Top 6 upcoming foldable smartphones in the market
What's the story
There seems to be a barrage of upcoming foldable smartphones in the market, at least that is how brands are making it sound like, with some promising foldable screens as soon as 2018. Big players like Huawei, Apple, Motorola, and Microsoft have already filed patents for flexible displays. Here are the top six foldable smartphones expected to hit the markets in a few years.
Galaxy X
Samsung coming with foldable phone that can turn into tablet
According to reports, the Samsung Galaxy X will have three screens instead of two. At the front, the phone will have two 3.5-inch screens, which when folded will offer a tablet-like gap-free viewing experience. At the back, the device will have another 3.5-inch screen. Users will be able to fold the device, to be launched in 2019, both inwards and outwards.
RAZR
Iconic Motorola RAZR smartphones to make a comeback
Motorola is working on bringing back its classic RAZR smartphones with the addition of foldable displays. Yang Yuanqing, the CEO of Lenovo (which owns the Motorola brand) earlier said, "With the new technology, particularly foldable screens, I think you will see more and more innovation on our smartphone design." The Moto RAZR series was first launched in 2004.
LG
LG's prowess in making rolling, foldable displays
LG has already partnered with smartphone brands like Huawei and Apple to make bendable OLED screens for their foldable smartphones. Now the company is also reportedly working on its own foldable phone concept. Earlier in January, LG filed a patent for a "mobile phone with a flexible display which can be folded in half" in two potential designs.
iPhone
Apple working on a foldable iPhone concept
Last year, Apple filed a patent for "Electronic Devices With Flexible Displays" which hinted at a foldable iPhone that can be "opened and closed like a book." Apple is reportedly developing the foldable electronic device in collaboration with Asian "partners." It is speculated that the foldable iPhone will be a hybrid smartphone-tablet device and will launch in 2020.
Huawei
Huawei might unveil a foldable smartphone by November 2018
Huawei has received a patent for a foldable smartphone that will have two displays and will fold from the middle. The patent diagrams reveal a phone featuring a Surface Book 2-like hinge to connect the two screens. The smartphone will fold inwards like a book. The device when opened will double as a tablet.
Microsoft
Microsoft joins the bandwagon, files patent for foldable device
Microsoft has also filed a patent revealing a tablet-like device that has two primary displays that can be folded on both sides and a third display at the hinge. The third screen's display depends on the position of the hinge. What one would see on this third screen is dependent on whether the device is in tablet mode, tent mode, or in book-shape.