Huawei recently made headlines with its tri-fold device, the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate. But can we expect similar devices from other brands? While patent filings suggest Xiaomi has been working on tri-fold devices for some time, OPPO China President, Liu Bo, has confirmed that we won’t be seeing a tri-fold device from OPPO anytime soon.
OPPO sees tri-fold as more of a technological showcase than a mass-market product
At an OPPO flagship store communication meeting, the company explained that while the tri-fold form factor has been part of their research in the past, they don’t see sufficient market demand for such a device right now. Liu Bo emphasized that OPPO’s core strategy is to focus on making quality mobile phones and key peripherals. He believes there is still room for improvement in their existing product categories and wants to prioritize enhancing those areas before exploring new form factors like the tri-fold.
Although Huawei’s innovative tri-fold device has captured attention, it comes with a hefty price tag, reportedly exceeding $10,000, and is only available in China for the time being. The tri-fold design currently appears to be more of a technological showcase than a mass-market product. This may be one of the reasons OPPO has opted to wait while other companies experiment with this new format.
Xiaomi, on the other hand, is rumored to launch its own tri-fold device by 2025. A Xiaomi tri-fold model has already been spotted in the IMEI database, scheduled for release in 2026. Reports suggest that Xiaomi is working on three different tri-fold designs, possibly incorporating unique folding mechanisms. Additionally, the 2025 model is said to be buttonless, potentially making it one of the first smartphones in the industry to eliminate physical buttons entirely.
For now, it seems we’ll have to wait and see if OPPO decides to enter the tri-fold race. Meanwhile, the company is focusing on its 2024 flagship lineup, the Find X8 series, which is set to launch on October 21.
(Via)
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