Save you a click: because of speakers, cameras, and batteries
Kind of ridiculous take – this is assuming that all phone users care about and prioritise these 3 features out of millions features the smartphone provide
I can’t help but agree with the article though. Phones being thin is an additional engineering expense, which, if avoided, could save the customer a noticable sum or you could get more features for the same price. Also more durable and bigger battery. I would take 5 extra mm to my phone for all that.
Why cameras? They still keep the huge camera bump, and making it even bigger over the years.
Because consumers prioritize camera quality over everything else. It sounds stupid, because it is, but it is the number one quoted purchase factor in surveys, right above weight and screen size. Social media clout and influencer culture have made people care excessively. But the prime limitation to phone camera qualities is sensor size. They are tiny, they have to be. The larger the sensor, the larger the optics required for them to catch light properly. These are physical limitations that will never go away. If anyone wants better quality cameras, it means either bigger bumps on phones or switching to large sensor dedicated professional cameras. Any foldable phone is forever cursed to have a bump as long as people care about those big three.
Apparently the fact that they cost a small fortune isn’t a big deal.
Optimizing folding screens for cost apparently was never an option. One can dream, at least.
