- Four years of future Apple products just leaked — foldable iPhone, a cheaper Vision Pro, and AR glasses reportedly in the pipeline iMore
- Apple’s road map for the next three years was just leaked — here are the highlights Laptop Mag
- Leaked Apple roadmap hints at iPhone SE 4, foldable iPhone, and AR glasses launch dates TechRadar
- Apple’s First AR Glasses Might Launch In 2027, Alongside Rumored Foldable iPad, According To New Product Roadmap Wccftech
- Apple’s road map for next 3 years just tipped by leaker — here’s all the new products on the way Tom’s Guide
Tag Archives: foldable
Magic V2, the World’s Thinnest Foldable Phone, Will Soon Be Available Outside China – CNET
- Magic V2, the World’s Thinnest Foldable Phone, Will Soon Be Available Outside China CNET
- Huawei spinoff Honor launches foldable phone globally as Chinese firm looks to rival Apple, Samsung CNBC
- Hands on: Honor Magic V2 review – the new benchmark for foldable phones? TechRadar
- Honor Magic V2: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 rival debuts in Europe with thinner and lighter build but with larger battery and flagship hardware Notebookcheck.net
- Chinese smartphone maker teases a foldable smartphone that you can wear like a purse CNBC
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Microsoft’s Surface Duo 3 will have a foldable screen
To say that Microsoft misread the market with its Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 devices would be a definite understatement. Just as devices with folding screens have started to become prevalent, Microsoft went a totally different way by betting on the fact that people would rather have dual flat displays instead.
Let’s just say it outright: this did not work out. Phones with foldable screens are seeing sales grow year after year, while the Surface Duo devices barely sold any units. So Microsoft is finally ready to change its strategy, according to a new report from “sources who are familiar with the company’s plans”.
The Surface Duo 3 will have a foldable inner screen, and a flat outer screen, going for a similar form factor to the vivo X Fold (pictured throughout this post) and the Honor Magic Vs. This device has been through “a long year of hardware prototyping and experimentation”, allegedly.
Initially, Microsoft wanted the Surface Duo 3 arriving at the end of this year to keep the dual-screen design of its predecessors, but featuring narrower and taller edge-to-edge displays, wireless charging, and other unnamed improvements.
In fact, the design for this device had already been finalized when the company miraculously decided to pick the saner path and go with a truly foldable screen.
Because of this change, the end of year shipping target went out of the window, and now it’s unclear when the Surface Duo 3 will actually be launched. Similarly, no details about its specs are known at the moment, since it’s apparently too early for that.
Despite recent reports claiming the Surface Duo 3 would have a 360-degree hinge, the sources of today’s info claim that’s not accurate and it will be a 180-degree hinge instead. That’s what most other foldable phones have. While we’ve called it Surface Duo 3 in this article for simplicity’s sake, it very well could be named something else if Microsoft wants the shift to a foldable screen to be made more obvious.
The same sources revealing all this also claim that Microsoft wants to differentiate its future Android offerings from its competitors more, and is working on delivering “an ecosystem experience” between its Android devices and Windows PCs, similar to what it’s like on the Apple side with iPhones and Macs.
Furthermore, the company would like to expand its line of Android smartphones to more than just the Surface Duo, and has been exploring different form factors to possibly ship in the future – we’re talking traditional slab-style devices, not foldables.
Source
Is this what Apple’s foldable iPhone will look like?
Unlike several of its rivals such as Samsung and Huawei, Apple is yet to release a foldable phone, although it’s rumoured to be working on one.
Now, YouTubers in China have created an impressive prototype that shows an iPhone that folds down a central hinge in the screen.
The prototype, called iPhone V, was built by engineers using an iPhone X and the folding mechanism from Motorola’s Razr.
iPhone V, which took more than 200 days and thousands of dollars to make, also has silver iPhone lettering on the hinge and the iconic Apple icon on the back.
Just like other foldable phones already on the market, the ‘iPhone V’ folds down a central hinge in the screen
The Chinese engineering team borrowed a folding mechanism from Motorola’s Razr, released in 2020
Of the world’s top seven smartphone manufacturers, six of them have already introduced folding screens – Samsung, Motorola, Huawei, Oppo, Xiaomi and Vivo – but the seventh, Apple, has not.
Chinese YouTube channel Technological Aesthetics posted the video, which details the laborious months-long mission to build the device.
‘It took more than 200 days of effort, and at great cost,’ said Na Yan at Technological Aesthetics. ‘In the days to come we want to continue to improve the foldable iPhone.’
Overall, the iPhone V looks similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip, which flips open like a retro 90s phone thanks to a horizontal hinge through the middle of the screen.
But the team used iPhone X, an iPhone model that’s already five years old, to transform it into a modern-looking flip phone running iOS 16.
Engineers used the phone’s OLED display, which itself is flexible, although in iPhones it’s covered in hard outer glass.
The team also rearranged the iPhone X’s inner components to be able to fold it and borrowed the folding axis structure from the Motorola Razr, although they did consider using the mechanism from Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip.
Unlike several of its rivals such as Samsung and Huawei, Apple is yet to release a foldable phone, although it’s rumoured to be working on one
The team used iPhone X (pictured), an iPhone model that’s already five years old, to transform it into a modern-looking flip phone
The engineers admit the result is a pretty ‘rudimentary prototype’, as it has several issues that became clear after limited periods of use.
For example, there are gaps when folding, and after a few days of use there are horizontal creases and bubbles under the screen that ‘can’t be fixed’.
What’s more, if it’s fully closed the whole screen is damaged irreversibly.
It also uses a 1,000mAh battery compared with the 4,352mAh battery on the iPhone 13 Pro Max, so it barely lasts a day.
However, overall, the team claim to have technically created ‘the world’s first foldable iPhone’, potentially years before Apple officially releases one.
Apple appears to have registered patents for a foldable phone, similar to a flip phone, with a horizontal hinge through the middle.
in 2019, Apple filed a patent showing off what appears to be a folding phone. In the patent, a device can be seen folding closed, similar to a flip phone, via a hinge in the middle
But these were filed years ago, and Apple’s recent iPhone models have no design features to suggest it’s going down the foldable route anytime soon.
Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight, previously said that there is ‘really no need’ for Apple to move in the foldable direction at present.
‘You can be sure that it has had flexible display technology in its labs for the last decade,’ he told MailOnline.
‘But at present there is no commercial imperative for Apple to take the risk of piling into a niche market when the iPhone is so unbelievably successful.’
Rival Samsung released its latest generation of foldable phones – the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4 – in August.
In August, Samsung released the Galaxy Z Flip 4 (pictured) which can stay open at various angles without snapping shut
Motorola’s reinvented Razr flip mobile has a 6.2 inch foldable screen, which bends in half to shut in the same way as older ‘clamshell’ handsets
Meanwhile, Motorola released its second-generation Motorola Razr in China this year and is in the process of rolling it out around Europe.
Motorola took inspiration from its original ‘clamshell’ Razr flip to create the pocket-sized flip phone that folds down a horizontal crease.
Meanwhile, the more recently released Huawei Mate X2 features a dual-screen design very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2.
SAMSUNG REVEALS THE GALAXY FLIP 4 AND GALAXY FOLD 4 AT ITS ‘UNPACKED EVENT’ – AND PRICES GO UP TO A COLOSSAL £2,019
Samsung has launched two new foldable smartphones with flexible glass that folds down the middle of the screen, including its most expensive device yet.
The Korean tech giant lifted the lid on several new products at its Unpacked event on August 10, including the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Galaxy Z Fold 4 comes with a new taskbar along the bottom of the phone, giving a more ‘PC like experience’ where users can easily see their apps.
It comes with as much as 1TB of storage – but for a colossal £2,019.
At the firm’s Unpacked event on August 10, the Korean tech giant lifted the lid on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, its most expensive smartphone yet
Just like its predecessors, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a vertical hinge down the middle and essentially acts as a 2-in-1 device
Samsung has also launched the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which flips open like a retro 90s phone thanks to a horizontal hinge through the middle of the screen.
Galaxy Z Flip 4 starts at £999 for 125GB of storage and goes up to £1,199 for 512GB of storage.
Flip 4’s main screen measures 6.7 inches, while the smaller cover screen on the outside is 1.9 inch, like last year’s Flip 3.
Galaxy Flip 4 also includes a 65 per cent brighter sensor for better photos, the ability to take selfies when closed and increased battery size.
Flip 4 comes in either Graphite, Bora Purple, Pink Gold or Blue, while Fold 4 comes in Phantom Black, Grey Green or Beige.
Samsung has also launched the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which flips open like a retro 90s phone thanks to a horizontal hinge through the middle of the screen
Both of the smartphone models are 5G compatible, come with IPX8 water resistance and can be folded and unfolded more than 200,000 times.
James Manning Smith, senior analyst at CCS Insight, said the Flip 4 and Fold 4 ‘will be almost indistinguishable from their predecessors to most consumers’.
‘Although Samsung may be criticised for this, it makes sense to take an iterative approach given foldables devices are currently such as small segment of the overall smartphone market,’ he said.
‘In most cases, a consumer buying one of Samsung’s new devices will be getting one for the first time so won’t really have anything to compare it with.’
Samsung has also announced the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, their most durable smartwatches yet.
Samsung has also announced the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, their most durable smartwatches yet
Both have a new improved battery life, and are made from stronger and sturdier materials.
They have scratch-resistant glass and are 60 per cent stronger and more durable than the Watch 4.
It’s also revealed the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, with better sound and call quality and active noise cancellation.
Samsung has also revealed the Galaxy Buds 2 pro, with better sound and call quality and active noise cancellation
Samsung’s original folding device – the Galaxy Fold – was years in the making from its initial idea and patent stages.
It was released in September 2019, following technical troubles that held up its worldwide launch, including reports of broken displays after only a few days of use.
The first generation Galaxy Z Flip was released in February 2020, although it was superseded six months later by a 5G-compatible version.
Samsung’s key smartphone rivals – Apple and Google – are yet to release a foldable device.
7 foldable phone problems that haven’t been fixed yet
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Foldable phones are gaining momentum since they were first introduced globally in 2019, and we’ve also seen these devices bring notable improvements over the years. These strides include tougher folding screens, reduced display creases, and more robust software.
However, it’s clear there are still several major foldable phone problems that still need to be addressed. Here are some of the more prominent hurdles for future foldables to overcome.
The crease
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
One notable problem that foldable phones still haven’t completely addressed is the presence of a crease on the display. This is particularly prominent on Samsung’s foldables, and you can see and feel the crease on both the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4.
The display crease is still an issue on the most prominent foldable phones.
It’s also worth noting that rival foldable phone manufacturers like Oppo, Honor, and Huawei have also tried to address this issue with varying degrees of success. We thought the Huawei Mate X2 in particular delivered a crease that was “barely noticeable.” Meanwhile, the Oppo Find N only has two slight creases rather than one sizeable gutter. However, these reduced creases seemingly came at the expense of water resistance ratings — not an easy trade-off.
Needless to say, it’s clear that progress is being made in this regard. But we’re definitely holding out for a crease-free future across all foldables.
Lack of dust resistance
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
Samsung leads the pack when it comes to IP ratings on foldable phones, offering an IPX8 rating for full-blown water resistance. No other foldable phone is able to boast a water-resistant design. However, the “X” in “IPX8” means the foldables aren’t rated for dust resistance at all.
Related: Everything you need to know about IP and ATM ratings
This is something we really want to see addressed in future foldable phones. We can appreciate the technical challenge that a dust-resistant foldable represents though, given the sheer number of moving parts involved in this form factor. For example, today’s hinges and display creases still leave room for dust and other debris to get in. So we’d expect these areas to be tackled first if full dust-resistance is to be achieved.
Folding screens that look and feel cheap
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
Folding screens have become increasingly tougher over the years, with ultra-thin glass (UTG) being available on several models these days. Samsung even offers S Pen support on the Galaxy Z Fold series, serving as a testament of sorts to the screen’s toughness. However, there’s no denying that many folding screens still look and feel cheap.
A foldable glass screen is probably too much to ask for, but reduced glare and increased toughness would help.
Glare is still a problem on some foldables, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Although to be fair, some devices like the Vivo X Fold Plus offer an anti-glare coating to alleviate this issue. Perhaps the far bigger issue is that folding screens still feel like plastic, because that’s exactly what they are. Samsung’s foldables even warn you not to press on the screen with your nail, something you wouldn’t have to think twice about on a traditional smartphone.
A full-blown foldable glass screen would likely go a long way to addressing this problem. For what it’s worth, Gorilla Glass maker Corning is working on ultra-thin foldable glass too, dubbed Willow Glass. But there’s no ETA on this just yet and it’s unclear if manufacturers will still slap a plastic layer on top of it as we see with UTG right now.
App support
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
Software is an integral part of the foldable phone experience, and Google has done a good job with Android 12L. We’ve also seen great work from Samsung in this regard. However, app support is still an issue on foldable phones today.
We still see some apps that don’t actually support popular large screen foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold series. Instagram is the most notable example of this (seen above), as it still offers what is essentially a smartphone-style window when viewing it on the Fold’s large screen. Instagram’s case is especially disappointing given the sheer amount of resources on tap at its parent company.
Related: Android 12L — Everything you need to know about Google’s OS for large screens
Instagram isn’t the only case though, as Amazon isn’t optimized for the foldable screen either, offering a windowed view on the larger panel. Fellow AA writer John Callaham also notes that his Wells Fargo banking app doesn’t work properly on the Galaxy Z Fold 3, not allowing him to use the fingerprint scanner to log in when using the folding display. Either way, it’s clear that app developers still need to step up after all this time.
These aren’t the only examples of shoddy app support, as some apps don’t play nicely when it comes to multi-window support or Samsung’s Flex Mode either. But hopefully Android 12L and future Android versions open the door for improved support.
Spec compromises
Another area that’s seen cutbacks due to the form factor is in the overall spec sheet. Most foldable phones on the market make a few compromises for technical reasons.
For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 still has the same 4,400mAh battery of its predecessors and lacks the S22 Ultra’s 108MP camera or 10x camera. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 lacks wireless charging, water resistance, and a free-stop hinge. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 brings a larger battery, but you’re still stuck with a dated 12MP+12MP camera system.
It seems like most foldable phones make spec cutbacks of some kind due to the form factor.
We can understand why we see some of these compromises though. A phone like the Galaxy Z Fold series has a narrower form factor due to the narrow smartphone screen. Many foldables are also somewhat thinner when unfolded compared to typical smartphones. Toss in a complex hinge and there really isn’t much space for big batteries, large camera sensors, and other goodies. In fact, we already see several foldables offering dual battery designs to make the most of the form factor.
It won’t happen overnight, but we really want to see smartphone brands make fewer compromises in the name of the foldable form factor. We might have to wait for new technologies like smaller lenses and new battery solutions if we truly want a no-compromise device. Alternatively, you might just have to deal with thicker foldables. Nevertheless, this is especially disappointing in light of the asking price for these devices.
Availability
What if you want a Xiaomi, Honor, Oppo, or Vivo foldable instead? Well, tough luck, as these devices are only available in China and you’ll therefore need to import them. It’s a massive shame, as some of these devices look like really compelling alternatives to Galaxy foldables.
We hope this changes in 2023 as these players get to grips with foldable phone development and supply chain challenges. But we really don’t want to see another year of Samsung effectively being the default option.
Pricing
Kris Carlon / Android Authority
Huawei Mate Xs 2
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing foldable phones is that most of them are exceptionally expensive. Case in point? The Galaxy Z Fold 4, which starts at $1,799. By comparison, the conventional but better-equipped Galaxy S22 Ultra starts at $1,200.
The Huawei Mate XS 2 ups the ante even more, setting you back €1,999 (~$1,984). This is a crazy price to pay, particularly in light of the foldable lacking Google support.
Clamshell foldables are more reasonably priced, but Fold-style devices are another story altogether.
That’s not to say that there aren’t cheaper foldables out there, as the Galaxy Z Flip 4 in particular costs a more reasonable $999. That’s still pricey compared to the average selling price of a smartphone, but it’s in line with typical flagships today. Nevertheless, we can’t wait for foldable phones with mid-range pricing.
The big question is how exactly do we get to mid-range pricing for foldables? Well, some of the more obvious compromises involve the chipset, RAM, storage, IP rating, and battery capacity. So we wouldn’t be surprised if a theoretical Galaxy A Flip comes with an Exynos 1280 or Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and splash resistance at best.
We’d also expect companies to switch to cheaper foldable screens from the likes of Chinese players like BOE. In fact, the Honor Magic V already uses a BOE folding panel. Finally, we wouldn’t put it past some players to use early-generation folding screens for their first mid-range foldables or cut back on features like UTG layers.
Which foldable phone problem would you like addressed?
569 votes
Apple to launch a foldable iPad rather than iPhone in 2024: Analyst
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks at an event at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, on Sept. 7, 2022. At a presentation dubbed Far Out, Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 14 line, a fresh slate of smartwatches and new AirPods.
Nic Coury | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Apple will likely launch an iPad with a folding screen in 2024, analyst firm CCS Insight said on Tuesday, forecasting the U.S. technology giant will begin experimenting with foldable technology soon.
CCS Insight published its annual predictions report on Tuesday in which the group’ analysts make forecasts about future products and trends.
In the latest report, CCS Insight predicted Apple would launch a foldable iPad in two years’ time rather than start with a foldable iPhone.
This is contrary to other smartphone makers like Samsung which have launched foldable smartphones rather than tablets.
“Right now it doesn’t make sense for Apple to make a foldable iPhone. We think they will shun that trend and probably dip a toe in the water with a foldable iPad,” Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight, told CNBC in an interview.
“A folding iPhone will be super high risk for Apple. Firstly, it would have to be incredibly expensive in order to not cannibalize the existing iPhones,” Wood added.
The analyst said that a foldable iPhone would likely need to cost around $2,500. Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max with the largest storage, which is the most expensive model currently, costs around $1,599.
Wood also said that if Apple had any technical issues with the foldable phone, then it would be a “feeding frenzy” with critics attacking Apple for the problems.
Still, Apple has “no option but to react because the trend toward foldables is gathering momentum,” Wood said, hence the company will begin with an iPad.
He said it would give Apple a chance to learn how to implement and scale foldable screen technology as well as “breathe new life” into the iPad range.
Apple was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.
There have been a number of rumblings about Apple’s intentions with foldable screen products. Earlier this year, market research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants said Apple is unlikely to enter the foldable smartphone market until 2025 at the earliest. However, the company said that Apple is exploring foldable technology for displays of around 20 inches in size. That could be focused on a new foldable notebook product, the market research company said.
Predictions about a foldable iPhone meanwhile have been around for at least four years. Last year, Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities, a prominent Apple analyst known for his credible predictions, said the company could release an iPhone with a folding screen in 2024.
Apple to combine 5G and processor in chip
CCS Insight also predicts that Apple will continue investing in its own chip design.
Currently, the Cupertino giant designs its own custom chips for iPhone and iPad. It relies on U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm for modems that allow these devices to connect to mobile internet networks for 5G connectivity.
However, CCS Insight said that Apple is likely to integrate its own 5G modem into the A series of processor for a “single-chip” solution for iPhones in 2025.
Apple acquired Intel’s modem business in 2019. That led to speculation that the tech giant would very quickly ditch Qualcomm and use its own modems in its devices. However, that hasn’t happened yet.
Kuo of TF International Securities said in June he expects the company to continue to use Qualcomm chips for iPhones released in 2023.
Wood said that Apple has been “ramping up in-house capabilities” so it can use its own modems in iPhones.
“They (Apple) have been shooting for this target for years. They acquired the assets from Intel of the modem unit, they have been working hard to ramp that up, they are very keen to make sure they keep growing their control points they have,” Wood said.
“They don’t want to have to keep paying a third party supplier for their technology.”
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 gets another spec-heavy foldable competitor from Vivo
Samsung is the biggest foldable smartphone brand in the world right now, and it doesn’t look like other brands can even come close to the South Korean firm for the next few years in terms of sales. However, multiple Android OEMs are trying their best to launch foldable phones with better specifications and competitive pricing. The latest smartphone to compete with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the Vivo X Fold+, which is a minor upgrade of the Vivo X Fold that was launched earlier this year.
Vivo X Fold+ has better hardware than Galaxy Z Fold 4
The new foldable phone from Vivo features a faster and more stable Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, ultrasonic fingerprint readers, a bigger battery, and faster charging. It has a 6.53-inch OLED cover display with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The internal foldable screen measures 8.03 inches diagonally, featuring an LTPO panel (1Hz-120Hz) and HDR10+. It has two 16MP selfie cameras, one on the cover screen and the other on the internal foldable screen. It even features Ultra Thin Glass (made by Schott) over its foldable screen.
On the rear, the Vivo X Fold+ has a 50MP (ISOCELL GN1 1/1.57-inch) primary camera, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. However, it has a bigger ultrawide camera (48MP 1/2-inch) and two telephoto cameras (12MP 2x zoom and 8MP 5x periscope zoom) instead of one on the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Although it can record 4K 60fps videos from its primary, 2x telephoto, and ultrawide cameras, it is restricted to 1080p video recording on its selfie and 5x telephoto cameras.
The Vivo X Fold+ runs Android 12-based OriginOS Ocean. It has stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS, USB 3.2 Type-C port, and a 4,730mAh battery. That’s 330mAh bigger than the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s 4,400mAh cell. It also charges much faster (80W) and can be fully charged in 35 minutes. It also charges much faster (50W) with a wireless charger. It
But it all means nothing if Vivo can’t launch its foldable phone outside of China
All in all, the Vivo X Fold+ has a bigger screen, better camera hardware, better fingerprint reader setup, a bigger battery, and faster charging. And all of this comes with a price tag of CNY 9,999 ($1,415), which is $200 cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 4. However, the phone won’t be launched outside of China, and it lacks a formal IP rating for water resistance. The software, too, won’t likely be anywhere as good as Samsung’s One UI 4.1.1, which is based on Android 12L.
SamsungGalaxy Z Fold 4
Xiaomi shows what a foldable could look like if Samsung had competition
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 has launched in China just days after Samsung announced its next generation of foldable handsets, with Xiaomi looking to gain an advantage over its competition with a slimmer design, bigger displays, and a more affordable price.
The Mix Fold 2 has several improvements over the original Mi Mix Fold released last year that go beyond dropping the Mi branding. The Fold 2 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC flagship chipset, with 12GB of RAM and several storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB. It also features an improved hinge and comes in either gold or black.
As a foldable, you’re getting a 6.56-inch OLED outer display (2520 x 1080) with a long 21:9 aspect ratio and an 8.02-inch LTPO 2.0 inner display (2160 x 1914), which are both slightly larger than Samsung’s 6.2-inch OLED outer display (2316 x 904) and 7.6-inch (2176 x 1812) OLED inner display found on the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Both of the Mix Fold 2 displays run at 120Hz with a brightness of 1,000 nits. The outer display is protected by the latest (and toughest) Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, while the main folding display uses Schott ultra-thin glass just like Samsung has been known to use.
Xiaomi’s foldable features a triple camera setup with a primary 50-megapixel camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide, and an eight-megapixel telephoto with 2x optical zoom. There’s also a 20-megapixel hole-punch camera in the front for selfies.
Xiaomi’s announcement comes after Samsung released two foldable devices of its own on Wednesday — the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 — which will create some much-needed competition in the foldables market if the Mix Fold 2 ever ships to markets outside of China. One way that Xiaomi is trying to get a leg up over its Korean rivals is its claim that the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 is the “world’s thinnest foldable phone.” At just 5.4mm, it shaves almost 15 percent of the thickness off the 6.3mm Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.
It’s not all sunshine and device-measuring contests, though, as Samsung’s flagship offering includes a useful Flex mode (Samsung’s terminology for applications automatically reorienting to fit a folded screen) and IPX8 water resistance, two features that the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 lacks. Nevertheless, Xiaomi’s 4,500mAh battery capacity is still a smidge larger than the 4,400mAh battery found inside Samsung’s Z Fold 4. The Mix Fold 2 also supports 67W wired fast charging, with the brand claiming that a full charge can be achieved in 40 minutes, while the Z Fold 4 only supports up to 25W fast charging by comparison, with Samsung claiming the handset can achieve up to 50 percent of its battery capacity in 30 minutes.
At present, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 is only available for purchase in China, with no announcements regarding when the phone could be making its way to other markets. Pricing for the 256GB base model is set at CNY 8,999 (around $1,300 USD) which significantly undercuts the CNY 13,999 (over $2,000 USD) Samsung is asking for the 256GB version of its Z Fold 4 in the country.
If those prices hold for an international launch, then Samsung could finally face some serious competition in foldables, especially in price-sensitive markets like India where Xiaomi is already No. 1 by market share and Samsung just dropped to fourth place, according to IDC.
Moto’s Razr 2022 foldable gets the flagship processor it deserves
Motorola’s last Razr was a nifty folding smartphone and $1,500 fashion statement, but the weak hardware kept it from flagship greatness. Now, the company has responded with the Razr 2022 that might live up to that promise and price, thanks to a true flagship-class Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, Engadget Chinese has reported.
The Razr 2022 carries a new design along with the new chip, with the curved chin and top camera notch eliminated in favor of an all-screen design and punch-hole camera. That removes the classic Razr look, but it also drastically increases the screen ratio.
It’s equipped with a third-generation “Star Trail” hinge that offers a flatter crease and is more seamless when closed, but is also stiff enough to stop at any angle. It weighs 200 grams, and is just 7.62mm thick when open. There are now two rear cameras instead of just the one on the previous model.
Motorola
On top of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, you get up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, along with a much larger 3,500mAh battery (compared to 2,800mAh before). The 6.7-inch FHD+ OLED display runs at up to 144Hz, while the secondary, 800 x 573 OLED display can do nine functions including call notification, camera, weather, navigation, fitness tracking and more.
The cameras look solid too, with a 32-megapixel interior camera, a 50-megapixel OIS main camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera. The Razr 2022 is going on sale in China with prices ranging from 5,999 – 7,299 RMB ($890 – $1,380), but there’s no word yet on US availability. As a reminder, the last model was sold in the US as a Verizon exclusive for $1,500.
Motorola
Along with the Razr 2022 Moto also unveiled the X30 Pro and S30 Pro, successors to the Edge X30 and S30, and probably destined mainly for the Chinese market. The X30 Pro is the most interesting, as it also packs a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip. It also comes with Samsung’s impressively pixel-dense 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP1 sensor, along with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide angle, 12-megapixel 2x telephoto and 60-megapixel selfie camera.
Other features include a 6.67-inch FHD+ 144Hz OLED display, a 4,600mAh battery (with up to 125-watt wired, 50-watt wireless charging and 10-watt reverse wireless charging). It offers up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for a starting price of 3,499 RMB ($519).
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Samsung unveils new foldable smartphones, seeking keep lead in growing market
SEOUL, Aug 10 (Reuters) – Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) unveiled its latest high-end foldable smartphones on Wednesday, keeping prices at the same level as last year’s in a bid to cement its leadership in an expanding niche market.
The smartphone maker priced its clamshell Galaxy Z Flip4 at $999.99, and the 5G-enabled top-line Galaxy Z Fold4 with a 7.6-inch main screen to start at $1,799.99 in the United States, the same as the launch prices of last year’s models.
“We’ve successfully transformed this category from a radical project to a mainstream device lineup enjoyed by millions worldwide,” said TM Roh, president and head of mobile experience at Samsung Electronics.
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The Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4, as well as its latest earbuds, Galaxy Buds2 Pro, will be generally available starting Aug. 26 in select places such as the United States, parts of Europe and South Korea.
Counterpoint Research forecast global shipments of foldable smartphones to grow to 16 million units this year, just 1.2% of the 1.36 billion smartphone shipments forecast, but a jump from 9 million foldables shipped last year.
A Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Z Flip 4 foldable smartphone is seen in this undated handout provided by Samsung Electronics. Samsung Electronics/Handout via REUTERS
Although the overall smartphone market is seen shrinking this year as consumers spend less, foldable smartphones are likely to fare better, as their quirky form factor, large screens and portability attract interest, analysts said.
Samsung held a 62% market share in foldable smartphones in the first half of 2022, followed by Huawei at 16% and Oppo at 3%. Counterpoint forecast Samsung’s share in the second half will be around 80% after the new releases.
Samsung said it is aiming for foldable phone sales to surpass that of its past flagship smartphone, Galaxy Note, in the second half. read more
“Foldables have helped Samsung differentiate itself… Apple will be Samsung’s key competitor in the future and we expect a foldable to be released from Apple in either 2024 or 2025,” said Counterpoint senior analyst Jene Park.
Samsung said the latest models make it easier for phone owners to use popular apps such as Instagram and Microsoft’s (MSFT.O) Outlook.
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Reporting by Joyce Lee. Editing by Gerry Doyle
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