In 20 19, Huawei, Samsung and Motorola launched folding screen mobile phones, which were folded outward, inward and vertically respectively.
Although some brands have not officially released their products, they have also released a large number of concept maps and real machine photos. In the same year, we listed folding screen as the annual innovation technology and looked forward to its brilliant future.
In 2020, the above four companies successively launched iterative products, and Lenovo ThinkPad officially released the first folding screen notebook computer. At the same time, some other brands have also proposed solutions such as scrolling screen, although they are still in the conceptual stage.
Entering 20021year, although I can't predict the future development of deformable mobile phones with my current knowledge.
But I want to further elaborate my views and understanding of the concept of folding screen by reviewing the products of the past three years.
Yu Rou FlexPai
Although the related reports and patents of folding screen can be traced back many years, if the first smart phone is really released, it will definitely be Yu Rou FlexPai (hereinafter referred to as Soft School).
Softpad was released at 20 18, 10, 3 1, with a 7.8-inch flexible screen and a resolution of 1920x 1440.
When fully unfolded, the screen ratio of 4:3 makes it very close to the iPad mini, but the measurements are better controlled.
It uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and 8GB+256GB storage combination.
This configuration is not weak, but because most Android applications are not suitable for big screens, the actual experience can only be said to be not excellent.
In 2020, smartphones ushered in a wave of popularization of 5G networks, and Yu Rou also released FlexPai 2.
Its processor is upgraded to Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 mobile platform, which supports 5G and Wi-Fi 6.
But I think the biggest improvement of FlexPai 2 is actually split screen operation.
For example, FlexPai 2 can not only split the screen left and right, so that the application can run in a proportion closer to mainstream smartphones, but also split the screen further, and switching software is also very simple.
At the same time, Yu Rou has also created a three-piece mobile office, which covers three dimensions: writing, mobile application and going out with peers, through a folding screen mobile phone, TWS Bluetooth headset and Soft Pole 2 smartbook.
Huawei Mate X
The version of Huawei Mate X was released on 20 19 10-23, and it adopted the same folding design as Yu Rou FlexPai.
But I think, as a folding screen product, Huawei Mate X is obviously more mature.
It arranges the camera on the other side of the whole screen. In other words, when users use it every day, there is really almost only one screen on the front.
In the case of folding, Huawei Mate X can flip the screen and let the camera switch between positive and negative.
After the sub-screen collaboration is turned on, you can also see the viewfinder picture from the screen when taking pictures, which is convenient for adjusting posture or directing.
The appearance of Mate Xs upgraded this year has not changed much, so I won't repeat it here. However, through Huawei's accumulation in the field of tablet computers such as parallel vision, split screen and small window, the experience brought by Mate Xs to users is undoubtedly more perfect.
Samsung Galaxy folding/flipping
Through the product combination of folding inside and folding vertically, Samsung is currently a brand with a wide layout in the field of folding screens.
Speaking of Samsung's first folding screen mobile phone Galaxy Fold, to be honest, it's really wow.
Compared with the folding design, the folding design of Galaxy Fold can provide better protection for the screen when it is carried daily.
And as one of the screen factories, Samsung's 7.3-inch Infinity Flex display for Galaxy Fold has a really good display effect.
The fly in the ointment is that the big bangs in the upper right corner have a great influence on the look and feel of the whole screen.
In order to allow users to use it normally when folding, Galaxy Fold also provides a 4.6-inch screen outside.
It's not big, but it's okay to make a phone call and scan the code.
The Galaxy Fold 2 released later raised the external screen to 6.2 inches, which is closer to the smartphones we use every day.
More importantly, its internal screen has been upgraded to 7.6 inches, and the design of digging screen will basically not affect the display of this screen.
After all, for folding screen products, the upgrade of the look and feel brought by a whole screen is the core that users pursue.
In addition to Galaxy Fold, Samsung also released the Galaxy Z Flip series with vertical folding design.
Considering that the release time of Z Flip and 5G versions is not far apart, and there is not much difference in appearance, we will not introduce the two versions separately.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is not the first product with vertical folding design, but it brings a major breakthrough, that is, the screen is covered with glass.
Covered by ultra-flexible glass, the screen touch of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is smoother and the whole is more exquisite.
After folding, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is about the size of a cosmetic case and can be easily put into a 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, music being played and notifications.
The precise hinge design allows the screen of Galaxy Z Flip to be fixed at different angles, which is convenient for users to take photos and take selfies.
Motorola Laszler
Speaking of vertical folding, you can't forget Motorola and its blade series.
Motorola razr was released on 201911kloc-0/5, and it is also the first folding screen mobile phone product with vertical folding design.
One of its highlights is the use of a 2.7-inch screen outside. So in the case of folding, you can also run a lot of software.
As a Motorola blade series, thinness is naturally a key word, and this feature has continued until last year's razr 5G.
When this product is fully opened, most of the fuselage is only 7.9mm thick. Perhaps due to the compromise of power and other aspects, razr 5G adopts Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G mobile platform, but it is enough for daily use.
Unlike other folding screen mobile phones on the market, razr 5G has specially designed the screen at the rotating shaft. Seamless folding and unfolding can be realized.
As the latest product of the blade series, Motorola razr 5G provides a retro mode. After opening, the screen will be like V3, and it can only be operated by the virtual buttons provided below.
Other conceptual products
To sum up the above products, flexible screen is naturally the key word. The panel of the flexible screen is thinner and the picture is more transparent, which can realize the effects of curved surface and folding.
In fact, in addition to the above four companies, there are many interesting products that adopt similar concepts or technologies. Here is a brief introduction:
OPPO X 202 1 was released during the "OPPO INNO DAY 2020" last year, and adopted a scrolling screen design.
Stepless adjustment from 6.7 to 7.4 inches can be realized without creases.
Although the literal translation of OPPO Slide Phone is a "slide phone", it also adopts a folding screen design.
Through three-stage folding, screens with different lengths can be presented, which brings more gameplay. This product was jointly developed by OPPO, Japanese designer Dai Sato and his team Nendo ***.
A few days later, OPPO brought a retractable screen phone designed jointly with tom ford, which can be said to be a real slide phone.
Xiaomi MIX Alpha also uses a flexible screen, but does not support folding. In fact, it feels more like a product that extends the curved surface of the mobile phone to the back, equipped with a customized Alpha system.
The price of MIX Alpha is 19999, which has become the highest price of Xiaomi mobile phone. However, although the official said that it would be mass-produced, it was not sold in the end, and the reason is unknown.
What should I do if I want to make a flip cover and don't want to use a flexible screen? Microsoft's Surface Duo gives the answer.
It uses two 5.6-inch screens and runs Android. However, as a product released in September last year and later released, Surface Duo is only equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and does not support 5G network.
LG also brought a dual-screen product LG Wing last year. It consists of two screens, and the front screen can be rotated by 90.
The official said that LG Wing can play music while navigating, or surf the Internet while watching videos ... Although I think this concept is a bit forced, considering that LG Mobile may be sold, I still don't say much here.
If Apple wants to make a folding screen phone, I wonder how many years the screen can be guaranteed? ..