Competition in the global TV (display) market continues at full throttle. However, in some markets, the battle between brands is intensifying, creating fierce battlegrounds. Undoubtedly, India stands out as one of the most crucial among them. India is a vast and significant market for all industries, making it the focus of all manufacturers. ViewSonic, well aware of this situation, is placing special emphasis on the region. Recently, ViewSonic India unveiled a unique product, the Foldable 135-Inch All-in-One LED Display, at InfoComm India 2023. Here are the details…

ViewSonic Unveils Foldable 135-Inch All-in-One LED Display at InfoComm India 2023

ViewSonic is continuing to expand its product lineup in India. In the past, the company introduced products like the VX2405-P-MHD 144Hz monitor in the Asian country. Now, they have introduced a new, innovative product at InfoComm India 2023 a foldable 135-inch All-in-One LED display. For those who may not be familiar, InfoComm India is a trade show dedicated to audiovisual and integrated experience technologies. It’s a platform where you can discover the latest products and gain insights from industry experts. Of course, as Gizmochina we also closely followed this event.

ViewSonic Foldable 135-inch All-in-One LED display, is designed to offer greater convenience for transportation and installation, with a pre-assembled design, built-in motorized stand, and 360° silent wheels. It features a 1080p Full HD screen with 5mm frameless edges, adjustable brightness of up to 600 nits, and hot-swappable front LED modules. The display also comes with Wi-Fi connectivity for real-time content sharing and support for Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture scenarios. Of course, the things shown were not limited to this.

ViewBoard IFP105S Interactive Display

ViewSonic has also upgraded its ViewBoard IFP105S interactive display with a new 5K resolution and unique 21:9 aspect ratio. The display offers a wider and larger usable interactive area, with multi-touch capabilities and a highly responsive 40-point touch feature. It also supports Airplay, Chromecast, and Miracast for wireless content sharing, as well as ViewBoard Cast application for collaboration. The display is also designed for Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTR) and features built-in 2.1 speakers and an 8-element microphone.

Other Products and Solutions

In addition to the foldable 135-inch All-in-One LED display and ViewBoard IFP105S interactive display, ViewSonic is also showcasing its recently launched 3D Virtual Campus ‘UNIVERSE’, various other interactive displays and projectors which include CDE30 Series Presentation Display and LS700-4K laser projector at InfoComm India 2023. I can say that the products shown by the company have excited us technology enthusiasts about what they can show in the future.

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Ergonomics are one of the most important factors in smartphones. Grip comfort, the feel of the material, and weight affect user satisfaction a lot. When it comes to foldable phones, these rules don’t change, even if they stretch a little. However, a recent rumor suggests that the Pixel Fold could be surprisingly heavy compared to its competitors. Here are the details…

Google’s Pixel Fold could be surprisingly heavy compared to other foldables

As foldable phones continue to gain traction in the market, manufacturers are constantly pushing the boundaries with their designs, features, and capabilities. One of the most anticipated foldables of 2022 is the Google Pixel Fold, which is expected to compete with other popular foldable devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Oppo Find N2.

However, a recent rumor suggests that the Pixel Fold could be surprisingly heavy compared to its competitors. According to a source familiar with the subject, the Pixel Fold may weigh more than the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which is already a relatively heavy device. This has raised concerns among potential buyers who may be looking for a lightweight and portable device.

One possible reason for the Pixel Fold’s weight is its battery size. The rumor suggests that the Google Pixel Fold may have the largest battery of any foldable device on the market, with a capacity close to 5,000mAh. This is significantly larger than the 4,400mAh battery found in the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the 4,520mAh battery in the Oppo Find N2. A larger battery is certainly desirable, as it allows for longer usage times, but it does come at the cost of added weight.

Leaked renders of the Pixel Fold give us a good idea of what to expect in terms of its dimensions. The device is expected to be around 140mm in height and close to 80mm in width, which puts it in line with the Oppo Find N2. However, the Pixel Fold’s inner screen will be closer in form factor to a traditional tablet, rather than a square like the Galaxy Z Fold 4. This will optimize the device for UI elements meant for tablets, but it will also make the device heavier.

So, what does this mean for potential buyers of the Pixel Fold? While a heavier device may be a concern for some, the added weight could be worth it for the larger battery and optimized UI elements. Additionally, the Pixel Fold’s design is likely to be sleek and stylish, which could make up for its added weight. It remains to be seen whether the Pixel Fold’s weight will be a major issue for consumers. However, with its larger battery and optimized UI, it could still be a highly desirable foldable device.

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(via)

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Apple might be entering a new phase of its product lineup, as each new leak brings forth a new angle to Apple’s approach to folding devices. Now, a new rumor has emerged regarding Apple’s latest product development – a foldable notebook with a 20.5-inch display. According to display analyst Ross Young, this cutting-edge device could be launched as early as 2025.

As per a recent speculation, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the tech giant was developing a foldable iPad for 2024. However, Young and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman disputed this notion and stated there are no signs of such a product being launched in the near future.

This is not the first time the rumors of an all-screen foldable MacBook have made headlines, as Young shared similar information in February 2022. He stated that Apple was in talks with suppliers about foldable notebooks with displays around 20 inches in size.

Today’s report suggests that Apple is still pursuing its foldable notebook idea, which would allow users to either use a full-size on-screen keyboard when folded or connect an external keyboard when unfolded. Young has previously referred to this product as an “all-new product category” for Apple. 

Unlike current Mac notebooks that feature a single display with a keyboard and trackpad, this dual display design is expected to be a game-changer. The exact positioning of the rumored 20-inch Apple foldable, whether as an ‌iPad‌, Mac, or a new product category, is still unclear. However, multiple sources seem to agree that 2024 may be too early for such a cutting-edge device. It will be interesting to see how the American Technology company markets its new line of foldable products in the future, since folding devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 are already becoming a market norm.

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Samsung Display, which has been exclusively shipping its foldable OLED panels to Samsung Electronics so far, is now gearing up to supply display panels for foldable smartphones to other brands as the firm is looking to expand its business.

Recently, it was reported that Samsung could start supplying in-fold design OLED panels to Google, Xiaomi, and OPPO among others. Now, a new report coming from Korean media The Elec confirms that foldable OLED screens will be shipped to Google, Xiaomi, and Vivo from October this year.

This means that the foldable smartphones from Google, Xiaomi, and Vivo could get launched by the end of this year, in the fourth quarter. It’s noteworthy that Xiaomi has already launched its first foldable smartphone as Mi MIX Fold.

Google is expected to launch its first foldable display device along with the Pixel 6 series smartphones, likely to be called Pixel Fold. On the other hand, Vivo will also launch its first such smartphone later this year with an 8-inch main screen and 6.5-inch foldable display.

The South Korean company was also said to supply foldable displays to OPPO but that isn’t happening this year, as per the report. It mentions that OPPO’s foldable smartphone, which is likely to have a clamshell folding design, has been pushed back to 2022.

OPPO has showcased a couple of prototypes for foldable phones and for that, the Chinese company collaborated with Samsung Display, BOE, and Visionox. But now, it seems that the Chinese firm is only working with Samsung Display for new phones.

Huawei was also reportedly in talks with Samsung for the foldable display panels but the report adds that the talks have been canceled. Previously, Huawei had used panels from BOE for its foldable smartphones.

Samsung has already launched a few foldable smartphones in the market and is now gearing up to launch two more such phones in the coming months — Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. Now, it remains to be seen when Apple is jumping this bandwagon, which is likely to give a massive boost to Samsung Display.

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Samsung Display and LG Display, two of the largest display panel makers in the world, have announced that they will be showcasing their latest innovations at Society for Information Display (SID) 2021, the world’s leading exhibition for displays, which will be held virtually next week.

The innovative display panels that the companies will announce next week could pave the way for the next generation of foldable smartphones. The companies said that they will reveal S-Foldable, a multi-fold display panel.

Samsung Display, a leader in the category, will be showcasing a 7.2-inch display that has support for multi-fold patterns. With that, the device can be used as a smartphone when folded and as a tablet when unfolded.

The display, currently being called “S-Foldable,” is expected to be used in the company’s upcoming flagship smartphone. The company filed to trademark name with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) last month.

Additionally, the South Korean giant is also expected to showcase a 17-inch foldable panel with a 4:3 aspect ratio. It is following the concept of “Carry Small, See Big,” making the device work as a tablet when folded and offer a computer-like display when unfolded.

On the other hand, LG Display is also gearing up to showcase an 83-inch OLED TV panel with enhanced luminous efficacy. It will also showcase a 48-inch bendable cinematic sound OLED display that can vibrate and create sound without the use of speakers.

Apart from that, LG is also expected to showcase its rollable and transparent display panels at the event, along with automotive plastic OLED display products. Alongside, Samsung will showcase under-panel camera technology as well as a slidable display that the users can extend sideways.

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Earlier today (6th April 2021), a known Weibo blogger, a Chinese microblogging website, and tipster revealed that foldable displays for upcoming smartphones from Oppo and Vivo are nearing mass production.

The information was shared on the online platform by @数码闲聊站, who revealed that there are two versions being worked on, one is an 8 inch flexible display while the other is a 7 inch panel. Both displays are inward folding, with the latter already having a prototype. The tipster also added that the 7 inch panel was also close to mass production at the beginning of this year, in January. Although, a specific time frame for commercial launch has yet to be determined.

As per the blogger, the Vivo foldable smartphone would arrive with an impressive hinge design for its 8 inch flexible screen. This display would also support a high refresh rate and would still be 6.5 inches when folded. Recently, Xiaomi launched its first foldable smartphone, so we can expect other Chinese tech giants like Vivo and Oppo to launch their own iterations soon. Unfortunately, the exact launch dates for these devices are currently unknown.

However, new foldable devices from such companies are expected to hit the market sometime in the second half of this year. In other words, we can also expect the foldable smartphone market to have increased competition later this year, which could also imply prices also becoming competitive and the prices for such high end devices to fall as well. So stay tuned, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available.

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In recent times, various display makers have launched their own iteration of a foldable display and have been developing the new breed of screen technology. And now, Tianma Microelectronics has announced a new CFOT foldable display, which arrives with various improvements like lowered power consumption.

The Chinese display manufacturer officially announced the new folding screen, which will be commercially available in the near future. It is the new CFOT foldable display that features certain improvements over other alternatives from competing brands. As per the official announcement, the new folding screen consumes significantly less power while the thickness of the display is also reduced as well. Notably, the display has a size of 8.3 inches.

This display would be aimed at foldable handsets from smartphone vendors. Furthermore, the display maker also announced that it seeks to develop and invest a lot of resources into the field of small and medium sized screens along with newer display technologies as well. This development would be further backed by the establishment of an innovation center, which will focus on research and development of advanced technologies.

These advances technologies include foldable displays, HTD, CFOT, MLP, and under display camera technology. Additionally, Tianma Microelectronics also aims to focus on the research and development of OLED panels through its independent R&D test line platform. The center would also be used for the development of new and upcoming technologies like MicroLED and other sensor technology as well.

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Meet the C SEED M1, a huge 165 inch folding MicroLED TV that would be a dream for Netflix binge watchers and minimalism enthusiasts alike, since its huge screen can be folded and housed into your home’s floor.

The C SEED M1 is different from the flexible OLED TVs that companies like LG provides. It users MicroLED over regular OLED, and does not simply roll into a box when not in use. For those unaware, MicroLED technology is one of the futures of display technology, as it combines the best features of the current leading screen technologies with self illuminated RGB pixels that do not require a backlight and use inorganic compounds to prevent burn out faced by organic compounds used in regular OLED panels.

Furthermore, the screens are also more power efficient as well, allowing for slimmer displays that can produce whites and blacks that can even rival the best TVs that are currently available in the market. However, a major downfall to this technology is that has yet to be made into a flexible panel, unlike OLEDs. In other words, it’s difficult to make a giant 165 inch TV disappear into the floor. But to make this possible, C SEED has opted to use five separate panels that can fold into each other, similar to a giant fan.

This is one of the advantages of MicroLED panels, which can be used to assemble a much larger TV from smaller panels. These assemblies are also seamless, so it appears as a giant uniform display at the end. The company also stated that the M1 users a feature called the Adaptive Gap Calibration so that there is no discrepancy in the image being displayed between the multiple panels. These image optimizations are to correct any slight difference in brightness of edge pixels or to hide any shadows that could potentially create seam lines between panels.

The C SEED M1 is available in gold, black, or even titanium finishes. And for the kicker, it’s priced at a whopping 400,000 US Dollars. Also, this figure does not include the renovations one has to make to house the television in the floor. Meaning, you have to hire a contractor separately to ensure that you get a completely seamless experience.

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Recently, stretchable display panels have also been envisioned by major tech giants. However, experts on the matter have stated that this type of screen will be built from technology that is fundamentally different to foldable and rollable panels and will even be more difficult to make.

According to TheElec report, stretchable display will require elastic substrates and circuits. These components will also have to endure the pressure from three axes, as per Soonchunhyang University professor Moon Dae-gyu. Furthermore, displays that are capable of stretching without distorting the screen is considered “superior” to both foldable panels and rollable displays. To put things simply, foldable and rollable panels only receive pressure from just a single axis, but stretchable screens would have to face pressure from x-axis, y-axis and z-axis.

Additionally, the stress on the display will also be proportional to how long it stretches and the strain on it. On the other hand, the stress will be inversely proportional to the curvature radius of the screen, with small curvature radius causing higher degrees of stress on the panel. These strains could also cause the display to get creases and cracks on the screen. meaning, a stretchable display would have to be flexible, reliable, durable and usable.

This would also require the manufacturers to solve any issues related to the substrates and drivers, and also any problems with the pixel must also be resolved together, as per the professor. He further added that it is impossible to stretch ceramic materials. Meaning, a new material would have to be used to make the needed stretchable substrate. On top of this, the TFT and OLED layer would be added that include stretchable circuits.

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Many smartphone companies were working on foldable smartphones for the past few years but only a couple of them managed to launch their devices commercially, which includes Samsung and Huawei.

With Huawei practically out of the premium smartphone space for the time being because of the trade restrictions, Samsung is at an advantage. Now, the company is planning to offer its foldable display panels to other companies.

Reports indicate that the South Korean giant is planning to provide one million foldable display panels which include both designs — horizontal fold and vertical fold. While the number may not seem much, it is a good place to start with.

The report further adds that multiple China-based smartphone makers have been in talks with Samsung Display to source foldable screen panels. With Samsung reportedly agreeing to it, we could see several new foldable smartphones in the second half of this year, likely from brands like OPPO and Xiaomi.

Samsung already has a few foldable smartphones in the market and is now reportedly working on a third-generation model. By supplying its panels to others, it will be able to put more players in this space, hoping to push adaptation of foldable phones.

Apart from the companies like Xiaomi and OPPO, Apple is also expected to launch a foldable iPhone in the coming years. While several details of the foldable iPhone have leaked online, we are yet to see anything official from the company.

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Corning has reached the final stage of development for its cover glass for foldable smartphones. The US based company made the announcement earlier this week, making the company an upcoming supplier of Samsung’s foldable smartphones.

According to TheElec report, Corning launching its own glass cover for foldable handsets will raise the competition with German based Schott to supply them to Samsung. As per a Corning spokesperson, the company is currently at the final stage of the development of foldable glass cover solutions, with mass production and commercialization to begin in 2021.

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Back in September 2020, the company had said that it was testing samples and that they planned to launch the cover glass officially within the next 12 months. At the moment, Schott has been the sole supplier of the substrate glass used in the ultra thin glass cover made by Samsung Electronics for its foldable smartphones. For the foldable OLED panel itself, however, Samsung Display‘s subsidiary processes Corning’s glass.

The launch of the cover glass from Corning will also lead to rising competition between Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display over processing the cover glass. At the moment, Samsung Display has signed a three year exclusive purchasing deal with Schott for their glass substrates. However, Samsung Electronics believes that the exclusive contract will limit the chance to reduce unit prices of foldable display panes and is planning to build its own supply chain by procuring glass substrates made by Corning.

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A new patent filing has revealed that Apple is working on creating a new protective layer that will be crack resistant on foldable displays. These screens would be scratch resistant as well and will also be more durable overall.

According to a MacRumors report, a filing in the US Patent and Trademark Office titled “Hybrid coverlay/window structure for flexible display applications,” describes how a curved, flexible, or foldable display modules could use a protective hardcoat layer to prevent cracking. This suggests that Apple might be working on solving the cracking issue that has been affecting some foldable devices from Samsung.

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As stated in the patent, “typically, glass fracture initiates from the presence of micro-cracks.” But, Apple’s hardcoat layer would fill pre existing micro cracks, which should make it harder for the display to suffer from a severe crack. This additional protective layer would be placed directly on top of the display and would be “engineered to have a sufficiently high hardness and tensile strength to function as an exterior protective coating for the electronic device… Thus, the hardcoat layer is sufficiently durable for high puncture and scratch resistance.”

Although, there currently is no news regarding Apple’s first foldable device or even a rumor of an upcoming launch. Regardless, the company has patented many supplementing technology and has researched on the topic as well. Back in September, there was a report that suggested that the Cupertino based giant had placed a large order for foldable display samples with Samsung.

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Samsung Display has today announced a new foldable OLED panel which is claimed to have the world’s smaller curvature for a commercial device. The company adds that this is first applied to the recently-released Galaxy Z Fold2 5G.

The company says that Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) on the display helps in delivering a higher level of product excellence. This is the company’s third foldable OLED panel and comes with support for 2208 x 768 pixels screen resolution on a 7.6-inch display.

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As mentioned above, the company is the first in the world to apply a 1.4R curved display on a smartphone. The small curvature helps in enhancing the user experience as it enables the lowest verified level of blue light emissions along with improving usability.

The company also explains that to minimize folding stress, Samsung Display has optimized several technologies related to the material of the display, the panel design, and the module assembly, so that the multi-layered structure can function as a cushion when the display panel is folded.

Samsung adds that the panel has passed a folding test of 200,000 folds and has received an “Eye Care Display” certification. The new display has achieved an improved emission level for blue light of only 6.5% for comfortable long-time viewing on screen.

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Visionox, a China-based display maker has been in the news for quite some time for its innovative technologies. Now, the company has partnered with Huawei for the next-generation of foldable smartphones.

The report, citing people aware of the matter, says that Visionox will now be the screen supplier for the next-generation of foldable smartphones coming from Huawei. Apart from this, both companies also seem to have partnered up for under-display camera technology.

Currently, Huawei is sourcing display panels for the foldable smartphones from Samsung Display. It is said that the Huawei Mate X2 uses panels from Samsung but going forward, it will switch to Visionox, in line with the company’s move to align itself to domestic vendors to reduce its reliance on other companies outside of China.

As per the report, Visionox’s orders for Huawei this year is expected to reach 2.5 billion yuan. The semi-annual report reveals that Visionox achieved an operating income of 1.165 billion yuan in H1 2020, representing an increase of 4.44 percent.

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However, the net profit for the company declined significantly to 92 million yuan, which is about 47.30 percent. So, to cover up, the company is now focusing more on newer technologies like foldable displays.

A couple of months ago, Visionox had confirmed that the company’s under-screen camera technology is ready for mass-production and has achieved one of the best display results. It has used transparent OLED panels on devices, resulting in a balanced offering of display quality and photographic performance.

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Foldable screen phones are gradually gaining grounds as we expect a number of new foldable phones to be released in the coming days. However, the durability of the display has often been a cause for concern.

South Korea’s two major display panel manufacturers LG and Samsung are reportedly advancing their foldable display technology. This is in a bid to outwit the competition as durability is looking to become a key competitive factor.

According to the industry sources, LG Display recently applied for a patent for a ‘flexible display manufacturing method’. It is a technology that minimizes wrinkles that occur when a foldable display substrate is bent repeatedly. The purpose is to increase durability by reducing the stress applied while the substrate is deformed.

In general, various components including a film supporting a substrate make up a foldable display. When the substrate is bent, stress (bearing force) is generated as a force is applied to these components, causing the substrate itself to be deformed.

LG Display patented method involves applying a ‘control layer’ to reduce the stress on the substrate. The so-called stress absorbing layer acts as a cushion and reduces the occurrence of wrinkles.

In the same light, Samsung Display has applied for a patent for a ‘foldable display design’ which utilises a new display manufacturing technology for foldable displays. Like LG Display, the purpose is to prevent panel damage by reducing the bending stress that occurs when the foldable substrate is deformed.

Samsung Display paid attention to the adhesive used for the hinge part. A member whose adhesive force changes according to the folding force of the foldable display is used. For example, when the panel is folded, it loses its adhesive strength and separates from the support, and when unfolded, it recovers its adhesive strength.

In the patent application document, Samsung Display is said to have explained, “ It utilises a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA ) that is bonded or separated by low pressure, thus increasing the durability of the panel by relieving the stress.”

An industry insider disclosed that the demand for foldable displays is expected to increase as 5G foldable phones are being released. This will, in turn, lead to competitors working on new technologies that will outwit the competition.

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Microsoft might launch a Surface device in the future which features a foldable display, as seen in the recently published patents. It could be either be Microsoft Surface Duo or Surface Neo.

The patent was filed back on 6th May 2019 and was published on 28th January 2020. In the patents, a device can be observed with a single large display that appears similar to the Surface Duo in terms of design. Unfortunately, the patent doesn’t divulge the unique device’s name and rather only carries the “hinge device” description, meaning it could either be a smartphone or a PC with a foldable display.

Electronic products with foldable display have become increasingly more popular since early 2019 when major brands like Samsung unveiled one of the first smartphones with a bendable display (Galaxy Fold). Since then, other smartphone OEMs like Huawei and Motorola have also released their own offerings with similar features, namely Mate X and Moto Razr. This technology has even transferred to televisions that will arrive with a rollable display (LG Signature R).

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As of right now, no commercially available PC with a foldable display is available in the market but Lenovo is set to be the first to release one. To supplement this, Microsoft is also working on Windows 10X which is a version of the popular desktop operating system which will take advantage and be optimized for PCs with folding displays. Furthermore, Microsoft with its Surface Duo and Neo offerings have worked with dual or split screen devices so it doesn’t seem far fetched that a foldable Surface might be launched as well.

According to the patent, a device with a hinge can be observed which supports the flexible display unit. Unlike the Surface Duo, the device in the patent features one large display instead of two separate ones. Currently, the technology is expensive and not nearly as durable as regular screens. Hence, Microsoft might delay product launch and might look for a better alternative; or just as likely, never use the patent designs at all.

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(Via)

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Earlier this year, Samsung launched the Galaxy Fold. Despite the device not having a steady initial launch, the company has relaunched the device which was one of the first of its kind successfully. Smartphones with folding displays have been a popular trend of 2019 with many companies like Huawei and Motorola also having foldable device offerings. Now, a new report suggests that Samsung is also working on a new Galaxy tab with a foldable display.

The recent Samsung patents reveal a Samsung Galaxy Tab featuring clamshell based folding display. In other words, the device, unlike the Galaxy Fold, will bend from the top to the bottom (vertically) rather than from either side (horizontally) similar to Motorola Razr 2019. Notably, the patents also reveal a full body screen on the front which may suggest that the Korean tech giant might be implementing an in-display front camera.

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The design from the patents and renders also showcase the key functional aspect of the tab. With this device, Samsung may develop a Galaxy Tab with portability in mind as the device after being folded will be easier to carry and might be able to fit in pockets as well. Furthermore, the designs also show that the device could be used in the form of a mini laptop by resting its bottom half on a surface and using the upper portion as the main screen. The folding mechanic might lead to the inclusion of some interesting multitasking mechanics. Since the Galaxy Fold received acclaim for being a phone capable of tablet functionality, the aforementioned capability of turning into a mini laptop might be more appealing to the business-related markets as well.

The design patents for the upcoming device were applied for by Samsung Electronics and in the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the World Intellectual Office database. Unfortunately, we don’t know if Samsung plans to bring this design into reality.

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(Via)

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This year, we have come full circle with foldable displays. Huawei’s Mate X is an example of an outward folding device while Samsung’s Galaxy Fold is the poster child for the inward foldable device. Motorola’s spanking new Razr (2019) is actually an inward folding phone but it stands out as the first with a vertical folding design.

Next year will bring more foldable phones but it will also bring dual-display devices such as the Microsoft Surface Duo which is scheduled to be available in time for the holidays next year and possibly, another LG flagship with support for LG Dual Screen. We also expect more manufacturers including Samsung may jump on the dual-screen train too.

Both designs have the same goal – more screen estate in a smaller form factor but with different approaches. For this week’s poll, we want to know which one you prefer – phones with dual-screens or phones with a flexible foldable display?

[yop_poll id=13]

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The Huawei Mate X was first announced in February with a release planned for later. It has been over 8 months and it is yet to go on sale as the release date has been shifted forward twice now. Between the period it was first announced and now, Huawei has redesigned the foldable phone in order to improve durability. An early unboxing video has now revealed one of the new changes in the design.

The Mate X has an outward folding design which means you fold the screen backwards to use it in phone mode or forward to use it in tablet mode. The advantage this design has is that there is no need for a second screen when the device is folded, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Fold which has a second display outside due to its inward folding design. The disadvantage is that the screen is always exposed.

Based on the unboxing video, the Mate X now has a button that needs to be pushed to release the display when you want to switch to tablet mode. Apparently, when folded to phone mode, the folded part of the screen gets locked down. So to release the screen and switch back to tablet mode you have to push the red button.

The Huawei Mate X is expected to go on sale later this month in China. The phone’s flexible display measures 8-inches with a resolution of 2480 x 2200 when folded out. When folded, one side measures 6.6-inches with a resolution of 2480 x 1148 while the other side is 6.38-inches with a 2480 x 892 resolution. The phone has triple rear cameras, a Kirin 990 processor, and 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

UP NEXT: Huawei Mate 30 Pro Review – Killer Flagship Smartphone 2019!

(Source)

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Foldable displays are far from taking over the world but with what we have seen with respect to real devices, we have barely scratched the surface when it comes to designs. Last week, we saw a Google patent for a phone with several displays and a design similar to a book. Today, it is IBM’s turn to show us another unusual device – a smartwatch with multiple displays that can unfold into a phone or a tablet.

According to LetsGoDigital who discovered the patent titled “Variable Display Size For an Electronic Display Device”, IBM filed the application back in 2016 but didn’t get it approved until last month.

The patent says the electronic device is designed to operate in one or more display configurations with varying screen sizes. In the default mode, it is a smartwatch with a significantly thick case. This case houses secondary displays stacked in layers behind the main display. These secondary displays can then be extended from the housing and positioned adjacent to the main display.

The patent says each display measures 3” x 2”. When you switch to the second configuration, the display size becomes 6” x 4” which means three more displays are added in the second configuration. A third configuration brings the dimension to 12” x 8” which is really big for a tablet. However, based on the patent images shown above, the third configuration will actually be 6” x 8” as only the width seems to have doubled.

LetsGoDigital has made 3D renders of the device which provide an idea of what it may look like as a final product. Though we are pretty sure the device will never be used in the positions shown as there is no way the strap can support the weight of the extended displays. It will definitely have to lay down flat when needed to be used as a phone or tablet.

(Sources: 1, 2)

UP NEXT: Microsoft planning a dual-screen Surface device for Q1 2020, will support Android apps

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We have been seeing a lot of interesting announcements at Computex 2019. Tianma was the only Chinese display manufacturer at the event this year and showcased an interesting product — a 7.4-inch Foldable display.

Digitimes reports that Tianma’s 7.4-inch WQHD AMOLED display panel comes with a bending radius of 3mm, with a bending angle of 0 – 180 degrees, module thickness of less than 0.25mm, and an aspect ratio of 21:9. Like the Galaxy Fold, Tianma’s flexible display folds inward. So, manufacturers using this display will most likely have to add an additional screen on the front of their smartphones.

Tianma reveals that its foldable screen substrate is made out of plastic instead of glass for flexibility. This also makes it quite thin and portable. The 7.4-inch screen comes with a resolution of 3360 x 1440 while ensuring the bezels are thin at 0.9mm.

Tianma’s entry into the foldable display market will ensure there are a number of options for manufacturers when it comes to their foldable smartphones. The first foldables with this Tianma display is expected to hit the market in the first half of 2020.

UP NEXT: 12GB RAM for Chinese Redmi K20 Flagship Confirmed

(Source)

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Ahead of the announcement of Samsung‘s upcoming flagship smartphone — Galaxy S10, details started emerging online related to the phone’s features. Now, Bloomberg has a detailed report related to the South Korean giant’s game-plan for premium smartphones next year.

As per the report, the company is gearing up to launch a 5G-capable smartphone, a cheaper model of its flagship phone, and a phone with foldable display. Such move from the company is reportedly to challenge Apple and other China-based manufacturers.

For its 5G-compatible smartphone, the company is reportedly in talks with Verizon Communications Inc. to launch its Galaxy S10 in the U.S. The company is trying to secure support from the biggest U.S. carrier to popularize the 5G technology, which is designed to transfer data dozens of times faster than the 4G technology.

Also, Samsung is said to launch three models of its upcoming flagship smartphone. One of the model will be a cheaper version, which will appeal to the wide range of customers. The report adds that the company has overcome a years-long challenge and will embed an in-display fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S10.

The standard Samsung Galaxy S10, codenamed “Beyond”, will feature a 5.8-inch OLED display curved on both sides, round corners, and almost no bezels at the top and bottom. As for the camera, it’ll come with a triple-camera setup on the back, similar to what it offered with Galaxy A7.

The company is also reportedly working on a “Plus” version of Galaxy S10 for the next year. Als0, the cheaper model will lack the “edge” screen and could also have the traditional fingerprint sensor instead of the in-display one as a cost-cutting measure.

Samsung’s smartphone with a foldable display is codenamed “Winner” and has been in development for years. As per the report, the company is debating between two prototypes in the final stretch: one longer horizontally and the other vertically when unfolded, while both open from side and side.

It’ll have the standard fingerprint sensor and not in-display one as S10 due to technical difficulties. The prototype of foldable display smartphone weighs more than 200 grams, thus, expect a smaller capacity battery from the company to make the phone light-weight.

The report further adds that Samsung and Google are working on developing a special version of the Android operating software for the phone. As for the software of Galaxy S10, the phone will be running Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box.

• Read More: Samsung slams $1.6 million lawsuit on brand ambassador for using iPhone X in public

While the Galaxy S10 is expected to launch in March 2019, the report suggests that the smartphone with a foldable display may not be able to launch it commercially until the second quarter of 2019.

(Source)

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LG Display, which is one of the major manufacturers when it comes to LCD and LED displays, is now reportedly planning to start production of its foldable OLED display next year.

Reports suggest that LG has been developing the technology for foldable display for years but when it comes to the production of such displays, the likes of Samsung and China-based BOE are leading the race.

The latest report now says that LG Display is now collaborating with “a global OEM” for the production of a foldable display panel for one of its traditional partners. However, the report does not mention for which company it is starting the production. It could be Google, Microsoft or a China-based smartphone manufacturer.

LG Display is said to be trying new technology to develop high-quality foldable panels. In order to protect organic matter from oxygen and moisture, a new atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology is being introduced instead of the existing chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology in thin film encapsulation process for multiple layers of thin films.

While Samsung has already started production of its foldable display panel and is currently the leading firm in such technology, Samsung Display is likely to supply the technology to its own company and not ship out to other manufacturers. This could make other smartphone manufacturers stir towards LG Display or BOE.

Huawei is expected to launch its foldable smartphone ahead of Samsung. Reports indicate that while Huawei plans to launch its foldable device by the end of this year, Samsung is scheduling the launch of its foldable phone during CES in January next year.

Read More: LG Phone with SD845, Notched screen & Google Assistant button spotted online may be the V40 ThinQ

Apart from Huawei and Samsung, Xiaomi and Oppo are also said to be working on a foldable smartphone that could get launched next year. LG has also filed for multiple patents for the different design of devices and use cases of a foldable display.

(Source)

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We already know that apart from Samsung, China-based Huawei is also working on its own foldable smartphone. In fact, it was recently reported that Huawei is targeting to release the smartphone in November this year, aiming to beat Samsung to launch the world’s first foldable display smartphone.

Now, in line with that, the latest report indicates that Huawei is teaming up with another company, China-based display maker BOE to make a foldable smartphone with 8-inch display. It is said that BOE is responsible for manufacturing the foldable display while Huawei will take care of the rest.

For those who are unaware, BOE is China’s largest as well as world’s leading display manufacturer. The company is leading in terms of LED display, surpassing the likes of Samsung and LG in the market. BOE is now aiming to grab the market share in next-generation OLED displays and has started mass-production of its flexible OLEDs.

Along with Huawei, the China-based BOE is reportedly working with three other smartphone manufacturers. While not yet confirmed, these manufacturers could be Samsung as well as Xiaomi and Oppo. While Samsung has acknowledged that it is working on a foldable display smartphone, Xiaomi and Oppo already have filed for patents for such making such devices.

Earlier it was reported that Huawei’s foldable display smartphone will have an AMOLED panel with bendable display sourced from LG. On the other hand, it was reported that Samsung will be using a flexible OLED screen from Samsung Display.

Like Samsung’s foldable phone, the Huawei’s iteration is also expected to feature an inward folding design. In 2017, Huawei had filed a patent for a phone with a foldable display and the patent filing revealed that when the display is folded, it can be used as a smartphone and when unfolded, it can function like a tablet. Currently, there is no information available about the specification of the smartphone.

At the SID Display Week expo in Los Angeles, BOE has touted foldable displays at its booth and has also announced that it will be showing a 5.99-inch foldable smartphone and a 7.56-inch foldable tablet. The company has also detailed its new WQHD AMOLED foldable screen at the expo.

Read More: Huawei’s New Breakthrough Technology Will Improve Product Performance, Likely To Feature Inside Honor PLAY in June [Updated]

While Samsung and Huawei seem to be leading the charge in terms of foldable display smartphone, other manufacturers, including Lenovo, and LG, among others are also rumored to working on phones with foldable display.

(Source, Via)

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Lenovo, the China-based technology company which holds a strong presence in the laptop segment, has recently been awarded a new design patent for a hybrid laptop with tri-fold display and a few variations of the same. This was revealed through a bunch of documents published by the World Intellectual Property Organization last month.

The patent, which was initially filed in the year 2016, features a laptop having a flexible display with multiple viewing regions. The display consists of an OLED panel which can be folded both ways — inwards as well as outwards. This allows users to triple the amount of screen real estate compared to what traditional laptops offer.

With the flexible nature of the folding mechanism, it allows the device to be folded in a way that the screens are facing both sides. The company believes that such a mode would be useful for presentations as well as for local multiplayer games.

While the filed patent doesn’t explicitly mention that the display panels of the theoretical design are touch-sensitive, such functionality is implied especially given how some possible setups don’t hide the keyboard of the hybrid device behind one of its screens.

The suggested laptop’s both sides are meant to be equipped with a camera and at least one microphone. The published documents suggest that the engineering principles applied to the newly patented design can allow both for dual- and triple-screen laptops.

The patent filing also mentions that smartphones are another possible use case of a similar tri-fold design, along with tablets and laptops. The company has been working on a device featuring a foldable display since last few years. In fact, Lenovo demonstrated its foldable design tablet at the company’s annual event Lenovo Tech World last year.

Apart from Lenovo, several other smartphone manufacturers are working on a device featuring foldable display, including China-based Huawei and Oppo. South Korean giant Samsung is also working on a foldable display smartphone. Devices with a foldable display from Samsung and Huawei are expected to get launched this year. However, the company has not yet made anything official.

Read More: Lenovo Z5 Design Revealed in New Teaser; Hints More Than 95% Screen Space

In line with this tri-fold laptop patent from Lenovo, Razer, which is known for making gaming devices and peripherals, has already made a prototype of a triple-display laptop, which the company showcased at last year’s CES. However, the design makes trade-offs in terms of user convenience and thus, it was never commercialized.

(Source)

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A number of manufacturers are working on foldable phones to be released in the near future. There are rumors the first set of commercially available foldable smartphones will hit the market this year. While we wait, a Taiwanese research institute has released a video showing a working device with a foldable AMOLED display.

The display is manufactured by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Taiwan and a prototype is shown in a 72-second long video.

The device doesn’t score any point for design as this is clearly a prototype but we get to see the screen in action. ITRI says they are “rapidly approaching commercial standards” with the display.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpxtDRgMOjQ[/embedyt]

The device when unfolded looks like a 7-inch tablet. It doesn’t fold into two equal halves and there is probably a reason for that. Rather than unfolding the device every time to check for notifications; with always-on-display, you can check new notifications in the visible part of the screen.

READ MORE: LG’s Patent For Foldable Smartphone Shows Dual Display, Battery, And Headphone Jack

There are hinges similar to the one on the Lenovo Yoga Book where the device folds. The panels are said to be abrasion-resistant and fold-resistant and can be folded up to 200,000 times with a folding radius of 3mm. If the average user checks his/her device about 150 times per day, that means the panel should last for almost four years. This isn’t bad as most people change their devices after two or three years.

What do you think of foldable displays? Let us know in the comment box.

(Source, Via)

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LG has been granted a patent for a foldable smartphone, which was filed in September 2016. The patent, which has now been published by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), contain images which illustrates what the phone’s design could be.

The patent, which is titled “Mobile Terminal”, shows that along with dual displays, the smartphone also contains dual batteries and dual headphone jack. The display is curved around the edges, which can be used to show time, date, as well as other notifications.

The images, which were attached to the patent, reveals that both the displays connected through two hinges — one on the top and another on the bottom side. This enables both screens to open and combine to form one large display.

In a partially open position, the device can be used by two persons to watch video separately, using the two headphone jacks. Interestingly, both hosting packs their own battery as well as camera module. While the patent was filed in September 2016, it mentions that the primary display is equipped with an under-display fingerprint sensor.

From the patent application, it seems that LG is focusing on the media consumption for its foldable smartphone, enabling users to consume different types of media content without disturbing each other. The patented technology can be used for smartphones, tablets, laptops, multimedia devices and wearables.

Many smartphone manufacturers are said to be working on a foldable display smartphone, including Samsung, Apple, and Microsoft. Recently Huawei also joined the list and now LG is also jumping on the foldable display bandwagon.

Last year, in September, Samsung’s mobile chief DJ Koh had confirmed in an interview that the company would launch its first foldable smartphone in 2018. Later, there were reports suggesting that the Galaxy X could be a limited edition device that may only arrive in select markets.

Read More: Huawei Patents A Foldable Phone Which Can Turn Into A Tablet

However, Salman Saeed, who’s the product manager of display technology at Qualcomm said in an interview that the foldable smartphone launch could be delayed due to concerns related to the fine-tuning of the user experience as well as the durability.

(Via)

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Foldable phones could be the future of the smartphones market. Given that smartphones are actually replacing PCs for several functions, people are always in need of bigger displays in order to make it comfortable to surf the web, watch videos and more. After Samsung and its alleged Galaxy X, even Huawei has filed a patent for a phone with a foldable display. The patent has been filed on September 19, 2017, but it has just been revealed on WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) website.

The Huawei foldable phone is way different from ZTE Axon M. It does not feature two separate displays, but one single display which can be folded. The mechanism is similar to the one of the Microsoft Surface Book. Thanks to this mechanism, the smartphone will be able to transform into a tablet while it is unfolded. While folded, it should obviously have the same dimensions as a normal smartphone. The patent does not show how the device will work while it is folded, so we still do not know if it will have an external display or just some indicators to show important info such as time, battery charge, and notifications.

RELATED: Huawei Honor 10 Leaked Images Show Notched Design

A folding panel like that implies the presence of flexible glass or another material which does not break. At the moment, we do not know if and when this Huawei device will hit the shelves. It may even remain just a patent and we may be very far from the release of the first smartphone with a foldable display. According to recent declarations from Qualcomm, Samsung Galaxy X (the first phone with a foldable display by Samsung) will not see the light of day soon, and, due to difficulties encountered at realizing its foldable display, we may need to wait some years for its release.

(Source)

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The US Patent & Trademark Office has published an application filed by Apple for a smartphone with foldable display. This news is in line with the previous reports which suggested that Apple is working with LG for a flexible display iPhone.

Apple is one of the several companies which have partnered with LG for display technology. The US-based technology giant is also reported to be planning to make an investment LG‘s plant for production of a foldable display.

The patent describes a smartphone display that can be “opened and closed like a book”. The patent application filed by the company covers all the bases, referencing LCD, OLED and microLED. It reads:

Display may include an array of display pixels formed from liquid crystal display (LCD) components, an array of electrophoretic display pixels, an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels, an array of pixels formed from crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies (sometimes referred to as micro-LEDs), an array of electrowetting display pixels, or display pixels based on other display technologies.

Apple has mentioned in the application that the flexible screen may have a flexible screen layer, a cover layer, a touch sensor interposed between the flexible screen layer and the cover layer, a support layer, and a polarizer layer.

The iPhone with a foldable display is expected to be unveiled in the year 2021. By that time, the company may have transitioned to microLED screens. Along with all the benefits of OLED, it further boosting brightness, saturation and power efficiency. Interestingly, Apple was recently reported to be working with TSMC on some of the technologies needed to use microLED panels.

However, there is a possibility that we won’t see Apple’s iPhone with a foldable display as not everything that gets patented goes into the production. While this doesn’t confirm that a foldable iPhone is on its way, it shows that Apple is atleast considered it.

Read More: Support Page For Foldable Samsung Galaxy X Is Now Live

While the foldable display iPhone is years away, if it’s ever coming, Samsung is gearing up to launch its foldable smartphone next year. It is expected to come with an “in-folding” design which would see the display fold inwards.

(Source)

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Many smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung and Huawei are attempting to make a smartphone with foldable display. And now, we have come across another Chinese smartphone maker trying something similar.

Oppo has filed a patent in China for a smartphone design that has a bendable display. About 25 percent to 35 percent of the display from the top appears to be foldable. The images suggest that the foldable part of the screen can be flipped forward as well as backwards.

It seems that the display sits on top of a fixed chassis in which the break is connected through hinges, allowing the display to make a ‘U’ bend. At the top of the display, there is a camera module, which can be used as a front-facing as well as rear-facing snapper by bending the display forward and backward.

However, using a single camera module as a front and rear camera is not a new concept. But, the way it is being implemented is different. In 2013, Oppo N1 was launched with featured a rotating camera module that can spin 206 degrees, allowing users to use it on the back and front of the phone. Following that, Gionee had also launched a smartphone with a rotating camera module — Gionee Elife E7 Mini.

Recently, ZTE launched Axon M — a folding smartphone with two full-sized displays. When folded, one screen lights up for regular usage and when it is flat, it goes into “Extended Mode” which utilizes both displays.

The patent filing from Oppo comes at a time when manufacturers are soon expected to launch devices with foldable or flexible display. Samsung is rumored to introduce a smartphone with foldable display as soon as next year. Recently, a report emerged claiming that Apple is partnering with LG Display for a foldable iPhone for the year 2020. Even Elephone is rumored to release a smartphone with flexible AMOLED.

Read More: China’s BOE Display Technology Shows Off Flexible AMOLED Displays

While Oppo has filed for a patent of this foldable smartphone design, it does not mean that we would see such smartphone as many ideas that gets patented never materializes.

(Source)

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Earlier this week, E Ink, the pioneer company in e-ink display technology showed off its new foldable screen.

E Ink makes the displays you find in e-readers like Kindles and Nooks. These devices have very impressive battery life, thanks to the low-power display. Once an E-reader displays a page, the screen stops drawing power from the battery and stays that way till you flip or scroll down the page.

E Ink plans to make reading a whole lot more fun with its new display which folds like a real book. The new foldable display it showed off is a 10.2-inch flexible Carta Mobius based e-reader with a ppi of 220.

READ MORE: Samsung Display’s New Patents Show Five New Display Designs

The display doesn’t actually fold completely but it has a magnetic snap that holds it in place. The display uses plastic instead of glass, so it doesn’t shatter. E Ink says it is ready for mass manufacturing once it has customers.

It will be nice to see other manufacturers other than those into e-readers adopt this foldable display, possibly those into wearables.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-kYQ61A-s4[/embedyt]

(Source)

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Samsung is working on testing a prototype phone with dual displays, and according to industry sources production will begin soon. Both OLED screens will be connected in the middle by a hinge and will open and close like a clam-shell phone.

This device is quite different from the Galaxy X which is expected to use a single flexible OLED screen that can be folded in half. Samsung is reported to have placed orders for components to make about 2000 to 3000 units for the dual-screen phone in H1 2017.

This dual screen phone is probably a preliminary phase for the Galaxy X. And data gotten from the tests will be used to develop its foldable phone which Samsung plans to release in limited quantities in H2 2017. Since both the dual screen phone and the Galaxy X will be manufactured in limited quantities, they will only be available to a select few.

READ MORE: Samsung Galaxy S8 6GB RAM Version Heading To China & Will Be Super Costly

Samsung has come a long way with its flexible displays. The Galaxy Round was the first smartphone to feature a curved display. It was released in October 2013, a month ahead of LG’s G Flex which also featured a curved display and a self-healing back. But while Samsung has continued with releasing phones with curved displays, LG stopped after the G Flex 2.

(Source)

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Smartphones with foldable displays are showing prospects of being a trend that would take the industry by storm in the near future. Samsung first unveiled its own foldable phone at CES 2013 called Galaxy X and ever since we had seen patent filings, leaks and rumors but no launch date yet. LG also has a patent for a foldable smartphone, also OPPO, Nokia and a host of others are also working on their foldable phone. Now, Chinese innovative tech company Xiaomi seems to be thinking in that direction.

A recent patent filing in China has revealed that Xiaomi has got a foldable smartphone in the works. From the details contained in the document, the phone has two displays which can be folded together. It includes an input section for typing and a display section. The device won’t open up flat as it an only be opened up to 160 degrees and not 180 degrees.

The patent filing only reveal that Xiaomi has got a foldable smartphone in development but as to when it would be launched, that we can’t tell. Already, the company has got a flexible display technology which it used on the Mi Note 2 so it may be easier to adapt that technology in the development of a foldable smartphone.

(source)

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At CES 2013, Samsung wowed a lot of attendants when it first showed off its flexible display technology. While a bit of that technology has made it to their flagships with the Edge suffix, we are still not close to getting a fully foldable phone.

The reason for that stems from Samsung still finding it hard producing quality foldable phones in large quantities.  The smartphone giant may be applying for patents left, right, and center but the challenge is in mass production.

Samsung’s aim is to make the device very thin such that its thickness when folded doesn’t exceed 10mm. That means a thickness of about 4mm when unfolded. Samsung is also advertising the phone as a “luxurious ultra premium device”. That means it has to make use of high quality materials that are durable of which some are usually not easily bendable.

Take for example the adhesive used to attach the display to the rest of the chassis. It has to be very flexible and also durable to withstand several folding and unfolding actions. So while Samsung really wants to see foldable phones reach the market as soon as possible, it also needs to be careful to prevent releasing a device that will suffer from issues like the Galaxy Note 7.

READ MORE: Samsung Galaxy S8 Gets 3C Certification: Uses Same Charger as Note 7

So until Samsung gets everything right, mass production will have to be put on hold. A Korean media says Samsung is preparing to showcase a number of prototypes in Q3 this year.

(Source)

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Many noted personalities have said that the smartphone industry has come to a saturation point when it comes down to innovation. That’s true to a large extent given that the most smartphones these days feature just incremental upgrades rather than something outright revolutionary. The Xiaomi Mi Mix was probably one of the most innovative smartphone products released in 2016, but even that was an incremental upgrade, achieved by reducing the bezels on the screen to a major extent — something that many companies have been trying for the past couple of years.

It is at this time that we hear about the foldable display smartphone concept from Samsung. And according to the latest reports, foldable smartphones may no longer exist as just a concept as Samsung as well as LG are said to be releasing such smartphones as early as Q3-Q4 2017. Initially, it was said that Samsung is developing a tablet-like device with a display that folds into a smartphone. But the company seems to have realized recently that folding-in smartphones are probably not the ideal way to go (since you’ll have to fold the display every time you want to use it as a phone). So, the company is now said to be working on foldable display smartphones that essentially fold outwards. So, it starts off as a smartphone and whenever required, you can open it up to convert it into a large 7-inch tablet. Pretty nifty, right?

Now, we have some pretty good looking concept renders of this foldable display smartphone. While we are not sure whether the final product from Samsung will end up looking anything close to this, it does give us a glimpse of how a smartphone which can enlarge itself into a 7-inch tablet could materialize in real life. Check out all the images below.

RELATED: Samsung’s First Folding Smartphone, the Galaxy X, Arriving Q3-Q4 2017

While a foldable smartphone sounds like an amazing concept, brining it to real life comes with its own set of technical challenges. We have seen flexible displays but a foldable smartphone requires much more than that. We will have to wait and see how Samsung tackles the rigid parts that are inside a smartphone like the circuit board. The specs on such a phone have to be top-notch and hence, it’ll be interesting to see how the company designs its first foldable display phone. Given that the company is said to roll out more than “100,000″ foldable devices in Q3 2017, it means that Samsung has already overcome these challenges.

With LG also reported to make a similar number of foldable devies by the fourth quarter, 2017 is definitely going to be an interesting year for smartphone enthusiasts.

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News of manufacturers working on a foldable display have been around for years now. The latest report circulating now is that of Samsung’s upcoming foldable phone which is rumored to be launched in H1 2018 and not Q3 2017 anymore. One other company that has been working on foldable displays for over a decade already but has not been mentioned recently is actually Nokia.

As it stands, Nokia may or may not be preparing to launch a phone with a foldable display in the near future but a patent granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office back in 2013 and made public in September is now making rounds on the internet.

The patent’ diagrams show a device with a clam-shell design that looks like a square pocket mirror. The way it is deigned, the display doesn’t bend completely when you shut the device. The patent description says the design makes it possible to have a ‘‘pocket size device with a relatively large display (for example, a 6, 7, or 8-inch display or larger)’’. The device also has a sort of lock that keeps both halves in place, a design found in laptops of old.

READ MORE: Nokia Hints at A Snapdragon 835 Phone Launching at MWC 2017

This is not Nokia’s first patent that involves a device with a foldable display as there is an older one filed back in 2005 which is not as refined as this. Nokia might decide to make this into something consumers can purchase in the future and it might not, but the birth of phones with foldable displays will probably lead to the eventual death of tablets.

(Source)

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New patent filings have revealed that Samsung may release two new smartwatches in the near future. One of them is expected to feature a foldable screen.

Smartwatch sales are plummeting and in order to attract smartphone makers are aiming to provide new and innovative features. Patently Mobile reports that the South Korean company has registered for two new patents for smartwatch with US Patent and Trademark Office.

The first one that features a regular display seems to be a fitness oriented device. The strap of the device is enabled with sensors. When the strap is moved sideways, its sensors can measure angle and position. Its screen can accordingly display UI elements.

An additional strap for the device can be seen for extended input control. The patent documents, the device can be used in multiple ways such as wrapping it around users’ neck and by hanging it over different objects.

Related: Samsung Files Patent for Bendable Smartphone Display

The other one appears to be a foldable wearable that can turn into a bracelet as it features a wide band flexible display. The South Korean company has been working on it since 2013.

The publication is of the view that even though the company is pegged to launch a smartphone with foldable display, it may surprise its fans by introducing a superior smartphone with a bendable display that can allow it to function like a smartphone. Rumors have it that these two may be the variants of the upcoming Samsung Gear 4.

In the previous month, a patent of Samsung’s concept phone with foldable display was revealed. It showed that the display could be bent in the center to use it like a flip phone. The patent was granted for it by USPTO.

An interesting thing about the concept phone is that its display can bend automatically when a certain amount of voltage to either of the two electrodes layer that are respectively present on the upper and lower ends of the foldable display.

The post Samsung Gear 4 to Have Foldable Display? Company Files Two New Smartwatch Patents appeared first on Gizmochina.

Latest news from Japan indicates that Japan Displays Inc. (JDI) has developed an off-screen LCD display for smartphones which combines two panels and can open and close like a book or a photo album.

According to Japanese website Nikkei, the display comes with ultra-slim bezels and the width can be controlled below 1mm. The display can even get more than two, as up to three panels can be designed together with a distance of 2mm or less between the panels. another thing is the display seems to be removable.

Read More: These Full Active LCD Displays From JDI Feature Super Slim Bezels On All Four Sides

It is also said that the displays can be connected into a screen and is ideal for multitasking, like watching a video and browsing at the same time. The good thing is, this design will start finding its way into smartphones from summer of 2017. It is reported that JDI will be working in partnership with Chinese smartphone manufacturers to jointly develop new terminals. We don’t know yet which Chinese phone maker they are in talks with at present but we’ll keep you informed as new details unfold.

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Flexible display is turning to be the possible future of mobile displays considering the rate at which smartphone manufactures are developing concepts  with flexible displays. Samsung, Xiaomi, LG, Lenovo, OPPO and of late Meizu has joined the train.

A patent filing made back in August by Meizu has just been spotted online it reveals a device with flexible, foldable display. The patent was filed precisely on August 28 in China with the title “Flexible Display Device with an application number 201610634752.2. From the attached description, we could gather that the device is one with folding display with appearance similar to clam-shell flip phones. The outside of the device is covered by the flexible display in this case.

Recall that Samsung filed a patient for a somewhat similar foldable phone with flexible display. The only difference between this and Samsung’s own is that the display on this one stays outside while Samsung’s stays inside when the flip is covered. It is not clear, though, what becomes of this patent filing as Meizu has not revealed anything about the patent since then.

Read More: Spy Photos of New Meizu M1611 Phone Released

The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 was recently disclosed to be coming with a flexible curved display said to be supplied by LG, even though the flexible display would still be under the rigid glass touchscreen. In addition, Vivo XPlay and Huawei Mate S2 are also rumored by the same source as featuring similar curved flexible display. Perhaps we would be seeing more and more devices with flexible, curved displays in the near future.

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