Samsung UTG orders put Google Pixel Fold and Mi Mix Fold 2 in the frame for releases this year
Last month, we reported that Samsung Display had offered ultra-thin glass (UTG) displays to more companies, with Samsung Electronics retaining exclusivity until now. According to The Elec, Samsung Display has now brokered deals with Google, Honor, Oppo, and Vivo to supply UTG displays, starting this year.
Apparently, Oppo is preparing to release a foldable smartphone next year, but there is no fixed launch data on the Honor Magic Fold. By contrast, Google, Vivo and Xiaomi are expected to launch devices with UTG displays before the end of 2021. Details remain light on Vivo's plans, beyond that it will have an 8-inch foldable display and a 6.5-inch cover display. Supposedly, both will utilise UTG panels.
Additionally, The Elec claims that Samsung Display has supplied 8.01-inch displays to Xiaomi and 7.6-inch ones to Google. The Elec implies that Samsung Display has sourced panels from BOE, to which it has applied its low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) technologies.
Android 12 Beta has already revealed the Pixel Fold's codename and model number as Passport and GPQ72, respectively. Presumably, the Pixel Fold will feature a 5x ultra-telephoto camera too, along with Google's first in-house SoC, codenamed Whitechapel. Google is expected to reveal new Pixel hardware in the autumn.
