Samsung’s Galaxy Fold series has been a bold and brave experiment in smartphone design, pioneering the foldable form factor. However, five years into the experiment, it’s clear that folding phones have not lived up to expectations. With foldable phones making up just around 1% of total smartphone shipments in 2023, Samsung dominates the market with roughly 15 million folding phones sold per year.

The latest addition to the Galaxy Fold lineup, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, represents Samsung’s most refined design yet. The device boasts a sleek matte finish, solid hinge, and overall refinement that sets it apart from its predecessors. Despite these improvements, some key issues persist:

– The cover screen remains too tiny and narrow for comfortable use
– The device is thick when closed, making it bulky in pockets
– The camera system falls short compared to competitors like Xiaomi and Honor

While the Galaxy Z Fold 6 showcases impressive engineering feats and innovative software features like Sketch to Image, it still struggles to address fundamental issues with its form factor. With sales figures reflecting limited consumer interest in foldable phones, Samsung may need to go back to the drawing board and rethink the entire concept.

While Samsung has the resources and talent to create a groundbreaking foldable phone, it’s clear that adjustments are needed to truly resonate with consumers. As Samsung continues to innovate in the smartphone market, reimagining the foldable phone concept could be the key to success moving forward.