zeros to smartphone prices, you can compare them with new cars. A conventional passenger
vehicle costs around $20,000 to $40,000, a luxury sedan or SUV costs $50,000 to
$120,000, and a super sports car may carry a $200,000 or higher price tag.
Since no more camera lenses are needed to
already-loaded today’s smartphones, folding phones may be one of the hottest
gadgets this year.
Enjoy reading the article and think about how
much you’d spend on your next smartphone and which type.
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