This year, Samsung appears more with new products and form factors than usual. But amid this hard push toward innovation, one device category seems absent in Samsung's growing portfolio: The foldable tablet.
Foldable smartphones have been around for half a decade. And as these hybrid phones continue to gain popularity, we'd like to see Samsung step outside its comfort zone and try creating a different kind of foldable device. Why not a tablet?
We've been trying to answer that question and shared our thoughts in a few editorials. Throughout the week, we have studied the potential of two foldable Galaxy tablet form factors – 8.7 and . Today, we're exploring why an Ultra-sized 14.6-inch foldable Galaxy tablet could succeed or fail and why Samsung might want to develop one or avoid it at all costs.
Samsung already offers a 14.6-inch tablet through its Galaxy Tab S9 line. It's called Ultra and is the closest tablet you will find to a laptop replacement — as long as you are willing to buy a keyboard cover accessory. It measures 326.4 x 208.6 x 5.5 and weighs 732 grams. Here's our list of pros why a foldable Ultra tablet could be a good choice for kicking off the foldable tablet segment:
A 14.6-inch foldable Galaxy tablet would no doubt be impressive, but it might be too risky for Samsung to ever produce. Its limitations would make it a niche device with low chances of becoming widespread.
Aside from select business users, most people who would buy a very expensive 14.6-inch foldable tablet would only do so because of their love of cutting-edge technology. However, for average tablet users, rigid tablets would likely be a far better option.
Samsung could develop this kind of device as a show of force, but it might not be the best way to introduce a new segment to the public.
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Foldable smartphones have been around for half a decade. And as these hybrid phones continue to gain popularity, we'd like to see Samsung step outside its comfort zone and try creating a different kind of foldable device. Why not a tablet?
We've been trying to answer that question and shared our thoughts in a few editorials. Throughout the week, we have studied the potential of two foldable Galaxy tablet form factors – 8.7 and . Today, we're exploring why an Ultra-sized 14.6-inch foldable Galaxy tablet could succeed or fail and why Samsung might want to develop one or avoid it at all costs.
The benefits of a 14.6-inch foldable Galaxy tablet
Samsung already offers a 14.6-inch tablet through its Galaxy Tab S9 line. It's called Ultra and is the closest tablet you will find to a laptop replacement — as long as you are willing to buy a keyboard cover accessory. It measures 326.4 x 208.6 x 5.5 and weighs 732 grams. Here's our list of pros why a foldable Ultra tablet could be a good choice for kicking off the foldable tablet segment:
- An impressive show of force. Splitting a 14.6-inch tablet in half would require some serious engineering, and Samsung would undoubtedly become the center of attention for pulling it off.
- No other 14.6-inch device would be as portable as a 14.6-inch tablet that could fold in half. It could be a great device for a niche of business users who need a powerful device for presentations on the go.
- Thanks to its size, a foldable 14.6-inch tablet could be used more comfortably as a full-touch laptop in Flex Mode. It could pair beautifully with .
- Hardware with no compromises. Even when cut in half by a hinge, this foldable tablet could have the biggest battery, fastest charging, best cameras, and fantastic performance.
The disadvantages of a 14.6-inch foldable Galaxy tablet
- Even if folded in half, such a device might still be too large. Far from pocketable and perhaps not compact enough to fully take advantage of the benefits of a hinged design.
- Developing a 14.6-inch foldable tablet would be costly. The large foldable screen would not be cheap, and neither would an oversized hinge capable of holding the tablet's two halves together.
- Aside from an exorbitant price, a foldable 14.6-inch screen would cost a lot to replace if damaged.
- It might not be possible for Samsung to create a keyboard cover for a foldable 14.6-inch tablet. Samsung would have to design a keyboard attachment that could fold with the tablet. Otherwise, this slate would not be as good of a laptop replacement as a rigid Ultra tablet.
- As it would cost even more than a rigid Ultra tablet, this device might not become a hit overnight. It could be appealing to a very narrow niche of potential customers, such as select business users or regular users who have disposable income and always want to be on the cutting edge of technology.
- There's little chance a large foldable device like a 14.6-inch tablet would ever become affordable enough to break into the mainstream.
- A big hinge could add too much weight. Even though a 14.6-inch foldable tablet would have a smaller footprint than a rigid Ultra tablet when folded, it might not be easy to carry due to its extra weight.
- Although great for non-interactive content such as movies and videos, 14.6-inch tablets are not easy to use without a kickstand or a keyboard accessory. They are not easy to hold with one hand and control with the other.
Conclusion
A 14.6-inch foldable Galaxy tablet would no doubt be impressive, but it might be too risky for Samsung to ever produce. Its limitations would make it a niche device with low chances of becoming widespread.
Aside from select business users, most people who would buy a very expensive 14.6-inch foldable tablet would only do so because of their love of cutting-edge technology. However, for average tablet users, rigid tablets would likely be a far better option.
Samsung could develop this kind of device as a show of force, but it might not be the best way to introduce a new segment to the public.
The post appeared first on .