logo
CNET Survey: 64% of People Say 'No Thanks' to Foldable Smartphones

CNET Survey: 64% of People Say 'No Thanks' to Foldable Smartphones

CNET3 days ago
Foldables have been a staple of the smartphone release cycle for years now, with offerings from companies like Samsung, Motorola and Google. But despite the refreshingly unique form factor in a sea of mobile uniformity, the vast majority of consumers still aren't interested.
According to a CNET survey, 64% of respondents say they aren't willing or interested in buying a foldable smartphone in the next year, while just 13% say they are. Another 20% aren't sure if they want a foldable, and only 3% say they already own one.
Foldables began making a resurgence in smartphone form about six years ago, when Samsung released the first Galaxy Z Fold and Motorola brought back the iconic Razr. Other companies like Google, Honor, Oppo and Huawei have released their own foldable devices, from book-style iterations to clamshell ones.
There's still one key player that hasn't entered the game yet: Apple, which has been rumored to be developing a foldable iPhone for several years now. Reports say it's working with Samsung Display to develop screens for that upcoming phone. It's possible that once Apple enters the foldables space, interest will grow across the board.
"Apple's potential entry in the market later in 2026 could indeed help [with] legitimizing and democratizing the category," Thomas Husson, principal analyst at Forrester, told me earlier this month.
A niche market
Despite the amount of options, foldables remain a niche market. They make up under 5% of smartphone shipments, according to a report by TrendForce. But sales are expected to rise. An IDC report says foldable shipments will reach 45.7 million units worldwide by 2028, a significant increase over the 18.1 million units shipped in 2023. Still, adoption is relatively slow.
"It's a pretty big commitment for the average user to switch something they depend on so much," Ryan Reith, group vice president for IDC's Worldwide Device Tracker, told me ahead of Samsung Unpacked in early July. "Nobody wants a trade-off, especially when you're going to make that big transition."
Phones like the Motorola Razr tap into nostalgia, and also offer variations at multiple prices.
James Martin/CNET
That's why companies are fighting tooth and nail to make their phones sleeker, cheaper and more powerful -- to varying degrees. Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 puts the emphasis on a slimmer build and better camera, while slapping on a $2,000 price tag that will likely only make it appeal to die-hard tech enthusiasts or people without strict budget constraints.
Motorola, meanwhile, has focused on developing more budget-friendly versions of its Razr smartphones, so you don't have to break the bank to tap into that foldable nostalgia in 2025 and beyond. (Samsung also has a "more affordable" version of its Galaxy Z Flip 7 that starts at $900).
Still, appealing to a wider consumer base can be challenging, especially when so many people have reservations.
The barriers to buying a foldable
Some of the biggest issues preventing people from buying a foldable smartphone are high prices (36%), durability concerns (31%), not understanding the advantages over a regular phone (31%) and a perceived lack of practicality (26%). Also, 15% of people say foldables are too bulky, 10% said their preferred brand doesn't make a foldable yet and 8% are concerned about subpar camera quality.
Many of those perceptions could soon change, thanks to the release of phones like the Z Fold 7, which places an emphasis on thinness, durability and a higher-grade camera. But other factors like a high price can still be a hindrance. And if you've sworn allegiance to another brand like Apple, it's possible nothing will convince you to switch to a foldable until that specific company makes one. That's the power of brand allegiance.
The resistance to buying a foldable phone is fairly consistent across age groups. Millennials are the most keen to venture into foldable territory, with 19% of respondents saying they'd be interested in buying one in the next year (nostalgia no doubt plays a role here). They're followed by 14% of Gen Zers who would be willing to make that purchase, 10% of Gen Xers and 8% of Boomers.
So far, that doesn't appear to be stopping phone makers from putting their hat in the ring and seeing if they can convince shoppers to fold.
Methodology
CNET commissioned YouGov Plc. to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,121 adults, of whom 2,064 do not own a foldable smartphone. Fieldwork was undertaken between July 1 and 3, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

I swapped my Apple Watch Series 10 for a Google Pixel Watch 3 — here's what I liked and disliked
I swapped my Apple Watch Series 10 for a Google Pixel Watch 3 — here's what I liked and disliked

Tom's Guide

time17 minutes ago

  • Tom's Guide

I swapped my Apple Watch Series 10 for a Google Pixel Watch 3 — here's what I liked and disliked

If you own an iPhone and you're fully locked into the Apple ecosystem, then it's hard to look past choosing the Apple Watch as your smartwatch. Whether it's our top smartwatch pick or the number one smartwatch choice for women, it's a tough one to beat. There are other great smartwatches outside of the Apple Watch, including the Google Pixel Watch 3. It's our favourite Android smartwatch and is proof that great Wear OS smartwatches exist. So what would happen if you swapped Apple Watch for Google Pixel Watch to dish out those phone notifications, let you make payments from the wrist, or let the music play sans smartphone? That's exactly what we did to find out if Google's best is a good enough alternative to the Apple Watch Series 10. Here's what we liked and disliked as we did smartwatch swapsies. If there's one area in general I think Wear OS smartwatches struggle in comparison to the Apple Watch, it's with the native fitness and health tracking support. It's generally good in parts, but lacks as a package. That's where the Pixel Watch 3 differs, and that's mainly down to the strong Fitbit integration, which essentially takes care of monitoring daily step counts, motivating you to keep moving during the day, and offers the kind of metrics and insights that are both glanceable and actually useful to pay attention to. A few features stand out particularly on the Pixel Watch. One is sleep tracking, which Fitbit has had quite a head start on Apple, both with tracking and with the level of metrics it can offer. Apple's sleep tracking support is pretty solid, but in contrast to what you get on the Pixel Watch, the presentation of data on and off the watch is a bit slicker. Readiness scores are another feature that's a win for Google over Apple. It's a good example of a metric that's powered by reliable tracking of heart rate and sleep. Once calibrated, these scores can offer a simple heads-up of whether you should work out or take a rest day. Currently, Apple doesn't offer a similar readiness-type score that is a great feature for fitness newbies and more experienced fitness lovers. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The Google Pixel Watch 3 is hardly a battery powerhouse, especially compared to other Wear OS smartwatches like the OnePlus Watch 3 and many of Mobvoi's dual-display-toting TicWatches. It does manage to squeeze out a little bit more battery than the Apple Watch Series 10, based on my testing time. The raw numbers state the Pixel Watch 3 can last up to 24 hours with the screen set to always-on, or you can switch to the Battery Saver mode to get up to 36 hours. The Apple Watch Series 10 lasts 18 hours, and really will if you keep the screen on at all times. Granted, it's a pretty rapid charger, but it doesn't negate that you definitely do end up having to think about the battery. Especially if you're taking it to bed to track your sleep. While the Pixel Watch 3 isn't immune to similar concerns, it's definitely slightly less of one compared to Apple's smartwatch. Like Apple, it does try to remedy that with some pretty rapid charging support. Apple's smartwatch has remained square since the original Watch and seems unlikely to shift from that angular look. While there's no shortage of round smartwatches, I'd say that the Pixel Watch 3's round look stands out for the right reasons. For starters, it comes in two different sizes, which is great news whether you like a smartwatch to dominate on the wrist or you prefer something that lives a little smaller, letting you strap on additional wristwear alongside it. You're getting a fully circular case design in either a polished or matte aluminium finish, an elegant watch crown, and a bright AMOLED display, and it has those deep black levels you associate with a high-quality colour screen. Combine all of that and you get something that's sleek and really does set it apart from other smartwatches. You certainly can't accuse the Google Pixel Watch 3 of aping the look of the Apple Watch Series 10 or other Apple Watches, and while Apple also gets plenty of things right with its design, so does Google with its own. Apple beats Google when it comes to tracking your exercise. Quite simply, if you want a smartwatch that can closely match the performance of a dedicated sports watch, it's not the Pixel Watch 3 you'll want on your wrist. Take GPS performance, or the fact that it doesn't offer the latest dual-band GPS technology that now appears on a whole host of smartwatches, some of which cost less than the Pixel Watch 3. If you look at the supported sports tracking profiles, there's simply more on offer with Apple's smartwatch. Take swimming as an example, where the Pixel Watch 3 only supports tracking pool swims, while Apple's will track your movements in the open water and do a really good job of it. If you're heading outside to track workouts, Apple gives you maps to view. Some of that mapping is available out of the box, with a host of apps in the App Store that are capable of extending that to other sports. That extensive third-party training and fitness app support gives Apple the upper hand to enhance its sports tracking capabilities. It also has the advantage of letting you pair external fitness accessories like a heart rate monitor, which you cannot do on the Pixel Watch 3. Yes, there's certainly enough on the Pixel Watch to track workouts and offer a satisfactory level of performance as well as a good array of metrics. The Apple Watch Series 10 is a much better performer across most, if not all, fronts. Having Fitbit take care of most of the Pixel Watch 3's fitness and health tracking was a smart move, but you will need to shell out more money, either on a monthly or annual basis, to get the most complete Fitbit experience. Thankfully, features like daily readiness scores, core activity tracking, and health metrics are available in the free version of the Fitbit App. The biggest features you're going to miss out on by not paying up for Premium are the extra analysis offered for sleep and stress data. You also miss out on Fitbit's workout videos and audio-based training sessions, but I'd say that richer sleep and stress insights are the things that most users will most appreciate having access to. Yes, I did like the fact that the Pixel Watch 3 (the larger 45mm version) has a better battery than the Apple Watch Series 10, but it's not by a huge amount. This is still a smartwatch where you have to think about the battery pretty much every day, whether the screen is on at all times, or when using the raise-to-wake gesture support. Having spent time with other Wear OS smartwatches that can go for almost a week without charging, it's frustrating that Google didn't seize the opportunity to make the Pixel Watch 3 go much longer than Apple's Watches, or at least seek parity with the best WearOS battery performers. Now, this is exactly the same criticism that can be levelled at the Apple Watch and its inability to play nice with Android. This dislikable element of using a Pixel Watch is unlikely to change anytime soon. The lack of compatibility across the two biggest smartphone platforms instantly makes using the Google Pixel Watch 3 a restrictive experience for many. If you don't have the luxury to switch between Android phones and iPhones, then that's going to be a pretty major reason to dislike the Pixel Watch 3. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.

One UI 8's updated Good Lock module makes home screen customization even more fun
One UI 8's updated Good Lock module makes home screen customization even more fun

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

One UI 8's updated Good Lock module makes home screen customization even more fun

Samsung gave several Good Lock modules a big upgrade with the release of One UI 7 earlier this year. In particular, the revamped Home Up module introduced many unprecedented customization options, including the ability to tweak the damping, stiffness, and friction of home screen animations and wallpaper transitions. With One UI 8, Samsung is making Home Up even better by letting you customize the app startup animation. The Home Up Good Lock module gained extensive animation customization options as part of its One UI 7 revamp, but it still lacked a way to tweak app launch animations. Samsung is fixing this limitation with Home Up's One UI 8 release. But that's not the only highlight of the Good Lock module's v17.0.00.28. It deeply integrates with the One UI Launcher, enabling you to bring up relevant customization options with a long-press on the app icon or home screen (via @tnemoroccan). Further, Samsung is improving the DIY Home Screen feature in Home Up with a new Alignment Guide Lines option. It will help you better align icons, widgets, and stickers for better symmetry. You can also edit grouped items and lock your customized home screen to prevent accidental changes. Plus, it's finally possible to hide page indicators if you are not fond of them. Another notable change: a horizontal scroll mode for the app drawer when you select the Alphabetical order mode. You can find the full release notes for Home Up v17.0.00.28 below. Supported devices: One UI 8 and above DIY Home Screen - Alignment Guide Lines: Guides for aligning items - App Launch Animation Settings: Animations for overlapping items - Item Group Editing: Easy editing with grouping and ungrouping - Item Edit Lock: Prevents accidental changes with a lock feature - Sticker Action Function: App integration and touch animations - Floating Toolbar: Joystick feature for easy home screen editing Home Screen - Page Indicator Hiding: Enables a clean home screen layout - Horizontal Scroll: Supports horizontal scrolling in 'Alphabetical Order' mode - Home Up Quick Access: Pop-up menu on home screen and recent apps Edge Panel - Launch Apps in Selected View Type: Full, split, and pop-up screen types Gesture Settings - App Launch Animation Tuning Supported If you use the Edge panel on your Galaxy phone, the Home Up module can now let you directly open apps from the Edge panel in split screen or pop-up view. Only compatible with One UI 8 Galaxy devices Home Up's One UI 8 update is available for download through the Galaxy Store. In case you don't see the update, sideload the APK from here (via @tarunvats33). Besides the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, the Galaxy S25 series is the only other device to have access to One UI 8, albeit in a beta state. So, if you own another Galaxy device, you'll need to wait for the One UI 8 update to try the new Home Up release, as it's not compatible with One UI 7.

Why are Sharda Cropchem shares up over 6% today? Explained
Why are Sharda Cropchem shares up over 6% today? Explained

Business Upturn

timean hour ago

  • Business Upturn

Why are Sharda Cropchem shares up over 6% today? Explained

By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on July 25, 2025, 13:19 IST Shares of Sharda Cropchem rose sharply by 6.06% to Rs 963.85 in Wednesday's trade after the company reported strong financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. The stock gained Rs 55.10 from its previous close of Rs 908.75 and touched an intraday high of Rs 969.70. Sharda Cropchem reported its #Q1Results with a significant rise in net profit to Rs 143 crore, up from Rs 27 crore in the same quarter last year. Revenue also rose 26% year-on-year to Rs 958 crore from Rs 785 crore. The company recorded a forex gain of Rs 73 crore compared to a loss of Rs 8 crore last year, which contributed to the profit boost. EBITDA increased to Rs 216 crore from Rs 77 crore YoY, and the EBITDA margin improved to 21.9% from 9.8%. The strong performance led to renewed investor interest, pushing the company's market capitalization to Rs 8,702 crore, with the stock trading near its 52-week high of Rs 969.70. Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Stock market investments are subject to market risks. Always conduct your own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. Author or Business Upturn is not liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store