K-pop star Sunmi loves Notion and ear cleaning videos

Your phone's utility as a creative tool and work device expands with new foldable form factors.

K-pop star Sunmi revealed her reliance on her smartphone and specific apps in a recent interview. She highlighted the Notes app and Voice Memos for capturing creative ideas while working on music. Sunmi also expressed her appreciation for the Samsung Galaxy series, particularly the Z Fold 8, for its convenience in on-the-go work, including document editing and video processing. For collaborative projects, she uses Notion, though she noted its steep learning curve and potential UI improvements. When asked about apps she installs on a new device, she mentioned KakaoTalk as a primary communication tool, if data transfer wasn't an option. Sunmi also shared a desire for a phone feature that automatically identifies and groups duplicate photos and screenshots in her gallery to simplify cleanup. She is a frequent user of Google Drive, YouTube, and Claude, and expressed dislike for deepfake technology.

The continued evolution of foldable smartphones like the Samsung Z Fold 8 suggests a market trend toward devices that seamlessly blend personal and professional use. Sunmi's preference for its large screen and portability for tasks like video editing and document handling indicates that these form factors are maturing beyond novelty to become essential tools for mobile productivity. This could signal increasing competition in the premium smartphone segment, pushing manufacturers to further innovate in screen technology, battery life, and software optimization to cater to users who need powerful computing capabilities on the move.

The reliance on productivity apps such as Notion and cloud storage services like Google Drive underscores the growing importance of integrated digital workspaces. Sunmi's mention of Notion's learning curve and potential UI issues points to an ongoing challenge for software developers: balancing feature-rich functionality with user-friendliness. As more creative professionals and collaborators adopt such tools, the demand for intuitive interfaces and streamlined workflows will likely drive further development in this area, potentially leading to more specialized or AI-enhanced versions of these applications.