The latest TCL concept phone is capable of folding inwardly and outwardly, thus presenting a slew of functionality for the device. The eye-catching prototype device was showcased during the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022 holding in Barcelona, Spain. The concept phone is part of an array of different devices showcased by TCL during MWC 2022 which is in its first full day.

The double foldable concept phone is called Ultra Flex and it has a 360-degree rotating hinge as well as a flexible display that adjusts with the folding of the screen. It should be noted that the 360-degree folding mechanism will put much stress on the strip above the hinge and it is unclear how this will measure under stress testing. Some experts think that the Ultra Flex may be prone to breaking.

Being a concept phone, we cannot say for certain whether it will scale through all the obstacles to become a finished commercial product. Apart from the display which is yet to be demonstrated by TCL, it made some sounds that need to be resolved. Overall, it is believed that the Ulta Flex may be far off from becoming a commercial product.

As per the justification for having a double foldable display, TCL insists that it will combine the benefits of both types of folding devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Huawei’s first Mate X foldable. The company says the Ultra Flex will offer the benefits of both worlds but the outward foldable functions seem difficult to comprehend. Huawei has since adopted a forward folding design in its newer Mate X foldable.

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Among the top contenders in the foldable smartphones segment is the Chinese brand TCL. The company has been working on foldable devices for quite some time now and was able to draw a lot of attention with its prototypes. But it looks like their stint with their current project has finally come to an end as the foldable program codenamed the Project Chicago has been called off.

From what it appears, TCL could not keep the prices in the bracket they initially intended in order to compete with Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 and this became the reason for dropping the project. $800 was the cheapest TCL could make, the culprit being recent component shortages, and global pandemic.

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TCL, the multinational consumer electronics brand, isn’t exactly a very popular name in the smartphone industry. Rather, the company has only started pushing its own branded devices last year in certain European regions. Now, the company has teased the existence of two more smartphones for its future lineup, with one being a foldable phone and other a 5G handset at CES 2020.

The smartphones TCL has been pushing for in Europe, follow a strategy that offers cutting edge technology. Hence, the upcoming devices will also fit right in with the currently available lineup. The company has been teasing the launch of a 5G handset and foldable phone since 2019 but now, a bit more information is finally available for the former. The TCL 10 5G will be the first 5G smartphone from the company.

TCL 10 5G

The device is expected to hit the markets in the US and Canada. It is also expected to be available in the Q2 of 2020. Notably, the TCL 10 5G smartphone is one of the three handsets that will be launched this year, with the pricing of the line starting at less than 500 US Dollars or roughly 3,469 Yuan. The budget pricing of the phone will be one of its most attractive aspects.

The recently revealed handset from TCL will be powered by Qualcomm’s 5G processors. Since the device is a mid range smartphone, it is expected to sport the Snapdragon 765G SoC, which is Qualcomm’s entry level 5G chipset.

Editor’s Pick: Realme X50 5G with 120Hz display, SD765G, 64MP quad cam, 16MP dual front cameras debuts for 2,499 Yuan (~$360)

TCL Foldable Smartphone

Unfortunately, information regarding TCL’s foldable smartphone is still scarce. However, the company did share renders of the device at the press event. Notably, the renders are also listed under “Foldable Smartphone Concept” which doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. In other words, the handset still seems far from an official release.

Looking at the images, the foldable smartphone bears a resemblance to the form factor of Samsung’s Galaxy Fold. Furthermore, the device appears to feature a vertically stacked quad camera setup on the rear. Since the device was first revealed in MWC 2019, it might be seen in the upcoming Mobile World Congress for the year 2020.

You can find more CES2020 coverage from here.

UP NEXT: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold arrives with a foldable OLED display, priced at $2499 (17,370 CNY)

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The next big thing in the smartphone industry after 5G is no doubt foldable phones. TCL showed us back in February some prototypes of the foldable models it was working on and promised to go commercial a foldable model. The Chinese company has now hinted that it would start production of the flexible OLED panels that would be on the phone.

The company reportedly acquired LTPS equipment from Japan and South Korea for its plant in Wuhan, China, the production of AMOLED panels is expected to commence in Q4 2019. The production will be done through its display division called Huaxing Optoelectronics. The flexible OLED panels will also likely be shipped to other OEMs.

EDITOR’S PICK: China Mobile’s ultra-cheap 5G phone coming at the end of June

TCL is confident its display division Huaxing can attain double-digit growth both in annual sales and profit. The LTPS-LCD production for Q1 2019 reached $27.2 million, ranking third in the world among companies with a single plant. The tech giant also disclosed that it has reached an agreement with some top-class phone manufacturers for flexible OLED orders.

TCL’s flexible OLED panels may likely also feature on smart TV and not just on smartphones. Recall that Huawei is said to be working on its own smart TV. The report has it that Huaxing will produce the 65-inch panels for the Huawei TV, while the 55-inch model would be manufactured by BOE.

UP NEXT: Huawei retains 2nd spot worldwide sales, Apple sales slump

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