Huawei patents double-folding phone concept

Samsung and now Huawei announced that they will postpone the launch of their foldable smartphones for this fall. While Samsung is invoking technical difficulties with the initial design, Huawei puts the blame on Samsung, even though the Chinese company was hit by bans and its folding mechanism is different. These initial foldable models might end up being just a test run for future models, and if we look at patents from both companies, there are quite a few new models that could be mass-produced in 2020. Just recently, the guys over at Let’s Go Digital discovered that Huawei successfully registered a new foldable phone patent with the WIPO, but this concept comes with double folds and a considerably larger screen.

According to the patent schematics, Huawei provided three model concepts with slightly different implementations of the double-folding screen. There are two models with visible bezels for camera and other sensors and one model without any bezels.  The two sides of the screen are still folding outwards and overlap one another when folded, yet the hinges appear sturdier and more elegant. Furthermore, the foldable screen is held in place via magnets, and, when the screen is fully unfolded, users can choose to split the screen in three for enhanced productivity, or the three parts can function as one large 16:9 display.

All models have a working camera, which means the one without bezels (Model A) is most likely using an in-display camera rather than a pop-up solution. Model C appears to have a more advanced hinge system that allows for additional uses such as a desk-stand mode that employs one of the folding sides as the stand or a laptop mode where the center of the screen acts as a keyboard and one of the folding sides acts as the screen.

Improving the existing foldable concept may allow Huawei to surpass Samsung in this sector, however, the company might not be able to update the foldable lineup too soon, as the bans are said to reduce Huawei’s global phone shipments by up to 60%.