Foldables and 2-in-1s: Understanding and Supporting the Needs of Hybrid Device Users

Foldables and 2-in-1 devices provide users with new ways to adapt their device to their mobile context, allowing users to switch device configuration, screen size and shape, and input mechanism in seconds. This has strong implications for the design of interactive media applications that need to adapt to the user's changing context and device parameters. In this study, we explored how users opportunistically make use of these new device affordances in their everyday lives through interviews with 15 diverse hybrid device owners, identifying use cases and pain points. Users reported regularly moving through multiple configurations or input modes while using a single product, or completing a single task. Based on our learnings, we provide recommendations for practitioners designing for hybrid mobile devices.