Foldable

The rise of ultra-expensive foldable devices like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Motorola Razr, and Apple’s rumoured iPhone/iPad hybrid underline a greater issue with the smartphone industry on the whole: the lack of genuine innovation and an inertia to move beyond a format that’s becoming less suited to meet the needs of today’s connected audiences.

Tipster @komiya_kj shared rather remarkable specs for a purported upcoming Apple foldable product. The foldable will evidently fill the gap between the iPad and iPhone by folding out into tablet form and folding into smartphone form. The Apple foldable reportedly features an A16X SoC, microLED tech, and phone call support.

E Ink has demonstrated the latest working prototype of its foldable display technology. The device also supports note taking via a stylus and points to what could be the near future for e-reading devices.

Leaked marketing renders have offered a closer look at the Surface Duo, Microsoft's long-awaited foldable device. While Microsoft exited the smartphone market four years ago, the bezels on the Surface Duo feel like the company never left. If that was not enough of a throwback, then the Surface Duo may be exclusive to AT&T in the US too.

The Mi Mix series is a line of premium devices marked by experimental features in the works at the smartphone OEM Xiaomi. For example, its Alpha variant has a stand-out wrap-around display. However, the company's CEO, Lei Jun, has just dashed hopes of it ever coming to market, let alone any kind of new Mix generation in 2020.

An internal Google document has been leaked and ended up in the hands of 9to5Google. Sensationally, it reveals the codenames of forthcoming devices thought to be the Pixel 5a, Pixel 5 and Pixel 6 XL, but also explicitly mentions a Pixel foldable could be here as soon as Q4 2021.

Samsung had been slated to debut 5 different devices at its major showcase that took place today (August 5, 2020). However, the last of these to appear, the Galaxy Z Fold2, was introduced rather than launched. Nevertheless, there was an in-depth look at some of its updated flexible tech, as well as a premiere special guest-star unboxing.

Motorola's second-generation foldable is thought to migrate to a 5G SoC rather than the Snapdragon 710 found in its predecessor. Now, a new live image posted to Weibo may confirm the differences in looks between the two. It is by no means a substantial redesign, yet shows some refinements in the newer model.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a first-gen bendable phablet with a possible successor that is now thought to be called the Z Fold2 5G on its launch. A prominent leaks blog claims to have the latest renders on this device. These all-angle images may confirm a new design and an improved main screen for the ultra-premium foldable.

Microsoft has confirmed, albeit indirectly, that its eagerly anticipated dual-screen Surface Neo has been delayed. Following a blog post that indicated Windows 10X would debut first on single-screen devices, it became clear that plans for Windows 10X for dual-screen devices would be pushed back. However, it was only in the past day or so that Microsoft removed the “Coming Holiday 2020” timeline from the device’s webpage.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that there will be a Consumer Electronics Show (CES) scheduled for January 2021. However, it will not be held in Las Vegas as usual: instead, an "all-digital" experience is planned to replace the usual physical event. However, the Association is still confident it will be worthwhile for exhibitors and e-attendees alike.

Tipster @evleaks outed renders for the upcoming Motorola Razr 5G (or “Razr Odyssey”). The upcoming foldable smartphone offers little in the way of design improvements over the existing Motorola Razr, with a very similar screen layout. However, rumors indicate that the Razr 5G will get a Snapdragon 765 SoC and a 48MP camera.

The Microsoft Surface Duo has passed through the Bluetooth SIG and FCC, signalling its imminent release. The dual-screen device would be Microsoft's first smartphone since the Lumia 650, which the company released over four years ago. However, the Surface Duo appears to be running on last-gen hardware.

Samsung had let it be known that 5 devices would be unveiled at its August 5, 2020 Galaxy Unpacked event. The OEM's fans may have expected the Galaxy Z Flip 5G to be one of them. However, the Korean giant has now introduced this device. It seems to be a Snapdragon 865 Plus refresh of the original foldable clamshell.

"One fold, infinite possibilities". That is the tagline for Samsung's latest promotional tweet on the subject of its next major product launch. Accordingly, it may be a strong hint that a successor to the first-gen Galaxy Fold will have a place in this August 2020 show.

The well-known display supply-chain commenter Ross Young has released a projection in which foldable devices with ultra-thin glass (UTG) protection easily outdoes the first-gen Galaxy Fold (which has a polymer-coated display) in terms of sales in 2020 and onward. Accordingly, the leaker now believes that Apple will also go with UTG in its own eventual foldable devices.

XDA’s Max Weinbach has more bad news for Samsung fans groaning at the possibility the new Galaxy Note 20 could be lumped with the Exynos 990. Now Weinbach says that Samsung’s Galaxy Fold 2 will be a no show at the upcoming August 5 Galaxy Unpacked Event as had been expected.

Samsung has confirmed that its next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on August 5. The event, the first from the company to be held online only, will be streaming from 10 a.m. ET where it is expected that the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Fold 2 will debut.

Huawei has filed a trademark application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for the name Mate V. This would be an adroit term for, say, a device that can fold like a book in the current Galaxy Fold style. Therefore, the term may hint at such an upcoming phablet from this OEM.

A 3C certification listing was recently spotted for the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 5G and indicates that the foldable will come with the same 25W charger as the Samsung Galaxy S20. This means the Galaxy Fold 2 will likely charge from 0 to 50 percent in just half an hour.

The Chinese telecomms regulator 3C has reportedly certified a new Motorola device called the XT2071-4. This model number is rumored to correspond to the 2nd-generation foldable Razr. This new clamshell is thought to have the same screen size as its predecessor, although it may have an updated 5G SoC.

Evan Blass has published a 360° GIF of the Galaxy Z Flip 5G in Mystic Bronze. The device, which Samsung is rumoured to be launching on August 5 at a Galaxy UNPACKED event, will sport the same design as the current Galaxy Z Flip.

A new patent added to the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) database shows that Samsung has developed a foldable battery to power phones of the same nature. It is constructed of layers in a way that allows one of its cells to connect to another via a flexible commisure that crosses the hinge-portion of the device in question. This removes the need for 2 separate solid batteries and their potential drawbacks.

A new leak has confirmed that Lenovo has developed a Yoga dual-screen device running Windows 10X. The device, which resembles the Dell Concept Duet and Microsoft Surface Neo supports pen input and has a detachable keyboard.

Most of the newly-leaked specs seem very similar to the non-5G version, except for the SoC that is now supposed to be a Snapdragon 865 Plus. The leaker also seems to be confusing the selfie cam with one of the rear sensors, so the accuracy of this leak is a bit dubious.

Samsung is currently believed to have a 5G version of its Galaxy Z Flip in the works. Several new listings on the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) website confirm this, overtly naming multiple versions of the same device in these terms. One of them has also gained a certification to use NFC.

It has been reported that Xiaomi and Huawei have been replenishing their stocks of ultra-thin glass (UTG), creating speculation of what the Chinese OEMs have in mind for the material. The upcoming Huawei Mate 40 Pro will feature an ultra-thin display, and it is possible Xiaomi will use UTG for a Mi Mix 4 smartphone or a Xiaomi Mi foldable device.

Tipster @IceUniverse revealed new details about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Fold 2 device. However, the thinner bezels and larger display raise concerns about durability, especially in the aftermath of Foldgate.

Foldable smartphones are inherently fascinating, and the Motorola Razr 2019 is certainly no exception. In this article we will explain why we would like to recommend it, even though it is difficult to justify.

Geekbench has confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G will be arriving in August with a Snapdragon 865 SoC and 8 GB of RAM. The device, which is thought to be debuting in three colours alongside the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Fold 2, may well feature a mix of parts that Samsung has used in its flagships over the last three years.

The Motorola Razr was announced in 2019 as the first foldable clamshell phone on the market. Therefore, the OEM set its price at US$1499.99 on its launch. Those who find this outlay for a phone powered by the Snapdragon 710 SoC off-putting may be interested to know that it has a special reduced price on its US website until June 21, 2020.

Microsoft’s Surface Duo Android-based smartphone looks like it could be coming sooner rather than later. According to the latest rumor, the device could be set to launch as soon as next month as Microsoft is said to be keen to launch it ahead of the Galaxy Fold 2.

Intel has finally detailed the Lakefield family of processors based on the Foveros 3D packaging tech. The current Lakefield lineup includes the Core i3-L13G4 and the Core i5-L16G7, which are 7 W penta-core parts featuring a 10nm Sunny Cove and four 10nm Tremont cores. Intel Lakefield is available in the Samsung Galaxy Book S and will also power the upcoming Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold and the Microsoft Surface Neo.

Samsung first used ultra-thin tempered glass (or UTG) in the Galaxy Z Flip, which was supplied to it by the German company Schott. Now, a Korean media outlet claims the OEM has turned to Corning instead for analogous flexible protection that is to be incorporated in its true next-gen smartphone/tablet flagship, the Fold 2.

A Korean blog now asserts that the next major Samsung mobile device launch will take place about 2 months from today (June 6, 2020). This event is touted to unveil the next-gen Galaxy Notes and Fold, as well as some more devices such as the OEM's new premium tablets. It may also assume an online format.

Xiaomi has reportedly patented a phone with an outward-folding display which leaves its I/O contained within a strip down 1 side of this device. If that concept sounds familiar, it is because this form-factor has already been debuted by Huawei in its Mate X series. Xiaomi's new take on it exhibits at least 4 cameras.

Samsung has filed a patent for a foldable phone with a "waterproof housing". The document's images depicts this device as similar to the Galaxy Fold, but with a tougher-looking, possibly thicker, chassis. However, the internal tablet-sized screen remains more or less the same.

The smartphone OEM ZTE has reportedly filed a patent with the Chinese National Intellectual Property Office (CNIPA) for a tablet-like device with a screen that can bend at 2 points to collapse into more of a phone form factor. It is not the only manifestation of this concept out there, but does look a very convincing take on it.

Lenovo's first PC with a foldable screen, the ThinkPad X1 Fold, was announced at CES for a release in this summer. That plan seems to have changed, as a recent roadmap pointed towards a release in the last quarter of 2020. A Twitter post by Lenovo Vice President Luiz Hernandez now confirms that the X1 Fold needs more testing.

Xiaomi has already claimed a phone with a twistable camera as intellectual property. Now, it has combined this design with that of a clamshell foldable. As before, it allows the user to take selfies with the device's main shooters at will.

The Microsoft Surface Duo is on the way and months after Microsoft's teaser, technical specifications of the foldable phone have now been revealed. Notable talking points include the choice of a last-gen SoC and a disappointing battery unit.

The Huawei Mate X and Mate Xs are incredible pieces of hardware but carry an equally heavy price tag, with the Mate Xs costing almost US$2700. That's a bit too much for the average consumer, though, so Huawei is reportedly working on a more affordable foldable offering that could launch alongside the Mate 40 Pro later this year.

Rumour has it that a "Lite" Samsung Galaxy foldable smartphone will be arriving later this year. A blend of parts from the last three years, the Galaxy Fold Lite or Galaxy Z Flip Lite will apparently retail for US$1,099.

Motorola released its new kind of Razr at the start of 2020. Despite its groundbreaking foldable screen, it was stuck on Android 9.0 (Pie) from its launch. Now, the OEM has finally announced a major software upgrade, custom-designed to suit its form-factor.

Samsung has officially confirmed that it will be launching a sequel to the Galaxy Fold. The news was buried in its financial report last week as it sought to assure investors that it is going to continue to try innovating itself out of a general decline in smartphone dominance.

Samsung is said to have a true Galaxy Fold 2 in the works - now, it also seems there is a 2nd-gen Galaxy Z Flip as well. This clamshell-style foldable, despite its novelty, may be underwhelming in terms of its dual rear cameras. New patents allegedly filed by its maker shows how it might look with 1 lens more.

In our review, the Huawei Mate Xs has convinced us with its foldable design. While the outer display certainly carries a higher risk, it also opens up numerous opportunities including a slimmer design. However, the foldable has also revealed weaknesses in areas where we had not expected them.

According to South Korean media, Xiaomi has sought clamshell foldable panels from Samsung in the hope of mass-producing a Galaxy Z Flip-type smartphone in 2H 2020. Xiaomi is aiming to release a CNY 999 (~US$141) 5G handset before the end of the year too.