The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition Your next laptop could be a foldable phone
Feb 17, 2026
Allison Johnson, a Verge senior reviewer who tested the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 as a “purse computer,” explains why a foldable can replace a laptop for many tasks. Jacob Feldman, a Sportico sports business reporter, breaks down the messy state of sports streaming, rights deals, and big-event coverage. They discuss multitasking, keyboards, app friction, Olympic streams, Super Bowl performance, and where streaming is headed.
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Mindset Trumps Specs
- The foldable's inner screen plus a physical keyboard shifts your mindset from 'phone' to 'computer.'
- That mental shift makes longer-form writing and focused work feel doable on a phone-size device.
Use Desktop Tabs Over Android Apps
- Avoid relying on Android mobile apps for heavy web workflows; prefer desktop-class browser tabs when possible.
- Be prepared to wrestle with app behaviors and open things in Chrome tabs for better multitasking on a foldable.
Two-App Coffee Shop Workflow
- Allison often runs one primary app (Google Docs) and a side reference window in Chrome while working on the Z Fold 7.
- She juggles tabs and apps, sometimes stretching phone apps, but achieves a workable two-app multitasking setup.