Rumor | Realme will release foldable and under-display camera phones by the end of 2022

The well-known BBK Electronics subsidiary Realme is already allegedly linked to the imminent launch of its first-ever under-display camera smartphone. Now, the brand is projected to launch its inaugural foldable smartphone soon. These rumors have mainly been sparked by a Weibo post from the company's CEO, Yu Qi Chase.

The executive has (according to Google Translate, at least) observed how high-resolution screens with punch-hole selfie cameras, once the exclusive purview of flagships on the bleeding edge of Android smartphone tech, will be decidedly "mainstream" by 2022, and that display panels capable of either folding or hiding cameras may be next.

This message might be a general (and quite reasonable) comment on the progress of the mobile device industry in general; however, some interpret it as a sign Realme is nearly ready to launch a new device with one or more of these next-gen specs. 

This theory may be bolstered by the recent emergence of a "Realme Design Studio" diagram purported to depict a "GT 2 Fold" with an 8-inch flexible primary AMOLED display. The alleged schematic also incorporates a 6.5-inch 'cover' display, as well as dual 50MP rear cameras.

As Realme is essentially under the same umbrella as OPPO, another OEM also now linked to a first-gen foldable smartphone of potentially similar specs, it is possible that the 2 brands do indeed have access to the same approximate designs and intend to release them with their own respective spins on the technology in the near future.

Given Realme's typical 'youth-focused' marketing tactics, its version might emerge as the more cost-effective of the two. On the other hand, this remains very much the stuff of speculation at this point.

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