Of course there are other concerns when it comes to long term use. The main screen is covered in plastic,to facilitate the flexing,which has a couple of notable drawbacks versus glass. It's a lot more vulnerable to damage by scratching or pressure,and there is a gap while folded that could allow small pointy objects to get at the inner screen. On a less worrying level the display is also a bit stickier than glass. It feels nice and smooth to use,but in direct light you'll notice it really hangs on to skin oils and dust particles.

Many will understandably be sceptical of the hinged design giventhe pre-launch disaster that caused Samsung to delay the device for several months,but over the five days I tested the device it only ever operated smoothly. Samsung says it's made a lot of internal changes to strengthen the phone,and it's also tucked the top layer of the screen away so you won't be tempted to try and peel it. The top and bottom of the inner crease,which used to have gaps where pocket fluff could potentially get under the screen,are now capped by plastic.

Still,the Fold is demonstrably less hardy than other flagship phones. Aside from the plastic screen it as no rating for water or dust resistance,and potential future issues of the unique screen and hinge are unknowable.

Flexy screen notwithstanding,the Fold's spec sheet reads very similarly to that of the highest end Note10+ released in the middle of this year (well,the one released in the US anyway;we got a different processor and lesser storage options). There's the same Snapdragon 855 chipset,the same 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage,and the same 15W wireless fast charging.

The camera experience is also comparable,which is to say it's excellent. There's the familiar trio of wide,ultrawide and telephoto main cameras,supported by a 10MP forward-facing cam on both the inside and cover screens. Taken together,it means you have access to both the powerful main setup or smaller selfie shooter whether you're taking a quick snap with the smaller screen or opening up to use the whole 7.3 inches as a viewfinder.

In terms of software the Fold runs a variant of Android 9 very similar to what you'd get on any other 2019 Samsung phone,for better and worse. One the plus side the Fold iscompatible with DeX,meaning it could potentially serve triple duty as a phone,tablet and PC,but there are still some annoyingly backwards decisions like the lack of proper gesture controls;something you feel even more in a tablet format.

There are of course some special software touches needed for the Fold. For example closing the phone locks the device by default,but in the settings you can decide which apps override that to stay active on the small screen;handy for Maps or media.

Given the high price,chunky design and lingering longevity concerns,the Fold might not be something the public at large will go for. Samsung clearly knows that,as the phone appears to be stocked in extremely limited supply. You can't get it online,and pre-orders have been temporarily suspended. But even if the Fold's reach is limited,the format almost certainly has a future.

The desire for bigger and bigger screens continues,but phones like the Note10+ push the limits of what's practical. The prospect of a device with a variable size screen — particularly a very large screen that can become small enough to go in your pocket or handbag — is an exciting one,and the Galaxy Fold shows that it works.