yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel Fold] jtizzle34:
I'm absolutely loving this phone! Btw I've had a Samsung fold 3 and 4 and never had the screen protectors come off of them or crack or whatever. Also I've dropped my fold 4 on concrete because I'm dumb and hate cases but it still works absolutely flawlessly! So what I'm trying to say is my experience with folding phones is very positive thus far! I hope my pixel fold continues the trend. So far so good. (I'm getting a case this time around 🤣)
[Google Pixel Fold] Haizum74:
I'm on day 2 of owning a pixel fold. I have had the fold 3 but had to send it back 3 times due to issues with it, so I was reluctant to go for the fold however I found one at a good price and bought it.

The phones design itself is, for me, spot on. It's got a good sized front screen that I use more than I did with the chocolate bar sized fold 3, and on opening the pixel, I prefer the bezels surround the screen. It gives me somewhere to put my fingers so I don't touch the screen itself when holding it.

Battery life has been fantastic. I used maps on the inner screen whilst at work for near 4 hours screen on time and went from 94% to 38% and an hour of that was playing youtube too.

The only let down is the software. It feels like we've just bought ourselves an expensive ticket to become beta testers for their software.

The fact that something as simple as being able to have a different layout on the front screen vs the inner which hasn't been implemented by google and should have been there from launch, is insane. Samsung has had 4 years or so to crack theirs so why google didn't take a look over the fence and implement some of their features is anyones guess.

I am hoping that near future updates will fix this however as it stands now, I am more than happy despite the niggles.
[Google Pixel Fold] krabman:
I read they did it to try and manipulate app developers into making apps fold/tablet ready.

I agree with you however; the launcher is crap. It's an unfortunate miss because it's easy to fix a crap launcher on a rectangle but none of the available launchers are 100% with a folding phone as of today.
[Google Pixel Fold] TheMystic:
That is unfortunately true.

Both hardware and software from Google are a letdown, even if their prices are ignored, given what competing brands offer.
[Google Pixel Fold] Haizum74:
The other point I forgot to add was the lack of any accessories in the box, such as a charger or a front screen protector especially as we are paying a serious premium for a first edition device.

Not only that but including a charger, for example, is more eco friendly than buying separately especially when companies are supposed to be promising to bring their carbon footprint down, amongst other things.

Of course, they make more money that way but still, £1800 and no charger.....
[Google Pixel Fold] blackhawk:
Both Google and especially Samsung have been throwing huge amounts of resources and money at Fold technology for years. The displays are still cracking or otherwise failing epidemicly; it's not a question of if it will fail only when.

Neither Google or Samsung after all this time have brought any truly inspiring innovation to this flawed form factor. A dead horse of a form factor. Who uses a square monitor? Hands?

Only Fold users do.

Prices are obscene, repairs extremely difficult and out of warranty repairs are prohibitively expensive. The price/functionality/usability/durability are still a sick joke even after 5 years. This won't get fixed because it was doomed conceptually from the start.
[Google Pixel Fold] simplepinoi177:
Well said.

It will go the way of 3D movies and/or 3D Home Theaters -- maybe a more advanced technology, but with inherent-from-the-start pitfalls (every single person in the room has to have their own 3D "active" glasses which are expensive in their own right [imagine how much trying for a whole family and extended family to curl around the TV to watch], viewing angles issues) in the end a single word encapsulates it = gimmick.

And I absolutely love big phones for myself -- for me, the bigger the better -- and if there was another way to transport a phone that size unfolded easily around I would probably go for it; but making it foldable is something I could never reconcile myself with -- ever since the first foldable was announced...
[Google Pixel Fold] blackhawk:
Yeah I love big displays with minimum bezel, square display corners and good performance/SOT. A favorable form factor unfolded would be almost square folded; not ideal no matter how you try to do it.
[Google Pixel Fold] krabman:
Square = good. Or at least can equal good.

Much better Internet browsing than a rectangle for those of us who prefer the often greatly enhanced functions available on the desktop versions of web pages. It also allows for significantly better formatting and attendant useability with multi-pane GUIs. It makes emails requiring more complex construction much easier to write. Better mobile teleconferencing and chat. I can go on but you get the idea.

The posts above me remind me of so many technological innovations. I can recall when microwaves were considered an unnecessay gimmick. They were deemed too expensive, it was said they heated poorly, their reliability and repair costs were mocked. It isn't the only item I'm able to see from where I'm sitting in the breakfast nook that were once considered gimmicks but are now ubiquitous.

Let's consider call phones. I grew up without them, they didn't exist. Even my kids grew up without them although we they were in their teens I did become an early adopter. At that time few had ever seen a cell phone. They were considered stupidly expensive, unreliable, easily lost or stolen, as serving little benefit or utility, agimmick only the foolish would indulge.

Still seem that way now? If I imagine all the things in my life that are now commonplace commodities that started out as described above, a pointless gimmick with no future, it would not be a short list. Technology moves on with or without those with closed minds.

This device concept is selling in increasing numbers and that will continue to escalate as the tech evolves. It may move to rollers, better folding screens and mechanisms, or a new technology not yet discovered or announced. But it's coming. Prices will go down incrementally over time. Reliability will go up. Like every new tech early adopters will pay more and get less. People will complain about it in the early days; usually out of ignorance, and tell others why they shouldn't buy into it even when they're happy to accept the limitations of that tech. This is the way of it with budding technologies.

Personally, I knew I was never going back to a rectangle with my first folder. Flaws and all it's better tech that makes my life easier and improves my overall phone experience.
[Google Pixel Fold] Haizum74:
Talking of dead horses.....When the concept of what we consider to be the norm, the car, was first doing the rounds back in the late 1800's, people shunned the idea.

Thomas Edison had other ideas...

"Talking of the horseless carriage suggests to my mind that the horse is doomed. The bicycle, which, 10 years ago, was a curiosity, is now a necessity. It is found everywhere. Ten years from now you will be able to buy a horseless vehicle for what you would pay today for a wagon and a pair of horses. The money spent in the keep of the horses will be saved and the danger to life will be much reduced.”

“It is only a question of a short time when the carriages and trucks of every large city will be run by motors. The expense of keeping and feeding horses in a great city like New York is very heavy, and all this will be done away with. You must remember that every invention of this kind which is made adds to the general wealth by introducing a new system of greater economy of force. A great invention which facilitates commerce, enriches a country just as much as the discovery of vast hoards of gold.”

It reminded me of your post. "Doomed conceptually from the start" you say?! Well.....lets see in 10 years from now.
[Google Pixel Fold] blackhawk:
No transparent plastic or adhesive system can survive that flexing bend radius long enough to make it reliable*. That's not changing for the foreseeable future.

The form factor unfolded sucks and has a crease, that's not changing either. It's unlikely the movie format will become square.

Yeah after 5 years it's still limping along like an Edsel.

Edison?🤣

Tesla's inventions are still powering the world and transmitting information wirelessly. That's true innovation and genius.

*is there any Fold that's be in use every day, for the last 4 years without a major repair?

This N10+ has... still going. A low estimate of 9000 service hours probably closer to >12k.
[Google Pixel Fold] Haizum74:
I made no mention of Tesla nor his inventions (or Edisons for that matter). I merely pointed out that your narrative is typical of people who appear to fear forward thinking ideas and technology whereas others embrace them and are more open to the ideas of what can be achieved by being pro active.

Yes, the PF has a crease, well done on the observation. In typical daily use it's not noticeable so a moot point. However you state it's not going to change. Have you seen the One Plus Open? The crease is barely visible which would indicate your statement is out of date already :)

Oh and the N10+ isn't a foldable, again not relevant to the discussion as it's a completely different design. I could say my Pixel 4a is still going strong too but it's not like for like. (y)
[Google Pixel Fold] blackhawk:
You quoted This. jeeesze.

Sorry I used the E name. Tesla on the other hand is the only reason we can have this debate now.

And where it folds is exactly where it will fail as well.

Exactly. It's (the N10+) a winning form factor for multiple reasons. Reliability being one of them.

Easier to hold as well.

Here's one Fold user's experience. Maybe Google will treat its customers better than Samsung but the down time will still be there.

You best upgrade before the warranty ends.

Samsung poured millions into this technology and it still has the same point of failure as the first generation. Just a more refined failure.
[Google Pixel Fold] simplepinoi177:
A lot of what you say is most definitely true...but for every initially-just-a-"gimmick" technology there is out there, how many truly stayed a "gimmick"? Citing my 3D movies & TVs, but there were 3 wheel cars and land&sea cars and DeLoreans and many others I imagine -- point being that there probably is only a select things that started out as "gimmicks" that ended out ubiquitous.

But I think what @blackhawk has mentioned marks a particular point; many of those "gimmicks" that ended up becoming ubiquitous started out rough but was improved to the point of being widely accepted & utilized and at a value while the ones that didn't (much like we're predicting the foldable smartphones to end up) did not start out with such inherent flaws (much like land&sea cars and DeLoreans and such) that seemingly indicates no amount of improvement (or improvement in a soon enough time while consumer interest is still high & active) can overcome. It seems the foldable smartphones flaws can be mitigated, but really never erased; and if it affects longevity, widespread adoption would be unlikely to get to a point where it's acceptable that this expensive piece of technology is just waiting to degrade & break.
[Google Pixel Fold] Haizum74:
Just a small point but 3 wheel cars have been successful.
[Google Pixel Fold] TheMystic:
Technology has both advantages and disadvantages. People's lives are far less 'private' today than it ever was. Products that were once considered indispensable are now known to be extremely harmful, e.g. plastic (in some forms), CFC, etc. But that's how learning happens. It is not always possible to know how a product can be destructive in the lomg run. Microwave is one such example. The food that you eat after microwaving it is often food that is prepared several hours/ days or even weeks earlier. It is easy to see how unhealthy it is for the body in the long run. Same holds true for 'Fast Food'. Today there is awareness that it is among the top reasons for poor health.

Just because something is convenient doesn't mean it is good. With all the technological advancements there is today, are human beings healthier? Happier? Safer? Simple answer is NO. So how did all the technological advancements contribute to the wellbeing of lives?

I'm certain nobody thought of the telephone/ cellphone/ aeroplane, etc. as gimmicks or items of little utility. They were indeed stupidly expensive at some point. All the advancements in technology has indeed made life easier and comfortable, but at the cost of long-term destruction of mental and physical health.
[Google Pixel Fold] Colchiro:
I see good points from both of you.

Anyone who does their research on foldables before buying, will know they aren't forever-phones. There's reviews all over the place. Little reason to buy a PF or any other brand and not know this eventuality.

When the foldable closed achieves 7P proportions (aka a much taller PF), you'll have an unfolded experience better suited for movies. I still see a letterbox on my 65" Sony when watching a BluRay movie. Nothing's perfect.
[Google Pixel Fold] Haizum74:
No phone is a forever phone though, eventually software updates render them useless (bar rooting for example). As for watching movies, I was looking at my TV today and thought 'If they halved that and made a foldable in that shape....' :) However yes, even watching a film on a widscreen TV brings up black borders, I see no issue with a foldable having similar borders. They are good for retro emulation though.
[Google Pixel Fold] krabman:
They thought exactly that. You weren't there and can't imagine a world with no cell phones. Think about it. There was no Internet. You couldn't send a text because it wasn't a thing yet and your phone didn't even have a screen. You usually didn't have a signal. Your phone would make it from morning until about lunch time before needing a top off if you were going to make or receive a call because a full change gave you about 30 minutes of talk.

Then there was the question of who you were going to call; when few people had one it was pretty much going to be a landline which meant your party needed to be home to get the call. More likely; it was to/or from business or work.

You've got to remember that people weren't in constant contact. No cell, remember? No one was accustomed to getting or receiving calls except at home or work and even personal calls usually had a reason; let's meet at here at this time, wanna go have drinks, etc. No Internet so you didn't get memes, jokes, links, etc. Some people were actually hostile to the idea of getting a call which would intrude upon their peace and quiet.

Lol. No, cells were considered egregiously unnecessary, relatively useless, and yeah, a gimmick, back in the beginning. It changed quickly but thats true with most new tech.
[Google Pixel Fold] Haizum74:
And getting a lock put on the rotary phone was a real PITA too. 😆
[Google Pixel Fold] Maxx134:
I am now an owner of a new Pixel Fold. At this point in time, it would not make immediate sense, because the OnePlus Open is out. Indeed, I had a great deal of $1450 (more if I had good trade in), but I declined, and here's why:

1-didnt follow past Oppo form factor, or Pixel Fold form factor.

2-reminded me of a ZFold

3-unknown camera processing compared to Pixel Fold.

4- more narrow than the Pixel Fold.

Coming from super narrow Samsung zFold3&4 candy bar, to the w-i-de screens of Surface Dou1&2 size, I was now used to True multitasking, so NOT prepared to compromise in screen width. It must be a normal width, as I hated hated narrow aspect ratios lead to compromised multitasking and app errors. Even web pages didn't load to view properly in Samsung split screen. It was useless when held vertically.

So I was initially very disappointed to hear that Oneplus chose to go more narrow than Pixel Fold, so I went ahead with what should matter most about the Pixel Fold:

1-screen is a normal width

2-camera is one of best, if not the best at natural colors.

3-uncompormised pocketability over the rest by not being so tall.

4- have "tent mode" ability, like a "Surface Duo"

I would not get side tracked with the Pixel's technical flaws, (runs warm, not as bright) because in real world usage:

1- It still gets the job done!

2- It's battery life still lasts longer than Samsung!

3- It's having a "normal" aspect ratio for 2 app multitasking!

Samsung 3-app multitasking is just a gimmick on the zfold, because it reduces two of those 3 apps to USELESS square boxes!

Only fanbois won't admit this.

Looking back now, the OnePlus showing totally new way of the 3 app multitasking, making it truly better than Samsung, but the narrow form factor persists, as does some app stretch issues (what Pixel had).

At the bottom of the day, the OnePlus is still not a standard width phone. The Pixel Fold is. So it's outer screen will be a smaller view, when trying to view video. You will be forced to open the unit, just like the Samsung forced you to open it for everything.

Those that dismiss this as not important, most probably never used a Surface Duo, so are used to "single"- tasking.

They would deny the reality of human nature to open a book format, to view a monitor or watch a TV/movie in Landscape format. Ask them to place their TV 90° vertically, and they would then call you Insane, but that's what they are doing with their narrow/tall phones.
[Google Pixel Fold] hubono:
Hi

Thank you for sharing.

Im currently in the process of upgrading my pixel 7 pro. I started by looking into the pixel 8 pro. Then the oneplus open came so i added it to the list of contenders. 2 days ago i finally got to hold a pixel fold. I thought it was a very good sized phone. The person who was using the fold was praising it so it made me add it to the list of contenders.

Now i have 3 choices:

1. Pixel 8 pro

2. Pixel fold

3. Oneplus open

Im leaning towards the pixel 8 pro or the pixel fold. The fact that oneplus is running an older android 13 is the downer for me. Im currently using Android 14 beta 2.1 on my pixel and about to update it to beta 2.2.

Thinking about the oneplus I cant imagine that i will be happy to go back to using Android 13. Just shoot me now better. Plus i haven't heard good things about the color os. I have always been an Android vanilla guy.

Your post is now making me more and more leaning towards the pixel fold than the pixel 8 pro.

Im open to anyone who wants to chime in.

Cheers
[Google Pixel Fold] sawdoctor:
I switched from the z fold 3 to the pixel fold, it's my 1st pixel device. Plus points i love the form factor, i love getting latest software and i love the ease of root and the customisation with root.

Things i don't like are the hinge, it has to be forced to open flat it doesn't spring/lock like the Samsung. A lot of the pixel exclusive features are USA only and can only be enabled with root.

I do prefer it to the zfold 3 and am happy with the phone, hope that helps
[Google Pixel Fold] Colchiro:
I'd go for the 8P and maybe consider the Fold2 next year, if you're inclined to upgrade.
[Google Pixel Fold] fred2546:
I got out my Pixel 6 Pro to take pictures of my Fold. I do have to say I like the size and dimensions and weight of the 6 Pro but I really like my Pixel Fold. Obviously tradeoffs.
[Google Pixel Fold] Colchiro:
I want a Fold with newer hardware and the folded size of my 7P, so much taller than now and same weight or less as the current PF. If the 8P had been available before the PF, I would have gone that route, and gone for the PF2.
[Google Pixel Fold] fred2546:
Do you have a Pixel Fold? I guess we can all dream.... ;) Getting it that thin will take some new inventions, I suspect. The newer hardware is something that they should have gone with. I don't know how much redesign would have been necessary to accommodate the newer "chips and guts"
[Google Pixel Fold] Colchiro:
Yes I have a PF, but I did not specify the thickness, only the taller screen of the 7P.
[Google Pixel Fold] fred2546:
Oh, I presumed less WEIGHT would require a thinner body. I also wish that for myself! :)
[Google Pixel Fold] krabman:
I would like them to stop designing pretty phones that are easily breakable, that we then put in cases that ruin the pretty for which we just overpaid, but wont see again until we take the phone out of the case when we send it in on trade.

That's what I would like. Crazy talk, I know.
[Google Pixel Fold] blackhawk:
Ruggedized? Imagine how much more they'd want for that. People would bwitch about the added thickness and weight.

My 2010 Samsung flip phone was the last ruggedized phone I had, it still works.
[Google Pixel Fold] fred2546:
Hey, did you get the fancy case yet? I still want to see it. No card slots.
[Google Pixel Fold] Colchiro:
I just want a taller screen and latest h/w.
[Google Pixel Fold] krabman:
I got the case; long story on that one and not yet fully resolved. I'll post up when it's all said and done.
[Google Pixel Fold] Maxx134:
I updated my views on the Pixel Fold vs OnePlus Open:

We have to give props to Oneplus and admit that it is "the best" foldable in American market.

Yet here are the Reasons why the Pixel Fold will remain the "better" choice for a "daily driver" for me.

1-Pixel Fold Superiority in Camera Stabilization, quick shot, and image color. Still best on any foldable (save upcoming Huawei mate X5)

OnePlus huge glass covering the cameras takes up half the phone and videos show light interference (lens flare) can be noticed. Plus this outer glass can get scratched. At the least you will be constantly wiping the glass, as you cannot hold the device without touching it. Trying to hold the OnePlus below the cameras will make it feel "top heavy".

2-Pixel Fold having the NORMAL sized aspect ratio, of phone "width", which cannot be overstated.

3-Pixel Fold's thermal issues (running warm) is pretty much resolved on Android 14 QPR1 Beta 2.2

4-If you open the OnePlus unit, and rotate it 90°, you get the EXACT same "outer" dimensions as Pixel Fold(!)...

If the Pixel didn't have wide bezels when opened, its screen size would be exactly same!(within millimeter).

Anyways, I placed some cool looking carbon fiber vynl cover on my bezels, so it's more customizable!

5-PixelFold has the more advanced google keyboard, and complex "hey google" ease of verbal commands (AI), and speech to text in the google keyboard is unrivaled in the Pixel Fold. You also get transcripts of voice messages.You don't get this same keyboard on other phones.

6- You can get 5 row icons on outer screen with the Android 14 QPR1 Beta 2.2

7-The competition's vertical fold crease, is always in the way, when having to turn it's vertically narrow fold 90°, to get it as wide as the Pixel.

8- The OnePlus narrow/vertical aspect ratio, just like other foldables, makes the Pixel Fold's "normal" phone width unique, and it's shorter horizontal passport book format makes it more useful in the hand.

9-Wireless charging is of lesser importance, but always a useful edge in real world charging access points.

10-The Pixel Fold is More pocketable than the taller folds. For those that think slimmer is pocketable, try sitting/squatting with a tall phone in front pocket. It will pop out!

11-One handed swiping to reach the top menu bar, is easily reachable on shorter Pixel Fold. Its better in the hand.

12- You get "infinite" folding positions. OnePlus cannot and will want to snap open once you pass 90° open!

Once you get over the competition's honeymoon phase, you will realize that the bottom line will always come to the aspect ratio (they are all good otherwise), and how much more compact & useful the Pixel Fold feels in the hand, thruout the day 😮