智慧手機產業近10年來藉由多鏡頭相機、智慧語音助理、運動健康偵測、USB Type-C傳輸埠、無線充電模組、5G網路系統等軟硬體變革，支撐消費市場維持穩定的2~3年換機潮。近年以AMOLED主動式矩陣可彎曲螢幕為基礎發展的摺疊式手機，原本由產業製造商到通路業者皆期待是足夠觸發換機潮的重量級技術應用，但這幾年累積的銷售成長僅突破市占率1%關卡。
如果要繼續探討AMOLED摺疊螢幕手機的發展性，首先值得一提的是摺疊手機的2支產品分流：Book-fold書本摺疊(左右開合式)、Palm-fold掌心摺疊(上下開合式)的市場反應。Book-fold摺疊機展開後螢幕尺寸達9~10吋(2片7~8吋面板的面積)，已經具備小型平板電腦的功能水準，買1台抵2機的優勢，足以在高階商務市場立有一席之地，市場銷售成長穩定。賣點在袖珍收納的Palm-fold摺疊機要面臨的挑戰反而艱鉅不少：消費者期待的是「輕薄短小，經濟實惠」，但目前Palm-fold掌心摺疊機受限於AMOLED螢幕、收摺絞鏈、與散熱機構的硬體限制，除了體積收摺成一半的優點(正確地說：是體積相同，摺後機體面積少一半)，在重量、性能、價格都與一般智慧手機沒有區隔；另外，在華人市場，一般民眾指關節靈活的生物族群特徵，對摺疊機開闔動作不排斥，生活動線上對袖珍收納的需求期望較高。對照起來，在歐洲、北美、南美市場，摺疊機屬於小眾需求。以全球產銷市場來看：摺疊手機在中國大陸的市占率達2.6%，美國市場僅1%且主要以Book-fold摺疊機為主；製造商除了率先開發AMOLED摺疊螢幕手機的Samsung佔有60%以上市場份額之外，中國大陸有華為、Oppo、Vivo、小米，還有小廠家OnePlus等持續投入開發摺疊機產品，美國則有Motorola(在傳統類比手機時代以StarTAC摺疊機暢銷稱王)、Google(僅限Book-fold摺疊機)推出摺疊機；蘋果陣營與其他手機品牌製造商，近期還看不到有摺疊機投產上市的跡象。
從市場表現來審視觀察產品趨勢，當然很重要；但從新產品的技術應用發展，觀察摺疊手機在品質、功能、性能、美學的提升，欣賞製作者在創意、工藝的展現，也是一個有趣的視角。Samsung的Galaxy Z Flip系列Palm-fold摺疊機，自2020年2月第一代上市以來，已於2024年8月推出第六代Z Flip6新機(台灣市場)，在4年半的時間裡從實驗型產品蛻變為相當成熟完備的產品，讓AMOLED螢幕功能更符合消費者利益。藉由新機實機的使用驗證，我們有如下的歸納整理：
一、Z Flip6的產品完成度：
其實，從配置耐彎折20萬次AMOLED螢幕、全貼合無縫收折Flex Hinge轉軸鉸鏈的Z Flip5(以下簡稱ZF5，依此類推)開始，Samsung摺疊手機就已經是成熟度非常高、工藝品等級的產品。Z Flip6在既有產品硬體軟體利用效率已臻天花板的框架下，有幾項相當有特色與消費者親善的擰毛巾式工程進化：
(1)
音質(尤其低音部分)、功率、共鳴室(一線天的條縫通道設計)提升的喇叭系統，無論是音樂、影片播放、或是免持聽筒模式的對方來話，音質都更加飽滿清晰。讓使用者很樂意將這支手機直接拿來當音樂播放器、無線對講機、視訊會議機使用。
(2)
霧面防指紋背板。
(3)
應該是台灣市場專用的雙卡插槽。
(4)
機身再削薄0.02 cm (比ZF4少0.1 cm，比ZF5少0.02 cm)。無法削短的相機鏡頭機柱，使用飾圈來美化這一段視覺段差，零違和。
(5)
主螢幕的中間摺痕再改善，視角要大於15度才能看見凹痕。螢幕更新頻率由定頻式升級為自適應式。
(6)
連續三代(ZF4之後)的機身重量都控制在187g。除了硬體規格逐代提升，ZF6還加進了Vapor
Chamber均溫板來處理硬體超頻的散熱，可以想見全機重量定格在187g的工程挑戰。
(7)
其它升級：處理器(Snapdragon 8 三代)、記憶體(128 GB)、主鏡頭(5000萬畫素)、電池容量(4000 mAh)、IP48防水防塵(新增防塵功能)、新增Galaxy AI功能(繪圖智慧助理)等，大部分是源於市場與產業的軍備競賽，對於消費者利益提升不是很顯著，所以一筆帶過。
二、市場訂價的合理性
ZF系列摺疊機需要應用3個重要的技術或專利：奈米級OLED發光材料塗佈、可撓曲玻璃基板、摺疊鉸鏈機構；另外，比傳統6~7吋手機再加掛1個3.4吋面板，合計起來的研發與材料成本落在100美金，再疊加通路配銷成本與製造商利潤之後，市場零售價增幅新台幣1萬元，就製造端的角度來說有一定的合理性。但就消費者的核心需求來說，只是需要把手機摺一半放進口袋裡，可以期待接受的額外加價大概是新台幣3千元。這一段製造商訂價vs消費者期待價格的落差，應該就是摺疊手機目前叫好不叫座的主要原因。
三、生活應用
收納就是Palm-fold摺疊機的絕對優勢。想要一身俐落、輕便、質感(男帥女美)的訪友、逛街、運動，不想要隨手拎著半塊磚頭出門，改用Palm-fold摺疊機就對了。
原先是為了讓摺疊手機仍能單手快速使用，不得不增加的外殼封面螢幕，讓整機價格更偏離消費者期待。但在生活應用上的幾項發展，反而讓ZF6有獨特又實用的特色功能，大幅增加CP性價比的合理性。
(1)
掌心握法、1秒開機、可以充分利用手機主鏡頭(前鏡頭)的自拍功能。自拍可以切換廣角(0.6x)、正常(1.0x)模式、以及每根毛髮可見的大頭照(2.0x)模式，大幅改善自拍經常流於千篇一律團體大頭照的老問題。但是從快門到拍照模式切換的操作介面icon太小，雖然觸控的準確度極高，但對於男性等大手掌使用者的體驗，感受欠佳。
(2)
女生重度使用、男生也有使用需求的化妝鏡、儀容鏡功能。
(3)
90度內調整角度任選、又穩又方便的自拍腳架。
(4)
收合狀態時的一觸接聽、免持聽筒功能。主要受惠於相當高的麥克風與喇叭音質，讓ZF6接聽一般電話的便利性(好握+輕鬆講)小幅勝出了傳統手機。
(5)
迷你方塊機(口袋型)GPS導航：查找、設定時仍是需要打開全螢幕才方便使用；導航狀態時螢幕收合只用封面螢幕，相當好拿、直覺、簡單方便。
(6)
汽車使用：固定架設與收納方式與傳統手機沒有甚麼差異，倒是迷你方塊機GPS的使用方式可以略為減輕駕駛人的負擔。不過有個小Bug：只用封面螢幕的GPS模式，螢幕沒有自動旋轉功能，導致使用中無法同時充電(充電埠在手機下方，被手機夾座遮蔽)
(7)
機車使用：話說應該很少有人拎著3萬元手機掛在機車上跑Uber外送。這個測試的實用性不高，答案對擁有超高防水功力的ZF6來說也是負面、不可行的。就通用型的機車用手機夾座來測試，屬於窄版的ZF6機身有夾不緊、鬆脫的問題；機車也非常好用迷你方塊機GPS模式，ZF6機身收合太厚，手機架夾不住。只適合當口袋機，在路邊停車時掏出取用使用。
四、娛樂競技
由於超緊湊機身帶來的結構性散熱限制，在相同處理器與軟硬體系統條件下，ZF這系列手機在資料處理效能、反應時間、續航力等功能性能，想當然爾略遜於同規格傳統手機，不適合娛樂競技、自媒體、3C控等類型的專業或重度使用者。
五、專業應用
(1) 非常好用的口袋型視訊會議機。太好用的立架方式、鏡頭可調角度、再說一次的很棒收話發話音質、以及中上品質的相機畫質，整體使用經驗很方便舒服。美中不足的是各家會議軟體能額外支援摺疊手機的資源稀少，所以摺疊螢幕的下半部大部分是空白閒置，如果能增添更多的操作功能鍵，會更理想。
(2) 類似手持攝影機的托式攝影模式，手部穩定、低疲累、也方便單手操作。若是使用傳統手機攝影模式，只需 要把ZF6正常展開就可以。
(3) 5000萬畫素+10倍光學變焦的前鏡頭。雖然說鏡頭的軍備競賽早已超越消費者日常所需太多太久，AI整形的畫面處理也可說是個變態扭曲的主流，但這類已是間諜級高畫素相機在勘景勘場等工作場合，還是有一些用途。
(4) Galaxy AI功能，ZF6新增了手繪輪廓、AI生成圖片的「繪圖智慧助理」功能。因為這是Samsung Galaxy系列(其實就是涵蓋全部手機產品)的功能群組軟體，對旗下各手機開放只是價位級距、時間早晚的問題。值得提及的反倒是受限於台灣市場規模，Galaxy AI裡的多項功能只支援簡體中文(最多至香港正體中文)，不支援我們台灣的正體中文。這樣的情況，也發生在汽車品牌商(尤其是韓系車廠，電動車等少量車型)的影音娛樂系統、GPS或自駕系統的操作介面上。使用不太方便、情感上有點受傷，但這就是市場為王的現實狀況。
六、產品缺點
這可以區分成2個部分來觀察，第一部分關於本類型產品的結構性缺陷，獲得修正解決的機會不大：一是摺疊手機在正常使用必須的開啟、閉合這2個額外(無價值)動作；二是來自於緊湊機身(包含轉軸鉸鏈與額外的機框架)造成的散熱限制，不適合手機的頻繁或重度使用者，所以應用AMOLED螢幕的摺疊式手機鮮有機會成為主流產品，目前製造商們專注在高價位利基型市場的策略是合理的。
第二部分是產品在設計或製造過程的不足或漏失，可以修正解決的問題：
(1)
OLED摺疊螢幕必須柔軟可折，所以觸控表面塗層的硬度不高，也無法覆蓋康寧Gorilla這樣的剛性玻璃來保護。製造商目前的做法是為內頁AMOLED螢幕貼上保護膜。這張保護膜可以視為消耗品，也是ZF6的額外維護成本。
(2)
Android、Mac兩大手機作業系統的自家裝置資料轉移(舊機換新機)，都已經相當成熟好用。Samsung自家的Smart Switch也很好操作，基本上按鍵10次以內即可解決。但不免還是會遇到與它牌產品軟硬體不相容的bug。這次從它牌手機使用USB傳輸線轉移抄寫到ZF6，半途當機中斷且重啟無效，後來改用無線網路傳輸過關。
(3)
還有一項目前消費者與製造商都少有關心的課題：包含Z Flip、Z Fold系列在內，所有各家品牌的摺疊手機的SAR電磁波溢射實測值都在1.0 w/kg以上(法定標準值是2.0 w/kg以下)。其實，市占率最高的iPhone智慧手機，似乎從第一代上市以來也沒有1支手機的實測值低於1.0 w/kg。但是在4G、3G時代，有一段時間多家製造商使用鋁鎂機框結構的智慧手機，SAR值可以降低至0.5甚至0.2 w/kg的水準。鑒於現代人對於手機的超高黏著依賴，還有愈小型手機隨身攜帶時間愈長的考量，Palm-fold摺疊機的電磁波溢射減量，不能說是一個缺點(反正現今的消費者似乎不在意)，但可以列為一個改善的課題。
七、未來發展的建議
像是Samsung這樣一流領導廠商團隊所開發的摺疊手機產品，短期內要尋求產品、技術應用的提升突破很難，ZF6已經是非常成熟的商品，功能性能品質的展現，無論市場反應優劣，絕大部分是製造商在成本vs性能、以及各種功能組合之間取捨的結果。
雖然摺疊手機應該是利基型市場的產品，但詳細看來：Book-fold機型有大尺寸閱讀器的優勢；Palm-fold機型有便利攜帶優勢與相對平易近人的售價，自有一定規模的生活品味型分眾市場支撐。Book-fold摺疊機市占率3%、Palm-fold摺疊機市占率2%是可以合理期待的。摺疊機整合市佔率5%的潛力值對照目前的實際市占率1.4%，應該還有發展的空間。
Z Flip、Z Fold系列如果能調整轉向低電耗(非高性能運算，也可合理預期較低電磁波溢射)CPU的研發應用，以及電池減重工程；Z Flip系列或許能由散熱簡化與電池減重，全機重量降至160g的水準；Z Fold系列封面螢幕從6.3吋縮減至3.7吋規格，符合消費者單手快捷使用所需即可。配合AMOLED與鉸鏈轉軸製造生產的學習曲線，摺疊機系列機種零售價或有調降2百美元的空間，大幅接近消費者的心理期望值，可望有銷量倍增、製造商獲利的買賣市場雙贏效果。
另外，機身結構改用鈦合金也是機體減重的有效做法，但隨成本增加而來的售價堆升，能提供消費者的感受價值有限。鈦合金機身很有可能在下一波手機製造商的軍備競賽中登場，先驅廠商可能佔得競爭優勢，但對於摺疊手機整體市場擴張，或許有反向牽制的結果。
八、總結
對於這一個將嶄新科技流暢應用、有工藝品完美質感、功能整合洗鍊成熟，很有產業標竿地位的產品，但是零售價格偏離市場可接受區間大、繼續蛻變成為主流產品機會不大的手機傑作，我們最終只給予了3.0分中間值的保守綜合評價。
ZF6手機採用多項技術的耐久驗證，例如螢幕與鉸鏈的耐用耐折性能、整機的抗摔抗磨防汙、以及泡水測試(淡水)等等，或許過一段時間我們會有測試成本較低、破壞風險較低的方法來提供部分的參考解答。
參考資料：AMOLED原理介紹
1.
「OLED屏體電路原理(五)-AMOLED 原理詳解」，大熊哥，詮鼎集團，Novatek
參考網址：https://www.wpgdadatong.com/blog/detail/73254
2.
「可摺疊螢幕軟Q的祕密！色彩鮮艷又可彎曲的OLED」，周大喆 碩士、周必泰 教授，善科教育基金會
參考網 址：https://www.sancode.org.tw/activities_info.php?type=3&nid=244
Over the past decade, the smartphone industry has relied on software
and hardware innovations such as multi-lens cameras, smart voice assistants,
fitness and health tracking, USB Type-C ports, wireless charging modules, and
5G network systems to sustain a steady cycle of consumers upgrading their
phones every 2 to 3 years. In recent years, foldable phones developed based on
AMOLED active-matrix flexible screens were originally expected by industry
manufacturers and distributors to be a heavyweight technological application
sufficient to trigger a new wave of replacements. However, the cumulative sales
growth over these past few years has only just surpassed the 1% market share
threshold.
Further exploring the development potential of AMOLED foldable screen
phones, it is worth first mentioning the market reaction to the two product
types of foldable phones: the Book-fold (horizontal fold) and the Palm-fold
(vertical fold). When unfolded, Book-fold phones feature screen sizes of 9 to
10 inches (equivalent to two 7 to 8-inch panels), reaching the functionality
level of small tablets. This "Two in One" advantage makes them
well-positioned in the high-end business market, and their sales growth remains
stable. On the other hand, the Palm-fold, which emphasizes compact storage,
faces more significant challenges. Consumers expect these devices to be
"lightweight, compact, and affordable," but current Palm-fold phones
are limited by the hardware constraints of AMOLED screens, folding hinges, and
cooling mechanisms. Aside from the advantage of folding into half the size
(more precisely, the same volume but with a reduced surface area when folded),
they offer no distinctions in terms of weight, performance, or price compared
to regular smartphones. Additionally, in the Chinese market, where the general
population has a higher degree of finger joint flexibility, the folding action
is not a deterrent, and there is a higher expectation for compact storage in
daily life. In contrast, foldable phones cater to a niche market in Europe,
North America, and South America.
Globally, the market share of foldable phones in China is 2.6%, while
in the U.S., it is only 1%, with the Book-fold type dominating. Besides
Samsung, which holds more than 60% of the market and was the first to develop
AMOLED foldable phones, Chinese manufacturers such as Huawei, Oppo, Vivo,
Xiaomi, and smaller companies like OnePlus are continuing to invest in foldable
devices. In the U.S., Motorola (once a leader in foldable phones with its
StarTAC in the analog phone era) and Google (limited to Book-fold phones) have
launched foldable models. In contrast, Apple and other smartphone brands have
yet to show signs of producing foldable phones for the market.
It is, of course, important to examine product trends through market
performance. However, observing the advancements in technology applications of
new products—specifically foldable phones—in terms of quality, functionality,
performance, and aesthetics, while appreciating the creativity and
craftsmanship of the makers, also provides an interesting perspective.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip series of Palm-fold foldable phones, which launched its
first generation in February 2020, has now released the sixth-generation Z
Flip6 (in the Taiwan market) in August 2024. Over the course of 4.5 years, it
has evolved from an experimental product to a highly mature and complete one,
making the AMOLED screen functionality more aligned with consumer interests.
Based on hands-on testing of the new device, we have summarized the following
insights:
A. Z Flip6's product completeness:
In fact, starting from the Z Flip5 (hereafter referred to as ZF5),
which featured an AMOLED screen capable of withstanding 200,000 folds and a
fully seamless Flex Hinge, Samsung's foldable phones have already reached a
high level of maturity, comparable to works of art. Within the limits of
maximizing hardware and software efficiency, the Z Flip6 offers several
user-friendly "wringing out the towel" engineering improvements:
(1) The speaker
system, which enhances sound quality (especially bass), power, and resonance
chamber (with a slit channel design), delivers fuller, clearer audio, whether
for music, video playback, or hands-free calling. This makes users more
inclined to use the phone as a music player, wireless walkie-talkie, or video
conferencing device.
(2) A matte,
fingerprint-resistant back panel.
(3) A dual SIM card
slot, which seems to be exclusive to the Taiwan market.
(4) The device is
further slimmed down by 0.02 cm (0.1 cm thinner than ZF4 and 0.02 cm thinner
than ZF5). The camera lens column, which can't be shortened, is visually
enhanced with a decorative ring, creating a seamless design.
(5) The crease in
the middle of the main screen is further improved and only visible at viewing
angles greater than 15 degrees. The screen's refresh rate has been upgraded
from fixed to adaptive.
(6) For three
consecutive generations (since ZF4), the phone's weight has been maintained at
187g. In addition to hardware improvements with each generation, ZF6 also
incorporates a vapor chamber for heat dissipation during hardware overclocking.
Maintaining the total weight at 187g was certainly an engineering challenge.
(7) Other upgrades:
a processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3), memory (128 GB), main camera (50 MP), battery
capacity (4000 mAh), IP48 water and dust resistance (now includes dust
protection), and the new Galaxy AI function (smart drawing assistant). Most of
these changes stem from the competitive arms race in the market and industry,
but they don't significantly enhance consumer benefits, so they are mentioned
briefly.
B. Market pricing rationale:
The ZF series foldable phones require three key technologies or
patents: nano-level OLED light-emitting material coating, flexible glass
substrates, and the folding hinge mechanism. Additionally, compared to
traditional 6 to 7-inch phones, they also incorporate an extra 3.4-inch panel.
The combined development and material costs amount to about USD$100, and after
adding distribution costs and manufacturer profits, the retail price increases
by around NT$10,000. From the manufacturing perspective, this price increase is
somewhat reasonable. However, from the consumer’s core needs, which primarily
revolve around folding the phone to fit into a pocket, the acceptable
additional cost is likely around NT$3,000. This gap between manufacturer
pricing and consumer expectations seems to be the main reason why foldable
phones have yet to achieve widespread success despite positive feedback.
C. Daily applications
Storage is the absolute advantage of Palm-fold foldable phones. If
you're aiming for a sleek, lightweight, and stylish look (whether you're a man
aiming to look sharp or a woman aiming to look chic) while visiting friends,
shopping, or exercising, and don't want to carry a heavy brick of a phone,
switching to a Palm-fold foldable phone is the way to go.
Initially, the
external cover screen, added to ensure single-handed usability, drove the price
further away from consumer expectations. However, a few practical features in
daily use give the ZF6 some unique and useful characteristics, greatly
enhancing its cost-performance ratio.
(1) The palm grip,
one-second startup, and full use of the phone's main (front) camera for
selfies. Selfies can switch between wide-angle (0.6x), normal (1.0x), and
close-up (2.0x) modes, significantly improving the typical issue of group
selfies looking identical. However, the icons for switching modes and shutter
are too small, and while touch accuracy is high, the experience for users with
larger hands, especially men, is suboptimal.
(2) A makeup and
grooming mirror function, heavily used by women but also handy for men.
(3) A stable and
convenient selfie stand that allows adjusting the angle at any point within 90
degrees.
(4) One-touch
answering and hands-free functionality when the phone is folded. The
high-quality microphone and speaker make handling regular calls easier
(comfortable grip + easy conversation), giving the ZF6 a slight edge over
traditional phones.
(5) Pocket-sized
GPS navigation: While searching and setting up routes still require opening the
full screen, during navigation, the cover screen can be used, making it very
easy and intuitive to handle.
(6) Car use:
Mounting and storage are similar to traditional phones, but the pocket-sized
GPS function slightly reduces the driver's burden. However, there is a small
bug: when using GPS on the cover screen, the screen doesn't rotate
automatically, which makes charging impossible (the charging port is at the
bottom and is blocked by the phone mount).
(7) Motorcycle use:
Few people would strap a NT$30,000 phone onto a scooter for Uber deliveries.
The practicality of this test is low, and the result is negative for the ZF6
despite its high waterproof rating. Testing with a standard motorcycle phone mount
showed that the ZF6's narrow body could not be securely clamped, and the phone
slipped out. Although the mini cube GPS mode is very convenient for
motorcycles, the ZF6 is too thick when folded, and the phone mount can't grip
it properly. It's more suitable as a pocket device, to be taken out when
parked.
D. Entertainment and gaming
Due to the structural heat dissipation limitations of its
ultra-compact body, the ZF series, with the same processor and
hardware/software conditions, falls slightly behind traditional phones of the
same specifications in terms of data processing performance, response time, and
battery life. As a result, it's not suitable for entertainment, gaming, content
creators, or tech enthusiasts who require professional or heavy use.
E. Professional applications
(1) A highly
convenient pocket-sized video conferencing device. The excellent stand,
adjustable camera angles, superb call quality, and decent camera resolution
make for a comfortable and convenient overall experience. The only downside is
that most video conferencing software lacks additional support for foldable
phones, leaving the lower half of the screen unused. Adding more function keys
would make the experience even better.
(2) A handheld
camera mode similar to a camcorder, providing steady handling, low fatigue, and
easy one-handed operation. For traditional smartphone photography, you can
simply unfold the ZF6 fully.
(3) A 50 MP front
camera with 10x optical zoom. Although the camera arms race has long surpassed
everyday consumer needs, and AI-enhanced photo editing has become a somewhat
distorted mainstream, such high-resolution spy-level cameras can still be
useful in certain professional settings like site surveys.
(4) Galaxy AI
functionality: ZF6 introduces a "smart drawing assistant" feature for
hand-drawn outlines and AI-generated images. Since this is part of Samsung’s
Galaxy software suite (which covers all of its phone products), it's only a
matter of time and price range before it's available across devices. However,
it’s worth noting that, due to Taiwan’s smaller market, many features within
Galaxy AI only support Simplified Chinese (and, at most, Traditional Chinese
for Hong Kong), not Taiwan's Traditional Chinese. This issue also appears with
automotive brands, particularly Korean manufacturers, where certain features in
entertainment, GPS, or autonomous driving systems are limited in the Taiwanese
market. It’s somewhat inconvenient and disappointing, but this is the reality
of market dominance.
F. Product drawbacks
These can be observed in two perspectives. The first part concerns
structural deficiencies inherent to this type of product, with little chance of
being resolved: First, foldable phones require the extra (and unnecessary)
actions of opening and closing during regular use. Second, the compact design
(which includes the hinge and additional frame) limits heat dissipation, making
it unsuitable for frequent or heavy users. Thus, foldable phones with AMOLED
screens have limited potential to become mainstream products, and the current
focus of manufacturers on the high-priced niche market is reasonable.
The second part addresses design or manufacturing shortcomings that
can be corrected:
(1) The OLED
foldable screen must be flexible, so the surface coating is not very hard and
cannot be covered with rigid glass like Corning Gorilla Glass for protection.
Currently, manufacturers apply a protective film to the inner AMOLED screen.
This protective film is considered a consumable, adding to the maintenance cost
of the ZF6.
(2) Both Android
and iOS have well-developed, user-friendly systems for data transfer when
switching to a new phone. Samsung’s Smart Switch is also easy to use, typically
requiring fewer than 10 steps. However, incompatibility bugs can still occur
when transferring data between brands. For instance, using a USB cable to
transfer data from another brand’s phone to the ZF6 caused the system to crash
and fail to reboot. Switching to a wireless network transfer resolved the
issue.
(3) Another issue
that both consumers and manufacturers tend to overlook is SAR (Specific
Absorption Rate) electromagnetic radiation emissions. All foldable phones,
including the Z Flip and Z Fold series, have tested SAR values above 1.0 W/kg
(the legal standard is below 2.0 W/kg). Interestingly, since the launch of the
first iPhone, none have tested below 1.0 W/kg. However, during the 4G and 3G
eras, some phones with aluminum-magnesium frames had SAR values as low as 0.5
or even 0.2 W/kg. Given people’s increasing dependence on smartphones and the
longer periods small portable devices are carried, reducing electromagnetic
radiation emissions in Palm-fold phones is not currently seen as a major
drawback, but it is an area for potential improvement.
G.
Suggestions for future development
For a top-tier company like Samsung, achieving further breakthroughs
in product and technology applications for foldable phones in the short term is
challenging. The ZF6 is already a highly mature product, with its
functionality, performance, and quality largely reflecting the manufacturer's
trade-offs between cost, performance, and various features, regardless of
market reception.
Although foldable phones cater to a niche market, a closer look
reveals potential: the Book-fold models offer the advantage of a large display
for reading, while the Palm-fold models boast easy portability and relatively
affordable prices. These attributes are likely to appeal to a specific
lifestyle-oriented consumer segment. A market share of 3% for Book-fold and 2%
for Palm-fold devices seems reasonable. With the current total foldable phone
market share at 1.4%, there is room for growth towards a 5% potential market
share.
If Samsung’s Z Flip and Z Fold series could focus on developing
low-power CPUs (which would also reduce electromagnetic emissions) and lighter
batteries, the Z Flip series might simplify heat dissipation and reduce weight
to around 160g. For the Z Fold series, shrinking the cover screen from 6.3
inches to 3.7 inches could meet the need for quick one-handed use. With
improvements in AMOLED and hinge production processes, there may be room to
lower the retail price of foldable phones by around $200, bringing them closer
to consumer expectations and potentially doubling sales, benefiting both
manufacturers and consumers.
Additionally, using titanium alloy for the body could effectively
reduce weight. However, the increased cost and resulting price hike may not
provide enough perceived value for consumers. While titanium alloy might appear
in the next wave of competition among phone manufacturers, giving early
adopters a competitive edge, it could also hinder the overall expansion of the
foldable phone market.
H. Conclusion
This phone represents a masterpiece that seamlessly applies
cutting-edge technology, has the perfect craftsmanship of an artwork, and
integrates features with mature sophistication, holding an industry benchmark
status. However, due to its retail price significantly exceeding the market’s
acceptable range and its limited potential to evolve into a mainstream product,
we have given it a conservative overall score of 3.0 out of 5 points.
The ZF6 has undergone several durability tests, such as the
foldability of the screen and hinge, resistance to drops, scratches, stains,
and freshwater immersion. In the future, we might find lower-cost testing
methods with reduced risk of damage to offer more insightful evaluations.
References:
"OLED Screen
Circuit Principle (Part 5) - Detailed Explanation of AMOLED Principle," Big
Bear BroGe, AIT Group-WPG Holdings, Novatek
Reference URL:
https://www.wpgdadatong.com/blog/detail/73254
"The Secret of
Soft and Flexible Foldable Screens! Vivid and Flexible OLED," Master Daz-he
Zhou, Professor Bi-tai Zhou, SanCode Foundation
Reference URL: https://www.sancode.org.tw/activities_info.php?type=3&nid=244
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