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So This is Peak Foldable

| 8 products mentioned
Marques Brownlee Marques Brownlee host
Watch on YouTube foldable phones smartphone design hardware engineering apple product strategy oppo find n6 display technology device durability

Marques Brownlee argues that the Oppo Find N6 represents "peak foldable"—the first folding phone with zero meaningful compromises compared to traditional flagship phones. After seven years of incremental improvements, foldables have finally achieved flagship specs, durability, battery life, and cameras in an ultra-thin form factor, setting the stage for Apple's rumored iPhone Fold entry later in 2026.

Key takeaways
  • • Foldables achieved parity with slab phones on dimensions and weight: the N6 is 9mm thin and 230g—identical to the iPhone 17 Pro Max—making it usable as a regular phone without feeling compromised.
  • • The "no feel crease" breakthrough used laser-scanned titanium hinges filled with 3D-printed liquid polymer to reduce surface variations from 0.2mm to 0.05mm (less than half a human hair), eliminating the tactile and visual crease that plagued previous foldables.
  • • Battery and camera constraints were solved through silicon-carbon battery technology (6,000 mAh split in half) and shallow Z-axis camera sensors, allowing the N6 to match flagship specs despite the split hinge design.
  • • Apple's foldable strategy will likely follow their historical playbook: wait for the category to mature, then enter with a refined version optimized for the iOS ecosystem—but the rumored "passport-style" 5.5" closed display may differentiate it from the square-shaped open design of current competitors.
  • • Durability is no longer a foldable trade-off: the N6 achieved IP59 water and dust resistance (previously unthinkable for folding phones) and passed engineering for 600,000+ folds without significant crease degradation.
  • • Pen support on foldables adds professional capability (4,000+ pressure levels, wireless charging via phone coil) that Samsung's Fold lacks, expanding use cases for artists and note-takers.

Mentioned (8)

Galaxy Fold 1
Galaxy Fold 1 "when this all got started 7 years ago with the Galaxy Fold 1, it was really exciting that it fold..." ▶ 0:16
iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro Max "For context, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is also just under 9 millimeters thin and around 230 gram." ▶ 1:43
S25 Edge
S25 Edge "this phone has the same ISO HP5 sensor that's in the S25 Edge, 200 megapixels, one over 1.56 in o..." ▶ 3:23
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 "This phone has a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 inside, but a bend version with one less core. So, for ..." ▶ 3:47
Vision Pro
Vision Pro "that's Vision Pro jumping into the world that already existed of VR headsets" ▶ 8:34
HomePod
HomePod "That's HomePod jumping into the world that already existed of smart speakers" ▶ 8:40
original iPhone
original iPhone "that's what the original iPhone did, jumping into the already existing world of mobile phones" ▶ 8:44
iPad mini
iPad mini "that opens up to an almost 8 in wide screen kind of like a portable iPad mini" ▶ 10:06

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