LG may have patented a double-folding phone that is also portless

The World Intellectual Property Office (or, rather, the blog that digs through it) has yielded yet another interesting smartphone patent that may inform the future of such devices. This patent, which was apparently originally filed in China, is attributed to LG. Its images depict a device capable of folding at 2 points, rather than 1 as in the emerging first generation of this form-factor.

The alleged LG patent shows that, when unfolded, this device has what could be called a dual display. Two-thirds of the device's screen real estate is taken up with a flexible panel in a book-like chassis, much like the long-anticipated Galaxy Fold. The remaining third is a completely separate display, which also makes up the front of the phone when the device is in 'collapsed' mode.

This is nothing new, however: Apple is also linked to a similar design in which 3 screens unfold in a Z to form one complete tablet-like screen. The design as executed in this patent would also be a good use of a recent trademark by its alleged OEM (the rather unimaginative LG Folds). However, it only takes a look at the putative device's edges for it to become more interesting.

These images omit any ports, USB included, where one might expect to find them. There is a series of symmetrical small holes along one edge that could be for speakers, but that is it. Therefore, it appears that LG intends to go fully wireless for this potential foldable phone - a risky strategy that has worked out poorly for other OEMs in the past.