The world of smartphones never stays still. Just a few years ago, foldable phones were the new, exciting thing. They felt like a peek into the future, offering a tablet-sized screen that could fold up to fit in your pocket. These devices, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Flip series or the Motorola Razr, promised to change how we use our mobile technology. They certainly brought a ‘wow’ factor and showed what modern engineering could do.
Many tech fans eagerly bought these foldables. They were willing to pay the high price to have the latest and greatest gadget. For a while, it seemed like the classic, flat smartphone was on its way out. The market was flooded with images of people multitasking on large, folding screens. But now, something unexpected is happening across the world. Instead of more people buying foldables, a growing number of users are actually trading them in. They are going back to the reliable, flat, “classic” smartphone design we all know.
This change is not just a passing trend. It points to some real issues people have faced after living with a foldable phone day-to-day. After the initial excitement wears off, many users start to notice that the cool new design comes with some trade-offs. The high cost, the worry about durability, and the actual day-to-day feel of using the device have all played a part in this shift. But what are the exact reasons that have convinced people to ditch their futuristic foldables and return to the simple, dependable rectangle?
Why Do Foldable Phones Cost So Much More Than Regular Smartphones?
The price tag is often the first thing that makes people hesitate about foldables. Even in 2025, a top-tier foldable phone can cost significantly more than a flagship classic smartphone with similar internal specifications. The main reason for this high price is the advanced technology in the hinge and the screen. Building a phone that can bend without breaking is incredibly complex. The hinge mechanism needs to be strong enough to last for thousands of folds but light and thin enough to fit inside a sleek device. The flexible screen itself, often called Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) or a similar flexible polymer, is much more difficult and expensive to manufacture than a standard flat glass display. These manufacturing costs are then passed directly on to the buyer. This means that if you are paying a premium for a foldable, a large part of that extra money is paying for the folding ability rather than a better processor, camera, or battery. After spending so much, many users find the actual benefits do not match the extra financial investment, making the classic phone seem like a much better deal.
How Durable Are Foldable Phone Screens Compared to Flat Glass?
One of the biggest concerns for foldable users is the long-term durability, especially of the screen. While manufacturers have made huge progress, a flexible screen will generally not be as tough as the flat, chemically-hardened glass found on classic phones, like Gorilla Glass. The nature of the folding screen means it is made of a softer material, often a special plastic-like polymer layer over thin glass, to allow it to bend. This softer material is much more prone to getting scratches from everyday items like keys or coins. Furthermore, the fold itself is a potential point of failure. Over time, a visible crease can appear down the middle of the screen, which can be annoying when viewing content. There are also reported issues with debris, like fine dust, getting into the hinge mechanism, which can cause damage to the screen when the phone is opened or closed. The constant fear of damaging a very expensive device, along with having to treat the phone more carefully, becomes frustrating for users who are used to the ruggedness of a classic phone that they can simply toss into a bag or pocket without worry.
Does the Weight and Thickness of Foldables Affect Daily Comfort?
Even though they fold, many foldable phones are surprisingly heavy and thick, especially when compared to the slim designs of 2025’s classic flagship phones. When a foldable is closed, it essentially consists of two screens stacked on top of each other, held together by a hinge. This ‘double thickness’ in the closed state makes it a bulky item in a pocket or a small handbag. While the unfolded size is great for viewing media, the folded size is often just too chunky for comfortable, single-handed use or for carrying around easily all day. The weight is also a factor. The complex hinge and two batteries (one in each half of the phone) add significant weight. This extra bulk and weight can make the foldable feel cumbersome, especially when compared to the sleek, light profile of a standard phone. People who are constantly using their phones for quick tasks or carrying them in tight clothes quickly appreciate the return to a thin, light, and easy-to-handle classic design.
What are the Hidden Drawbacks of the Foldable Phone Battery?
Battery life is a major concern for any smartphone user, and foldables often present a complex challenge in this area. To power the large, high-resolution folding screen, foldables need a big battery. However, due to the space constraints and the need to distribute weight evenly across the two halves of the phone, manufacturers often split the battery into two separate cells, one on each side. The complex electronics, two displays (the cover screen and the main screen), and the high-power demand of the large main display mean that the overall battery endurance can be less impressive than that of a classic phone with a similar battery capacity. Many users find themselves needing to charge their foldable more frequently, or they worry about the battery lasting the whole day, especially if they use the large inner screen often. Classic phones, with their singular, large battery and only one display to power, are generally able to offer better, more consistent battery life, leading to greater peace of mind for the average user.
Is the Software and App Experience on Foldables Perfect?
While software companies have worked hard to optimize apps for folding screens, the experience is still not as seamless and polished as on a classic, flat phone. When you open a foldable, you are switching from a small, cover screen format to a large, nearly square main screen. This transition needs to be smooth for every app, and while most major apps work well, many niche or older applications still struggle to properly adjust their layout. Sometimes, elements appear stretched or awkward on the larger, square-like display. Multitasking is a key feature of the foldable, but managing multiple apps on the screen at once can sometimes be more complicated than it’s worth for simple tasks. In contrast, the software on a classic smartphone is entirely standardized. Every app is designed for one fixed screen size and shape, meaning the user experience is almost always predictable, stable, and simple. For many, the constant small software glitches and the need to deliberately adjust their usage habits to fit the foldable’s unique shape became an unnecessary hassle, pushing them back to the reliable simplicity of the classic phone.
Why Do Classic Smartphones Offer Better Camera Technology?
It might seem strange that a more expensive, newer technology like a foldable would have an inferior camera setup compared to a classic flagship phone, but this is often the case. The reason is simple: physics and space. Camera modules, especially those with advanced features like large sensors or optical zoom lenses, need significant physical space inside the phone’s body. In a foldable phone, space is extremely limited, particularly in the thin side where the camera is housed, because much of the internal space is taken up by the folding mechanism and the hinge itself. This often forces manufacturers to use smaller camera sensors or less advanced zoom systems than what they can fit into a non-folding classic phone of a similar price point. Therefore, a user trading in a foldable for a flagship classic phone often gets a noticeable upgrade in photo and video quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. For users who value top-tier photography, the classic phone remains the clear winner.
Do People Prefer the Simpler User Experience of Classic Phones?
Beyond all the technical issues—the price, the durability, the battery, and the camera—there is a major psychological reason for the switch back: simplicity. A classic phone offers a simple, single, non-negotiable screen experience. You take it out of your pocket, and it works exactly the way you expect, every single time. There is no decision about whether to use the cover screen or the main screen. There is no debate about whether to fold it open for a particular app. It is a single, clear, focused device. The foldable, with its dual-screen setup, introduces a layer of cognitive load. Users constantly have to decide how to use the device. For many people, the novelty of the folding feature wears off, and the extra complexity becomes tiresome. They realize that for 95% of their daily tasks—checking email, texting, browsing social media—the large, fragile, expensive folding screen is simply not necessary. The classic phone provides a powerful, reliable, and fundamentally simple tool that perfectly matches the needs of everyday life.
Conclusion
The initial hype around foldable phones was huge, and they certainly represent a fantastic achievement in technology. But as people live with them, they are discovering that the novelty of the fold doesn’t always outweigh the practical drawbacks. The higher cost, the concerns about long-term durability, the extra bulk and weight, and the slightly compromised cameras and battery life have all contributed to a growing desire for change. Users are not giving up on high-tech devices; they are simply choosing the proven reliability, simplicity, and refined user experience of the classic flat smartphone. This shift shows that sometimes, the most useful and beloved technology is not the one that can do the most impressive trick, but the one that works flawlessly every single day. As classic phone designs continue to get better, thinner, and more powerful, the question for consumers is clear: Is the ability to fold truly worth the trade-offs in every other area?
FAQs – People Also Ask
Are foldable phones more popular now than they were last year?
While the total number of foldable phones sold globally is still increasing year over year, the rate of that growth has slowed down in some key markets. More importantly, the trade-in rate of foldables for classic phones is also rising. This suggests that while more people are trying the technology, a significant number are not sticking with it long-term, showing a cooling of the initial enthusiasm in favor of more practical designs.
Which part of a foldable phone is most likely to break first?
The most common point of failure for a foldable phone is the inner screen along the crease line or the hinge mechanism itself. Because the screen is constantly flexing, it is prone to long-term wear, and the complex hinge can sometimes fail due to mechanical stress or infiltration of small dust and debris particles, which can then damage the soft display when the phone is closed.
Are classic smartphones getting thicker to add bigger batteries?
No, the trend for classic flagship smartphones is actually to get thinner and lighter while still improving battery life. Manufacturers achieve this by using more efficient internal components, like power-sipping processors, and more densely packed battery technology. This focus on thinness and lightness is a major reason why classic phones feel so much more comfortable than the bulkier foldable alternatives.
How much less expensive is a flagship classic phone compared to a foldable?
A top-tier classic flagship phone can be anywhere from 20% to 40% less expensive than a comparable foldable phone from the same manufacturer. For example, a non-folding model will offer similar internal memory and processor specifications but cost hundreds of dollars less, representing significant savings for the consumer.
Do classic phones have better water and dust resistance than foldables?
Yes, classic, non-folding phones typically offer a much higher level of dust and water resistance, often reaching an IP68 rating. Due to the moving parts and gaps in the hinge mechanism, foldables have a much harder time achieving a perfect seal against dust, making the classic phone a better choice for people who use their device outdoors or in dusty environments.
Is the crease on the screen of a foldable phone still visible in 2025?
Yes, despite major engineering improvements, the crease on the main screen of foldable phones is still present, though it has become less noticeable on newer models. The visibility depends on the screen’s content, the viewing angle, and the lighting conditions, but the line of the fold remains a physical reality of the bending screen technology.
Why do some people say the cover screen on a foldable phone is too small?
On many foldable models, the outer cover screen is quite narrow, making it awkward for typing long messages, browsing complex websites, or viewing media comfortably. Users often find themselves having to constantly open the phone to use the larger inner screen for tasks that a classic phone could handle perfectly well on its single, wider display.
Are classic phones receiving updates for a longer time than foldables?
The software update promises are generally similar for flagship phones, whether they are classic or foldable. However, because the software for a classic phone is simpler and more standardized, its updates tend to be more stable, with fewer bugs related to screen transitions or app scaling that sometimes trouble foldable software updates.
Can you still buy small, one-handed classic smartphones in 2025?
Yes, even though the overall trend is towards larger screens, manufacturers still offer excellent compact classic flagship phones. These devices focus on fitting high-end features and performance into a smaller, more easily manageable size, directly catering to users who prioritize single-handed use and pocket comfort.
Does the trade-in value of a foldable phone drop faster than a classic phone?
Generally, yes. The trade-in value of foldable phones often drops faster than that of classic flagship phones. This is because the rapid pace of improvements in hinge and screen technology makes older foldable models seem outdated quickly, and the known durability concerns often lead to lower resale or trade-in offers from carriers and retailers.
