Foldable phones are getting durable, but not more useful

Foldable phones have come a long way in just a few years. Early models felt fragile and experimental, but newer devices are tougher.

Crease-free displays and improved hinges now make them look more polished than before.

In fact, many foldable smartphones now show better durability in drop tests and stress tests.

On the surface, it seems like foldables are finally ready for the mainstream market.

However, it is important to note that durability alone does not make a phone useful.

The big problem remains the same: software still struggles to justify the foldable design.

When foldables first launched, the pitch was clear. They would combine the portability of a phone with the screen size of a tablet.

Fold the phone for easy carrying, unfold it when you want more room. It sounded perfect for multitasking, reading, or watching videos.

Many buyers imagined the device would change how they worked and played. They expected unique experiences that a flat phone could never offer.

Manufacturers have done serious work on the hardware side. Hinges now last longer and resist dust better.

Screens look smoother, with less visible creases. Some models even use ultra-thin glass that bends without breaking.

This progress matters because durability was the biggest concern in the early days.

No one wanted to pay a premium price for a phone that broke easily. Now foldables finally feel like they can survive daily use without babying them.

Hardware may have improved, but software has not caught up. Most apps still treat a foldable like a normal phone.

When you unfold the larger display, many apps simply stretch out. You get more space, but not more value.

True multitasking features exist, but they often feel clunky. Splitting the screen into multiple apps is possible, but switching between them is awkward.

Few apps take advantage of the extra room to offer new layouts or tools.

This is the real frustration. The form factor opens exciting possibilities, but the software rarely makes them feel necessary.

Foldables also remain expensive. Some cost almost twice as much as a normal flagship phone.

That premium is harder to justify when the software experience feels incomplete.

Therefore, many of the buyers are paying for prestige and not for any real daily benefits.

For many users, a regular phone plus a tablet still makes more sense. You get more reliable software, better app support, and often save money.

The future of foldables depends on solving the software problem. Hardware improvements will continue, but they can only go so far.

People really need new ways to make use of the large screen, but for now, a foldable phone does not feel like a real productivity tool.

The apps on this device need to be able to adapt automatically and show extra panels, controls, or information when unfolded.

Games could use the extra space for split controls. Video calls could feel more natural with smart layouts. These are the experiences that would justify the higher price.

Until then, foldables remain in an awkward space. They are strong enough to survive daily life, but still searching for a reason to exist.

Foldable phones are no longer fragile toys. They are durable, stylish, and technically impressive.

But durability without usefulness leaves a gap, and people do not buy phones just to admire hinges or count fewer creases.

To win over the mainstream, foldables need more than stronger hardware. They need software that makes the form factor matter in daily life.

If the software to not work seamlessly, these devices will be just expensive gadgets that people own to prove an irrelevant point.