Repetitive stress tests are part of physical product testing. Just like slamming butts in chairs or opening and closing car doors, the tests are designed to simulate years of wear in a day or so.
This Galaxy Fold test just opens and closes the Galaxy Fold, over and over. It gives you a nice up close view of the outside of the hinge, as well as a slightly backed out view of the screen seam.
As you watch this, think about this question: Would Apple ever ship this product? If not, why?
Again: what problem or need would it solve?
Bending is just one part of the equation. Will it do as good at low temptetures? Dry or humid conditions?
Watching it in action, and looking at some of the details, it seems to be an under engineered device. The outside area of the hinge has a large piece of metal there – presumably protective, but it adds undesirable mass. Why are both halves similarly thick? The good solution would be much thinner overall; once side should have the absolute minimum of circuitry so that the folded device isn’t such a brick. 🙂
What this tells us that with current technology, the act of folding (or even sliding) just isn’t going to be pleasing. Further breakthroughs are needed if something like this is to be useful.
This is what I’ve not heard from anyone… “Foldable phones are great because [insert real use case here]”
Set aside pricing and engineering. Assume we can get one for pretty much the same price as an XS Max or very little more and that all the technical challenges are overcome. No worries about creasing, etc etc.
Why would I want one?
Precisely. It’s just another bit of gadget-nerd porn.
Hell, even The Verge would call them out for inadequate durability.
“Yes, if Apple could think of a compelling user story for folding.”
Problem is, nobody’s come up with one that is any better than “you can have a double-thick phone that you can’t use until opening, and then it’s too big to use with one hand”.
So, probably not.
I’m going to suggest that humidity is unlikely to be a problem.
Super low temps are likely to be more interesting…
Besides what Mo points out about the use case, if they really wanted to test them they would just give ’em to a bunch of teenagers. They’d have those screens in tatters in a week!
Apple would not ship this product, because they are crap a hinges.