I've just moved to my first major foldable device, and I now understand the attraction.

      For quite a while, I viewed foldable phones as a solution looking for a problem. They tend to be expensive, fragile, and often seem overly eager to validate their existence. Although I admired the engineering behind them, I struggled to see how they would enhance my daily life. To me, a standard flat phone just seemed more logical—simpler, more affordable, and sufficient for nearly everything.

      I was never particularly excited about foldables.

      Some of my skepticism stemmed from personal experience. I had previously tried flip-style foldables, and they didn't leave a favorable impression. The battery life of my Galaxy Z Flip 3 was a frequent source of stress, making me think twice before leaving home without a charger.

      Then there was the Motorola Razr+ 2023, which I inadvertently broke without realizing how it happened. After those experiences, I dismissed foldables as an intriguing experiment that simply wasn’t for me— for valid reasons.

      What shifted my perspective

      Ultimately, it took several years of closely observing the technology's progression, numerous discussions with colleagues who were daring enough to use a foldable as their primary device, and watching many durability test videos. However, the significant turning point came when I finally made the decision to try a large, book-style foldable: the Honor Magic V6.

      I initially expected to encounter the same compromises, but my viewpoint changed quickly.

      It won me over in subtle ways. The first aspect that impressed me was reading. I tend to read on my phone at unusual hours and often in short bursts that end up lasting longer than I planned. On a standard phone, reading feels cramped. You find yourself scrolling more than necessary, and your eyes tire more quickly than anticipated.

      On the foldable, it just felt better. The larger inner display allows the text ample space to breathe, creating an experience reminiscent of holding a small book rather than staring at a narrow screen. I noticed I was reading for longer periods without realizing it, which is probably the most evident sign that the hardware was beneficial to me.

      The next revelation came with video. While it doesn't compete with a TV or a high-quality tablet, it makes casual viewing feel less like a compromise. The visuals feel less constrained, subtitles are easier to read, and the entire experience is more engaging. Even with the inevitable black bars on certain content, watching a movie on the large display was far more enjoyable than on my iPhone 16 Pro.

      Choosing a “one feature to rule them all” is challenging, but for me, it was multitasking on a book-style foldable phone. This is when the device ceased to feel like a novelty. Running two or even three apps side by side feels genuinely practical.

      The pivotal moment

      Messages on one side, a browser or document on the other. Notes open while I read in the Kindle app. A video is playing on the left edge while I scroll through social media feeds and check the latest updates.

      I find myself switching apps less and maintaining my flow more. While the phone hasn’t revolutionized how I work on the go, it has significantly reduced the annoyance of getting things done in real time.

      The trade-offs remain significant

      None of this means my experience has been flawless. I still tend to be overly cautious with the device due to its price and the fragile inner screen. The crease is still visible, and app optimization can be hit-or-miss, especially in games where the user interface doesn’t always scale properly. There are still instances where it feels like a phone interface stretched across a larger screen.

      However, despite these quirks, the fundamental experience is effective. It enhances the activities I already engage in. Transitioning back to a traditional phone now would feel like a downgrade, even if continuing with book-style foldables is more expensive than I would prefer. Luckily, that's a concern for my future self.