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How much is too much? Are these portable computers we carry around that just happen to be able to make phone calls really worth a small fortune? Would you pay over $2000 for a mobile phone that can fold in half?
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip on sale in Australia April 3 for [AUS]$2199
[...] At the Z Flip's [AUS]$2199 price it's [AUS]$200 more than the Galaxy S20 Ultra we told you was too expensive and too big earlier this month.
The Z Flip may be even more expensive but it is at least smaller, and gets even more so when you fold it in half to stash in your pocket or bag.
The new wave of foldable phones are very expensive, but that's also part of their appeal.
"The Galaxy Z Flip is a statement piece and we can't wait to see what Australians do with it," Samsung vice president of mobile Garry McGregor said.
On the other end of the scale, Huawei has announced its new foldable, the Mate Xs, will also be coming to Australia soon.
[...] The phone, a horizontally folding device that opens up into an 8-inch tablet is described by the company as a "high-end, luxury device," which partly explains its massive price tag.
The Huawei Mate Xs is due to go on sale here April 9 for [AUS]$3999, but is already available for pre-order.
[...] Huawei's local managing director Larking Huang said the phone was "ideal for tech seekers or anyone who craves performance, design and usability".
"Australian consumers will benefit from an unprecedented, immersive experience, all at the touch of their fingertips. Offering large dual displays, ultra-slim foldable form and all-day usage – Australians will be able to do business on the go or watch movies," he said.
What they won't be able to do is use any of Google's mobile services, like the Play Store, Gmail, Drive, Maps, YouTube, and other apps Australians rely on to do business, and indeed watch movies.
Huawei was banned from using those when it was placed on a US list of "banned entities" last year.
What is the most you will pay for a mobile phone?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 18 2020, @03:22PM (3 children)
Mobile phones have two killer features, as far as I am concerned. First, they let family members contact you in case of an emergency. I didn't care about that until I had kids. Second, navigation with real time traffic updates. If you don't travel or you live somewhere with decent public transit, you don't need that. But otherwise, it's incredibly handy.
All your criticisms stand, though. I am even tempted to get a flip phone for mobile communication and a traditional smartphone for real time nav that I keep in the car and only turn on when I use it.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday March 18 2020, @05:08PM
My 2006 flip "feature phone" did basically everything that I need from a mobile phone, even to this day. The bigger screen of the smartphone is nicer for reading news stories or sharing photos/videos, but the flip phone (a motorola fat version of their Razr) was actually better at making and receiving calls. Flip phone + 7" fold-out tablet would be my preferred tech combo, but they quit making good flip phones, and if I'm carrying a 6" phablet anyway - it's no wonder why the 7" tablet market is so sad.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 18 2020, @06:08PM
I'd recommend getting something like the Go Flip 3 and then just buying a standalone GPS unit in that case. They last for years, and are designed specifically for that application. For me, between the GPS and the flip phone, it was like $500. If you don't need a motorcycle specific GPS unit, you can likely get one for far less.
(Score: 2) by toddestan on Thursday March 19 2020, @03:37AM
I remember back when one of the killer features was that telemarketers weren't supposed to call mobile phones, and generally didn't. That's long since dead as telemarketers and robocallers no longer care about laws, but was one of the big factors in my decision to dump the landline in favor of a mobile phone years ago.