The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition The 6G, modular, robot phones of the future
Mar 3, 2026
Allison Johnson, MWC mobile reporter with hands-on phone coverage; Jess Weatherbed, gadgets reporter who explains strap culture; Jay Peters, VR and metaverse reporter answering listener questions. They tour modular and robot phones, debate 6G hype, and unpack gadget straps as practical fashion. They also tackle whether immersive platforms will become everyday living spaces.
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Foldable Phones Are Finally Solving Key Tradeoffs
- Foldables are converging on solutions for durability, battery, and ingress protection, pushing them toward mainstream recommendation.
- Allison rates foldables improving toward a four due to IP ratings and new silicon carbon batteries.
Silicon Carbon Batteries Could Unlock Better Foldable Batteries
- Silicon carbon batteries could enable very high capacity and thinner foldables but carry longevity trade-offs.
- Motorola's Razr Fold uses this tech to promise 6,000mAh while raising lifecycle questions.
Manufacturers Are Doubling Down On Smaller Thinner Devices
- There's an industry push toward smaller, thinner devices across phones and tablets, driven partly by design trends like iPhone Air.
- Allison saw thin tablets and power banks at MWC and rates the trend a four.