Warm Winter Goodies Award Ever since we saw the first models appear in 2019, foldable phones have been slowly becoming an important part of the smartphone world. But as we enter the fifth year of foldable phones in 2024, the fringe part of the smartphone world continues to evolve.
There will be a number of noteworthy phone launches in 2024, such as the upcoming Galaxy S24 this year, but despite the many advances that have been made in these smartphone mainstreams, they still can't compete with foldables in terms of novelty and innovation, and the balance of power has shifted dramatically this year.
In the larger "book-like" foldable category, the Google Pixel Fold has put pressure on Samsung with Google's usual software and camera tricks. OnePlus has unveiled the OnePlus Open, which is my personal phone of the year for its excellent specs, large and well-proportioned display, and Open Canvas multitasking system.
Meanwhile, the Motorola Razr 2023 and Razr Plus have been competing in the compact foldable segment. This year, Moto has finally shaken off the spell of the last generations of Razr foldable phones, offering both budget and high-end form factors.
The Honor Magic VS and the Oppo Find N2 Flip are also on sale , which gives us more options than before.
Of course, Samsung is not standing still. There have been some welcome changes in the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and especially the Galaxy Z Flip 5. But the status of these series as the go-to foldable device is now gone, and Samsung has to figure out how to win over future customers.
All of these first- and second-generation phones are expected to see significant improvements in the coming year. Iteration can be a bit boring for phone buyers, but it's often good for usability and reliability, two key reasons why users are still reluctant to move to foldable phones.
That said, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be the biggest upgrade to the Galaxy Z since the Galaxy Z Fold 2. While our leaks so far don't seem to be able to determine the direction Samsung will take, it looks like the next Z Fold is going to be a big deal.
I also have a slightly unrealistic hope that in 2024 we will see the cost of foldable phones start to fall. The more mature the foldable product is, the more likely we are to see **from the current high**.
However, the highly anticipated piece of the foldable device cake is the iPhone Flip. It has been rumored for years that if it finally launches next year, we will surely have the most important year in the folding screen sector. But even if Apple decides to stick with it for another year, there's still a lot to look forward to.