I Switched to a Foldable Phone Instead of a PC, and I Can not Get Back
It is easy for me to take what I need with me and work from anywhere given that I only carry one device. My work environment and methodology have evolved, as the mobile form factor enables me to compose even when ambulating.
My phone's capabilities are enhanced for work and play by the accessories I use, which are essential. When a laptop or tablet is not available, most people see foldables as a method to increase productivity. I purchased mine to completely replace my laptop. As strange as it may sound, I am finding it hard to return to using a traditional PC.
I Only Have One Device Now.
I have to be adaptable because I work remotely around the schedules of my family members. When the kids are playing in the kitchen, it is sometimes the ideal moment for me to work. It is at the library sometimes. It is in the automobile at times. A messenger bag was something I used to always have with me. It contained my laptop, a mouse, a hotspot, and a charger. I would also pack a Bluetooth keyboard if I choose to use a tablet in place of a laptop. I also occasionally carried a bulky DSLR.
I can leave the bag at home now that I am used to working from a foldable. Every time I leave the house, I carry a S Pen in my pocket along with my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (which we reviewed). My phone has every capability, capacity, and power I require to carry out my duties.
My Workplace and Methods Have Changed
I was already used to using my laptop to work from a variety of locations. I wrote for years when my son was in preschool, from a public library. While my car was charging at a free level 2 public charging station, I wrote this. I have done work at local parks' picnic tables.
The list of locations has been greatly expanded. I walking around can write thanks to a foldable. To relieve my fingers, I also frequently use speech-to-text on my phone. This allows me to work while walking around the quiet room, the driveway, or the back porch. I have been writing in the woods, perching on a bench and staring at the neighboring creek. I take some notes while I wait for my kids to get picked up from school.
I have also grown to love utilizing apps that work with my S Pen. I use Samsung Notes on a daily basis since jotting thoughts down has a qualitatively different feel than typing them up. I can work in many fewer places now that I have switched to a laptop, and even though I can utilize speech-to-text on a laptop, I still tend to squint at the keyboard in front of me.
Accessory Value Is Everything
My favorite way to play games these days is with AR glasses and a paired Bluetooth controller. Since certain types are inexpensive and compact, I have portable monitors in several rooms of my house. My spouse and I enjoy watching movies together while propped up in bed. The wonderful part is that since these accessories are merely hardware, none of them have the artificial end-of-life that results from stopping software upgrades.
My old laptop is slower than my phone.
Folding phones in the shape of books are among the priciest high-end phones available. The processor in mine is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. That was the most powerful mobile chip for Android phones when my phone was released in 2023.
When combined with 12GB of RAM, this processor performs incredibly well. This phone has loaded everything I have thrown at it with ease. Everything appears smooth at refresh rates of up to 120 Hz. Any YouTube review will demonstrate that this phone is perfectly capable of handling demanding games like Genshin Impact.
Nothing about the laptop it replaced allows me to say this. Please understand that while my laptop was never a powerhouse, many of us do not own gaming PCs or business ultrabooks. $400 Modern high-end phones feel far faster than Windows PCs or Chromebooks.
Is a high-end PC less powerful than a foldable phone? Not really. However, using a mobile device can offer a level of performance that most PCs can not quite match because of how efficiently they manage memory.
The Only Foldable That Can Do Everything Is Samsung's
Since the Galaxy Z Fold is now the most competent gadget, I went with it instead of the competitors. Although other options might offer more RAM, faster charging times, or better cameras, they do not have the hidden features that have allowed me to fully commit to one device. I have already talked about how much I adore the S Pen. It is now an essential component of my workflow. A stylus can provide mouse-like precision and allow you to hover over links, navigate dropdown menus, and complete other operations that are tough to do with fingers.
What is more, the Z Fold comes with a desktop mode called Samsung DeX that runs on Android. Every time I connect my phone to an external display of any kind, this appears.
I can connect my phone to an external display instead of switching devices when a task needs more room than my phone's internal screen can offer.
Additionally, it means that I can cast DeX to my parents' TV using Miracast and stream the content using my own account whenever I want to watch a movie at their house.
Both the OnePlus Open and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold require your phone to remain open in order to perform screen mirroring, which is limited to connecting to an external monitor and typically results in black bars.
There is absolutely no support for connecting an external display to the Pixel Fold of the first generation.
Additionally, compared to its rivals, Samsung offers more comprehensive multitasking and greater app compatibility overall.
I truly enjoy the OnePlus Open's novel Open Canvas mode, but not all programs are compatible with it, and even fewer support running in a floating window.
Using a foldable for a few months has altered my work habits, gaming habits, video watching habits, and more.
All in all, it has decreased the amount I always carry with me and changed the accessories I keep about the house. These days, the flexibility I have to give up makes me feel like I am traveling back in time whenever I pull out my laptop.