For consumers, the as-yet-unrealized dream of foldables and other hybrid devices is that they can replace two devices. As a technology enthusiast, I’m intrigued by foldables, a market that includes both true foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 as well as dual-screen mobile devices like Surface Duo. But as a pragmatist, I’m not quite sure the value is there ... yet.

Anytime there’s a discussion about hybrid devices---devices that seem to span two previously existing markets---my mind wanders back to the original Apple iPad launch in 2010 and how then-CEO Steve Jobs framed the device.