In 2018, FlexPai from Royole Technology was released, and the history of folding screen mobile phones officially began.
In 2019, Huawei, Samsung, and Motorola have launched folding screen mobile phones, corresponding to outward folding, inward folding and vertical folding respectively.
Although some brands have not officially released their products, they have also released a large number of concept drawings and real machine photos. In the same year, we listed the folding screen as the annual innovative technology and look forward to its success in the future.
In 2020, the above four companies launched iterative products one after another, and Lenovo ThinkPad officially released its first folding screen laptop. At the same time, some other brands have also come up with solutions such as scroll screens, although they are still in the concept machine stage.
Entering 2021, although based on my current knowledge, I cannot predict where future deformable mobile phones will develop.
But I want to further elaborate on my views and understanding of the concept of folding screens by reviewing the products of the past three years.
Royole FlexPai
Although relevant reports and patents about folding screens can be traced back many years, if it is implemented into the first smartphone actually released, then it must be Royole Yu FlexPai (hereinafter referred to as FlexPai).
Flexpai was released on October 31, 2018, using a 7.8-inch flexible screen with a resolution of 1920x1440.
When fully unfolded, the 4:3 screen ratio makes it very close to the iPad mini, but the measurements are better controlled.
It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor paired with 8GB 256GB storage combination.
This configuration is not weak, but since most Android applications are not adapted for large screens, the actual experience can only be said to be not outstanding.
Entering 2020, smartphones have ushered in a wave of popularization of 5G networks, and Royole also released FlexPai 2.
Its processor has been upgraded to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 mobile platform, bringing support for 5G and Wi-Fi 6.
But I think the biggest improvement of FlexPai 2 is actually the split-screen operation.
For example, as shown above, FlexPai 2 can not only split the screen left and right, allowing applications to run at a ratio closer to that of mainstream smartphones, but can also further split the screen, and switching software is also very simple.
At the same time, Royole has also created a three-piece mobile office set, which fully covers the three dimensions of writing, mobile applications and traveling together through folding screen mobile phones, TWS Bluetooth headsets and Rouji 2 smart notebooks.
Huawei Mate X
The Chinese version of Huawei Mate
But I think that as a folding screen product, Huawei Mate X is obviously more mature.
It arranges the camera on the other side of the entire screen. In other words, in daily use, there is really only one screen on the front.
When folded, Huawei Mate X can flip the screen to allow the camera to switch freely between front and rear cameras.
After turning on the secondary screen collaboration, the person being photographed can also see the viewfinder screen from the screen, which is convenient for adjusting posture or conducting commands.
This year’s upgraded Mate Xs has not changed much in appearance, so I won’t go into details here. However, through Huawei's accumulation in the field of tablet computers such as parallel vision, split screen and small windows, the experience brought to users by Mate Xs is undoubtedly more complete.
Samsung Galaxy Fold/Flip
Through the product combination of inward folding and vertical folding, Samsung is currently a brand with a relatively broad layout in the field of folding screens.
Speaking of Samsung’s first foldable screen phone Galaxy Fold, to be honest it’s pretty wow.
Compared with the outer folding design, the Galaxy Fold’s inner folding design can provide better screen protection during daily carrying.
Moreover, as one of the screen manufacturers, the 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display screen prepared by Samsung for Galaxy Fold is really good.
The only drawback is that the big bangs in the upper right corner have a great impact on the look and feel of the entire screen.
In order to allow users to use it normally even when folded, Galaxy Fold also provides a 4.6-inch screen on the outside.
Although it’s not big, it’s not a problem to just call and scan the QR code.
The Galaxy Fold 2 released later increased the external screen to 6.2 inches, closer to the smartphones we use every day.
More importantly, its internal screen has been upgraded to 7.6 inches, and the design of the hole-punch screen will basically not affect the display of this screen.
After all, for folding screen products, the upgrade in look and feel brought by a whole screen is the core pursuit of users.
In addition to the Galaxy Fold, Samsung also released the Galaxy Z Flip series with a vertical folding design.
Considering that the Z Flip and 5G versions were released not far apart and there is not much difference in appearance, the two models will not be introduced separately.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is not the first product to adopt a vertical folding design, but it brings a major breakthrough, which is that the outside of the screen is covered with glass.
Covered by ultra-flexible glass, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip’s screen feels smoother and the overall design is more refined.
When folded, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is about the size of a cosmetic case and can easily fit into your pocket.
However, Samsung did not provide a large external screen for the Galaxy Z Flip, but only provided a small screen next to the camera to display the time, currently playing music, notifications and other content.
The sophisticated hinge design allows the Galaxy Z Flip’s screen to be fixed at different angles, making it convenient for users to take photos and selfies.
Motorola razr
When talking about vertical folding, we cannot forget Motorola and its Blade series.
Motorola razr was released on November 15, 2019. It is also the first folding screen mobile phone product with a vertical folding design.
One of its highlights is the use of a 2.7-inch screen on the outside. Therefore, many software can also be run when folded.
As a Motorola Blade series, thinness and lightness are naturally a key word, and this feature has also continued to last year’s razr 5G.
When fully opened, most of the body is only 7.9mm thick. Perhaps due to compromises in terms of power, razr 5G uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G mobile platform, but it is completely sufficient for daily use.
Unlike other folding screen phones on the market, razr 5G has a special design for the screen at the hinge. It can be folded in half seamlessly and unfolded without creases.
And as the latest product in the Blade series, Motorola razr 5G offers a retro mode. When opened, the screen will look like a V3 and can only be operated through the virtual keys provided on the lower half.
Other concept products
To sum up the above products, flexible screen is naturally a keyword. The panel of the flexible screen is thinner, the picture is more transparent, and it can achieve effects such as curved surfaces and folding.
In fact, in addition to the above four companies, there are many other interesting products that use similar ideas or technologies. Let’s give a brief introduction below:
OPPO X 2021 is a product released during last year’s “OPPO Future Technology Conference 2020” and adopts a scroll screen design.
Stepless adjustment from 6.7 to 7.4 inches without creases.
Although the OPPO Slide Phone is literally translated as "sliding phone", it also uses a folding screen design.
Three-stage folding allows screens of different lengths to be displayed, allowing for more gameplay. This product was developed by OPPO in collaboration with Japanese designer Yamato Sato and his team Nendo.
A few days later, OPPO brought another retractable screen phone co-designed with Tom Ford, which can be said to be a real Slide Phone.
Xiaomi MIX Alpha also uses a flexible screen, but it does not support folding. It actually feels more like the product of extending the curved surface of the phone to the back, equipped with a customized Alpha system.
MIX Alpha is priced at 19,999, making it the highest price ever recorded for a Xiaomi mobile phone. But although the official said that it would be mass-produced, it was not put on sale in the end for unknown reasons.
What should I do if I want to make a clamshell but don’t want to use a flexible screen? Microsoft’s Surface Duo has the answer.
It uses two 5.6-inch screens and runs Android system. However, as a product released in September last year and sold later, Surface Duo is only equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and does not support 5G networks.
LG also launched a dual-screen product LG Wing last year. It consists of two screens, the front screen can be rotated 90 degrees.
Officially stated that LG Wing can play music while navigating, or surf the Internet while watching videos... Although I think this concept is a bit forced, but considering that LG Mobile may be sold, it is still not recommended here. Too many complaints.
If Apple is going to release a foldable screen phone, I don’t know how many years of warranty the screen will last..