Google boss likes Z Fold8 but admits iPhone Duo does better in this regard
(Dan Tri) - Google leaders admit that some Android applications are still not optimized for folding screens, while this is an advantage Apple is focusing on exploiting on the iPhone Duo.
Apple entered the folding screen phone market later than many Android competitors. The first generation Galaxy Fold has been around since 2019, while it was not until September of this year that Apple introduced the first folding iPhone called iPhone Duo.
However, being behind does not mean Apple does not have its own advantages.
Sameer Samat, President of Android ecosystem at Google, shares his opinion on the appearance of iPhone Duo in the folding phone market (Photo: Future).
In a recent conversation with Tom's Guide, Sameer Samat, President of the Android ecosystem at Google, mentioned one of the problems that Android is still working on: the ability to optimize applications for large screens on foldable phones.
Does iPhone Duo have an app advantage?
According to Tom's Guide, Apple may have a significant advantage in the ability to support applications on the large screen of folding phones, because the company is pushing developers to optimize software for this type of device.
At the iPhone Duo launch event, Apple introduced a number of applications adapted for the folding screen. There is a Netflix version designed to fit the folding screen on the iPhone Duo.
Some applications on iPhone Duo have their interface adjusted to take advantage of display space when the device is opened (Photo: The Verge).
This is an especially important issue with folding phones. When closed, the app must operate on a screen roughly the size of a regular phone. But when opening the device, the display space is significantly larger.
If the software simply enlarges the phone interface, the increased screen area may not bring much value. Conversely, optimized applications can take advantage of this space to display multiple content or divide the interface into multiple areas.
Mr. Samat said that as foldable phones become more popular, developers will see greater value in investing resources in this type of device. Google has also tried to simplify tools to make application development and optimization easier.
"Of course there are still apps that haven't made the transition yet. Some are doing it, or we're talking to them, but there are thousands of apps that have already done so," Samat said.
Thus, Google's leader's statement does not mean that he evaluates the application ecosystem on iPhone Duo as better than Galaxy Z Fold8 in particular.
However, it confirms the problem that not all Android apps today make good use of the large screen of foldable phones.
Android also has thousands of optimized applications
Samat also believes that the entire ecosystem should not be judged based on just a few applications.
He mentioned that Google's own applications have also been optimized for foldable phones, including Gmail and YouTube. Samat emphasized that there are thousands of Android applications that have adapted to this type of screen.
Many Android applications have had their interface optimized to take advantage of the large screen area on folding phones (Photo: Tuan Anh).
According to him, it is possible to pick one or two apps to show how one platform does better than another, but the bigger picture is that foldable phones are increasingly popular.
It is worth noting that Samat is currently using the Galaxy Z Fold8 and has many compliments for Samsung's products. He called this a "great" device, and said he often starts processing work on the Z Fold8 before switching to a laptop.
Sameer Samat said he is using the Galaxy Z Fold8 and appreciates the experience on this device (Photo: Dan Tri).
Google leaders also did not show concern about Apple entering a segment where Android has been present for many years.
“I think it's great that more and more people are realizing, after so long, that foldable phones are the place to be. And Android is often where you see the future first,” Samat said.
Apple entering the folding phone market could help Android as well
Instead of seeing the iPhone Duo as just a new competitor, Samat thinks Apple's arrival could bring more attention to the entire folding phone market.
This can also indirectly solve the application optimization problem that Android is facing. As the number of people using foldable phones increases, developers have more incentive to invest in interfaces specifically for large screens.
In other words, Apple's entry into the game could make applications optimized for this type of device faster, not only on the iPhone Duo but also on folding Android phones.
iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold8 represent two large ecosystems participating in the folding screen phone market (Photo: PhoneArena).
After years of development, Android has the advantage in terms of experience, number of devices and variety of designs.
Meanwhile, the iPhone Duo appeared late, but Apple is focusing on a factor that directly affects the actual experience: making applications better utilize the screen area when the device is opened.
The competition is therefore no longer just about hinges, thinness or screen size. Software and developer readiness could become one of the key factors determining the experience on the next generation of foldable phones.