An overview of the history of folding phones; From Polymer Vision to Samsung and Huawei
It might be hard to believe, but the tech world is often more skeptical of new trends than you might think. For this reason, there is a possibility that users will have a cold reception of innovative products. But in the end, the performance of these devices and the insistence of companies to improve them can determine their fate. One of these almost new trends is foldable phones.
Folding, rolling and expandable phones are one of the latest trends in the mobile world or in the world of technology in general. Although in recent years, thanks to companies like Samsung and Huawei, they have been able to secure their place in the market, these products are older.
In fact, other brands have played a role in the development of these products and have provided ideas for them. However, Samsung can be considered the reason for the success of these products today and their bright future (according to predictions).
The history of folding phones
In this article, we want to take a brief look at the history of folding phones and ideas related to this field.
old flip phones
Before reaching the modern folding phones, we must first go to the old folding mobile phones or flip phones. Although I call these products folding, they are very different from what is on the market today.
These products had a small screen in the upper part and a keyboard in the lower part and were once very popular in the market. At that time, many companies such as Nokia and Samsung were selling these devices in the market. Although there are significant differences between them and modern products, the foldable phones of old showed us that we could make phones more compact, paving the way for today’s ideas and devices like the Galaxy Z Flip.
Polymer Vision folding phone/reader
Before Samsung conquered the market with foldable AMOLED screens, several other companies were already looking to make foldable phones to open a new window in the mobile market.
One of these companies was “Polymer Vision” (Polymer Vision), which 2006 From a rolling concept design with a folding device called Readius unveiled, of course, this product was more of an electronic book reader than a phone.
Nokia enters the scene with “Morph”.
Year 2008 Nokia A video of a conceptual design called “Morph(Morph) in which a foldable display could take different shapes. This video showed a tablet that was actually a kind of flexible glass 3 The burden was folded and placed around the wrist like a bracelet. Morph was actually a design that was way ahead of its time.
The gradual emergence of Samsung folding AMOLED displays
In continuation to the year 2011 we arrive The year when the news of the development of the folding screen by Samsung was slowly spreading. Samsung did not do little and unveiled a concept design of a completely flexible AMOLED display that could not only be bent, rolled or folded, but also partially transparent.
Android phone equipped with two Kyocera displays
In the midst of Samsung’s foldable display, the brand Kyocera (Kyocera) also its Android phone with a dual touch screen that “echoHe presented the name Display 3.5 inches The dual of this phone had the ability to fold and its hardware also allowed running two separate apps on each screen, but its Android version did not support the two-piece image because its technology was still ahead of its time.
ZTE Axon M phone with three screens
Although Samsung had the technology to make foldable phones, it took more time in research and development to bring a worthy product to the market. By the time the Koreans launched a device, several companies had attempted to do so, which were, of course, different from Samsung’s product. One of these products was ZTE Axon M.
Smartphone Exxon M that year 2017 By ZTE It was supplied, in total it has 3 displays It was: an external display 5.2 inches With two internal displays 5.2 inches which together with a display 6.8 what about this They were similar to tablets.
Although the ZTA phone was attractive, the lack of software optimization and the presence of a thick border separating the screens did not bring a very interesting experience.
Royal Flex Pie is coming
This smartphone was technically the first foldable phone on the market as it arrived just a few days before the introduction of Samsung’s updated and flexible displays. Of course, the product offered by this Chinese brand has a price 1320 dollars It never left the Chinese market because, considering its features, it was not very economical for the user to buy it.
Finally, Samsung Galaxy Fold is coming
Samsung released the first series of foldable phones ready for consumers 2019 presented. Model Galaxy Fold with external display 4.6 inches After opening like a book, the display will display 7.3 inches The interior was exposed to the user.
This model also had a plastic protective cover on the internal display, which some experts mistakenly removed when reviewing the test version, but Samsung removed the said cover by collecting these versions and relaunched the Fold a few months later.
Huawei’s entry into the foldable phone market
Although Huawei is no longer present in Western markets due to the US sanctions, this did not stop the Chinese from entering new areas. This company with folding modelMeat X» Entered the market of folding phones.
This expensive device had a different design from the Galaxy Fold phone. In fact, the Huawei phone would fold outwards and provide users with a large 8-inch screen.
Xiaomi in the nascent market of folding phones
Xiaomione of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world 2021 with supply May mix fold It was added to the company of Samsung and Huawei in order not to lose the market of folding phones.
This phone has the same design as the Samsung Galaxy Folds and uses an 8.01-inch internal display. It is expected that the second generation of Xiaomi folding phone will be introduced soon.
Motorola and the revival of the Razer phone with a folding screen
Motorola of the year 2019 Desperately tried to brand Riser revive with a flip phone. This is a folding phone 6.2 inches that in cooperation with the operator Verizon Introduced, reminiscent of the model Razor Flip It was early.
This phone failed due to negative reviews and exclusive release by Verizon, however, Motorola unveiled its second generation and a new generation is coming in the near future.
The popular Galaxy Z Flip comes
Model z flip Samsung was launched at the best possible time because the Koreans had enough time to compensate for the problems of the Galaxy Fold.
This model was designed following Motorola’s policy of reviving old memories and with its success in the market, it is now waiting The fourth generation It is probably in Summer will be introduced.
TCL also tried a flexible device
company TCL He, who is generally known for his cheap phones and televisions, was also interested in designing flexible phones for a while.
This brand also during the event CES Year 2020 It unveiled a folding concept design and a month later introduced a sliding phone that attracted more attention than the previous concept design.
It’s Microsoft’s turn
Smartphone Microsoft Surface Duo (Duo) does not mean folding because its screens are separate and do not bend, but its two screens together form one image. 8.1 inches form.
This Microsoft product also hosted software optimizations for better performance, however, even its second generation failed to impress users.
A brave effort by Oppo
It is not possible to talk about the history of folding phones, but to the first folding flagship of Oppo, that is Find N did not mention Apart from China, this model was released almost all over the world and its design according to Oppo’s policy was such that it would have a prominent appearance among the large number of Android competitors.
This phone uses the design language of Galaxy Z Fold and Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold, but it has a better price than its competitors.
Will Google and Apple also go for folding phones?
Although we’ve come to the end of the history of foldable phones, there’s still a lot to look forward to in the future.
For example, Samsung and Microsoft are both busy working on new designs in this field, but perhaps the most important topic for the future is the folding phones of Google and Apple.
According to rumors, Google is working on a foldable Pixel phone, and Apple has been developing a foldable iPhone for a long time. According to rumors, the foldable Pixel will arrive earlier than the iPhone, and Apple’s foldable phone will probably be launched in 2025.