Hey Google And Samsung, Why Can't I Rent A Fold To Test It Out?
Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority
Left: Galaxy Z Fold 5, right: Pixel Fold
I'm interested in the brochures. Having a small, tablet-sized screen that I can run two full-fledged apps on at the same time and then fold it up and put it in my pocket seems like the future of productivity I want to live in. But brochures are very expensive and are prohibited. Whatever you think, I can't justify buying $1,800 from my piggy bank (even in Europe it's over $1,900) for the luxury of a Google Pixel Fold or any other device. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. If they keep their word.
What's more, as a Pixel user of six years and aware of the problems with Google's first-generation product, I'm not sure which one is foldable. I read the comparison between Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5 and still don't know. Can I prioritize camera performance like I would on a normal phone or will I find this problem by focusing on the performance aspect? And does Samsung offer enough foldable features to convince me to ditch my beloved Pixel?
To answer these questions and see if any of these phones will suit me, I want to try them out. No, not in a store where I can barely get the general idea after scrolling through some of the menus in two minutes. But really rent laptops and use them as a phone for a week or a few weeks. Know your strengths and weaknesses before you buy or make the wrong investment. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants this.
Paying to try the Pixel Fold or Galaxy Z Fold 5?
163 votes
Damien Wild / Android Authority
While flip phones are quite familiar, they represent a whole new category. I can almost imagine what it would be like to use it: it looks like my normal phone, but when you open it up, it's like two phones stuck together and it feels like an Android tablet, but on a smaller scale. I've used Android phones and tablets in the past, so it's easy to draw these parallels.
But I have no idea how the extra weight will affect usability, wrist pain (hello carpal tunnel syndrome!), or what role the extra thickness will play when you want to use an external display. I can't say how useful a large internal display will be in my daily life, or whether the performance boost will justify the exorbitant price tag. I can't decide between Samsung's tall, slim form factor and Google's chubby little approach.
Brochures are a new category of expensive products. No YouTube videos or written reviews say it works for my personal use.
I trust the assessment of my colleagues at the Android Authority and have read our reviews of the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5, but I'm still undecided. No YouTube video will answer this question, because how we use smartphones and whether it suits me or you is very personal.
I'm on the edge and I'm careful because my money doesn't grow on trees. So it's been five years and I'm still not a year old. And I'm sure I'm not the only one: the undecided don't buy.
Chris Carlon / Android Authority
Other industries have already found the answer. Rent, test drive or test drive the vehicle - call it what you want. You pay a small fee and can test the product for a short time on your own terms. From the showroom to everyday life. You'll see how it works for you and make an informed decision.
Undecided people don't buy. Samsung and Google are leaving money on the table by preventing interested buyers from paying a lump sum.
I hope Samsung, Google, and other foldable device manufacturers adopt this policy. Let me rent or test drive a Pixel Fold or Z Fold 5 in an open package for ~$50-$100 for a week or two and if I'm convinced I'll be willing to shell out the money for a new device. If they don't I will return it and the company will bypass the sale and refund process, then they can rent the apartment to someone else.
Yes, I know that in some countries or some retailers you can return an item in less than 30 days. However, this is a big up-front commitment, and if I'm not sure what I'm going to buy, I don't have to, so I'd rather have a proven way to test a product without capitalist guilt. I also know that some third-party services around the world offer rental plans, but most of them are not very convenient for short-term rentals and trials. The original tech rental service I found is Grover, but it's only available in a few countries. The official sheet rental app will be better than any of these solutions.
Opening the Fold up to rent or try it out makes more sense than spending money on Samsung's marketing gimmick of making two iPhones work like the Z Fold 5. It's a way to lower the barrier to entry for hesitant but interested potential buyers. I think Samsung and Google are leaving money on the table by not actively trying to influence undecided users like me.
