Using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 makes me wish for a folding iPad mini

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Using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 makes me wish for a folding iPad mini

(Image credit: Tom'due south Guide)

The Samsung Milky way Z Fold 3 is one of the nearly interesting devices I've used in a while. Its a solid evolution over its predecessors and basically the best foldable phone y'all can buy correct at present.

Withal, it's far from perfect. And I'm non nonetheless sold on foldable phones either. Just other foldable devices, specifically tablets could exist some other story. In fact, the Galaxy Z Fold iii has me thinking how much I'd like a foldable iPad.

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The biggest problem I have with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is it's too bulky to act as an everyday phone. Granted, the extra screen infinite makes information technology great for productivity — I'grand writing this article on the folding phone while I travel into the office — but for a device that can just be sipped into any pocket or handbag, information technology's simply a bit also thick and heavy.

That might be fine for some who are actually attracted to the foldable phone niche. Just for me, the large not-folding display of my Oppo Discover X3 Pro is fine if I need to fire off an email while I'm wandering around in some corner of London.

(Paradigm credit: Futurity)

Still, size and bulk is a common complaint with folding phones and i that a few more generations might ready. My 2nd big upshot with the Milky way Z Fold 3 is software.

I've never been the biggest fan of Samsung'due south phone software, though it's improved a lot recently with One UI most being a pleasance to employ. But neither One UI or Android in general is skilful enough for tablet use.

Unlike iPadOS, there are simply not enough tablet-optimized apps for Android. And while Samsung has worked difficult on the Galaxy Z Fold three, at that place are all the same apps that struggle to conform to the folding display or simply feel fiddly to utilise.

With the exception of Instagram, which has long been woefully bad on tablets, I rarely encounter any issues with using apps on my iPad mini. Every bit such, for working on the go, by which I mean writing articles on a plane, train, boat or bus, I turn to my iPad mini. Especially as Google Docs works rather well on Apple's squat tablet and the virtual keyboard is neat and intuitive to use. The Galaxy Z Fold 3's keyboard feels inexplicably fiddly by comparing due to what I feel is an odd response to my taps, at least with default settings.

(Image credit: Future)

Even so, while the iPad mini is indeed mini, it's however too big to fit in all but the near spacious of coat pockets. So it'southward my go to device for mobile working, only it'south not a gadget I carry with me all the time.

Now if Apple were to take inspiration from the Galaxy Z Fold iii, perhaps even working with Samsung on display tech, it could make a folding iPad mini.

And no I don't want a folding iPhone, as not just are iOS and iPadOS at present reasonably dissimilar, I don't fancy holding a bulky iPhone upwardly to my ear when I've the rare occasion to make a telephone call. Rather, information technology could be a little like the Microsoft Surface Duo 2, only instead of two displays I imagine it having one folding panel.

In essence, such a device would give me an iPad mini experience that I could take anywhere as a partner device for my phone. Information technology would also make this theoretical iPad mini more appealing, or at least notably dissimilar, from the iPad mini 6; as good as that tablet is it's basically just a shrunken iPad Air with less functionality.

(Image credit: Future)

Heck, even if this is a niche idea information technology would show that Apple tree can still "Recall Unlike" across the Apple M1 chip, and demonstrate it doesn't always need to just iterate on its devices (looking at you lot iPhone 13).

Of class, this is just rampant wishful thinking on my function and I highly doubtfulness Apple cares what I want. But if anyone from Cupertino is reading, let's talk, considering I accept ideas.

In lieu of a folding iPad mini, I'k still happy to proceed using the Galaxy Z Fold iii. It may be niche and imperfect, but it'southward a great showcase for Samsung tech and innovation.

• More: This iPhone Flip concept is the foldable we want Apple to make

Roland Moore-Colyer is U.K. Editor at Tom's Guide with a focus on news, features and stance articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he'due south besides got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland tin can be found wandering around London, often with a wait of curiosity on his face.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/opinion/using-the-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-3-makes-me-wish-for-a-folding-ipad-mini

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