I am an early adopter, as far as my wallet allows. I’m interested in the cutting edge of evolving technology and am easily influenced by marketing, so I’m always itching to get my hands on the latest devices. Foldable devices were particularly appealing at the time of their release, representing the biggest advancement in the smartphone industry since the iPhone in 2008. The price was exorbitant so I had to wait for the time to come, but finally the time came and I was able to get my device. The first foldable smartphone.
I fell in love with the Moto Razr (2023) and had fun folding and unfolding it, setting up the camera to take long-distance selfies, and enjoying everything that comes with the half-folding display. However, the more I used it, the more I realized that foldable smartphones weren’t for me. That is until Google finally took action and launched Pixel Flip.
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At this point, I’ve spent the better part of a decade living with my Google smartphone or dying. The Nexus 6P was the first product I tried after two Samsung Galaxy S5s stuck in a boot loop for several months straight, followed by a consistent but well-distributed range of Pixels. I’ve reviewed dozens of other smartphones from different companies, but I always come back to the Pixel.
I thought things would change if I had a foldable clamshell cell phone. I thought the Motorola Razr and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip would allow me to ignore some of the less intuitive aspects of non-Google smartphones, like not being able to take a screenshot of a flight ticket and add it to Google Wallet. Or take additional steps to set up your Bluetooth device. I wanted to believe that I could ignore the unfamiliar Quick Settings tint and lack of Google One features and still enjoy the beauty of a clamshell foldable device as my go-to device for the time being. . Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
These small inconveniences aren’t deal-breakers on their own, but they all combined made the novelty of the device wear off faster than I would have liked. It all points to an undeniable fact. That being said, I’m a Google phone user. As much as you want a clamshell smartphone, at the end of the day, functionality trumps when it comes to mobile devices.
Why Pixel Fold doesn’t work either
For those of you screaming at your device that Google’s foldable device exists, trust me I know. The Google Pixel Fold and Pixel 9 Pro Fold are great foldable devices. These phones are thin enough that they don’t feel unnatural or bulky, and the software experience has been polished in the second generation to give you the full Google experience. This is obviously very necessary for my smartphone needs.
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So what exactly is the problem? In short, you don’t need a small smartphone display or tablet screen right away. That’s not what I’m interested in about foldable smartphones. I miss folding and unfolding my phone. I miss closing the door and getting off the phone with people. Frankly, I miss pant pockets being 6-inch rectangles and not stuffed to the rafters.
On top of that, the price of the Pixel Fold, and really any foldable device that chooses to add a second, larger display, is not exorbitant, if not exorbitant. Clamshell foldable smartphones have actually become quite affordable, with the Motorola Razr available for just $700 and a recent sale as low as $449. is a more budget-friendly option than non-foldable smartphones. The Pixel Fold and its ilk, on the other hand, are primarily rental fees, ranging from $1,200 to $2,000 depending on the storage space you need and the provider you use.
However, the Pixel Fold doesn’t scratch my foldable phone itch, so I’ll just have to wait until Google announces the Pixel Flip.
