Foldable phones have yet to solve this problem

Foldable phones are no longer a big news. It’s been seven years since Samsung launched the first Galaxy Fold – and then faced plenty of challenges. But foldables have improved a lot since then. They got more advanced screens, slimmer designs, and everything you want from a modern phone. Still, compared to regular smartphones, you might not see them as often in the wild. And the reason is likely because phone makers still have major issues to solve before foldable devices catch on with mainstream consumers.

You might think that some of the biggest complaints about foldable phones are about their flimsiness or the crease in the middle of the screen, which you can always see. Yes, people complain about it. But there’s another pretty annoying problem when it comes to foldables, and that’s how wobbly they can be when laid flat. The main reason here is the camera. Finding any type of phone without a huge camera bump on the back has become almost impossible. It’s no wonder Apple even gave the iPhone’s camera a name, even though most people probably don’t say “Camera Plateau” out loud.

The problem becomes even more visible with foldable phones. Companies have tried to make them much thinner so that they look like regular smartphones when folded. The fact is that key components such as camera sensors still require a lot of internal space. This is where design solutions come in to make everything fit. The camera bump is actually a pretty clever idea. This creates additional space for the lenses to extend beyond the body of the phone. But in real life, this huge bump causes your phone to wobble a lot when placed on a table.

As for the new Galaxy Z Fold 8, the camera module not only protrudes a bit, but it is also placed vertically on the back. The result is more wobbles when the phone is on a flat surface. It’s not hard to find posts on Reddit from users complaining about how fragile the Z Fold 8 is. It can get really annoying over time. Some people have even gone so far as to take their phones apart to completely remove the rear cameras – that’s definitely not something you should do. Still, it shows how upset users are with this design choice.

“So what’s the solution?” you might ask. With increasingly thin phones and increasingly powerful cameras, this problem is likely to persist. Cameras still need large sensors to work better. One possible solution would be to make phones thicker so that they have a flat back, like the good old days. But let’s be realistic, that probably won’t happen. So maybe your best option is to get a thick case for your foldable phone.

Using foldable phones can really be a lot of fun. You have a device roughly the size of a small tablet that can be folded and slipped into your pocket. And even though they’re not exactly mainstream yet, Samsung’s latest devices are getting a lot of attention. Plus, with Apple rumored to introduce its first foldable iPhone next month, the world will definitely have more eyes on foldable smartphones. But there are still plenty of compromises to using foldable phones, even aside from the huge camera bump.

The crease in the middle of the screen is still there. Yes, the companies have done a great job of making it less noticeable, but the screen still has that crinkly plastic look. Especially after opening and closing it for a few months, it becomes very noticeable. Software also remains a problem, especially on Android. Few apps really take advantage of tablet-sized screens. And some apps like TikTok still look pretty weird on the Z Fold 8’s wider, shorter screen. This is one area where Apple might have the advantage, as iOS apps tend to adapt more quickly to new features and devices.

It’s also hard to ignore the fact that these phones are much more expensive than regular smartphones. However, they do not always have the best equipment. Let’s take the Galaxy Z Fold 8 as an example again. Even the $2,100 Z Fold 8 Ultra lacks features like 5x optical zoom and 60W fast charging compared to the S26 Ultra. The foldable iPhone is also rumored to lack a telephoto lens and Face ID – features that have become standard on iPhone Pro models. Maybe one day you won’t have to choose between a foldable screen and the features everyone expects. For now, though, you’ll still have to decide which type of smartphone is best for you.