Tag Archives: foldable phone

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: News, Rumors, Price, and Dates

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Foldable phones aren’t going anywhere, at least not yet. They might not be generating much hype nowadays, but they still stir up a flurry whenever a new model launches. There’s definitely plenty of room for improvement not just in specs but also in design, and we indeed see some brands playing around with those elements a bit. Although there are now more foldable phones available, Samsung is still the undisputed leader even if by virtue of its industry clout only. Of course, its dominance is being challenged by competitors whose designs are addressing many of the flaws and limitations of the Galaxy Z Fold, which is why all eyes are on how Samsung will respond in kind this year. We might be just three months away from the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, so we’ve gathered in one place all the details we know so far to paint a more complete picture of what to expect from one of the pioneers of this still niche market.

Designer: Samsung (renders courtesy of Smartprix and Steve Hemmerstoffer/@OnLeaks)

Galaxy Z Fold 6: Design

The way a foldable phone works sounds almost so easy, but the reality is that it’s a hellish design to implement given the delicate balancing act that designers and engineers have to make. How do you design a smartphone that can be as big as a small tablet yet still be comfortable to use as a regular phone? To be perfectly blunt, Samsung failed to hit the mark with its first generation of foldables, but it seems to be inching closer to a better solution with each iteration.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Designer: Samsung

According to the accumulated leaks and rumors, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be making some rather small but significant changes to the formula. There are some disagreements on exact figures, but the consensus is that Samsung’s 2024 large foldable will have a wider external Cover Screen, a thinner and lighter frame, flatter edges, and sharper corners. These minuscule changes all add up to make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 resemble its Galaxy S cousin more.

The wider outer display will have a big impact on usability, even if the screen size itself doesn’t change. The new aspect ratio would make the phone less awkward to use as a regular phone when folded, one of the biggest and still present criticisms of Samsung’s foldable design. This does mean that the unfolded shape will be more square this time, resembling the form that other foldable phones have taken. That said, based on some of the leaked measurements, it will still not be as wide as the Google Pixel Fold or OnePlus Open which are considered to have the better design on this aspect.

Google Pixel Fold

Google Pixel Fold

Google Pixel Fold

Designer: Google

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also expected to be thinner (5.6mm folded, 12.1mm unfolded) and lighter (239g) than any of its predecessors. This improvement is, again, based on the design of the Galaxy Z Fold before it (6.1mm folded, 13.4mm unfolded, 253g weight), but not against other brands. The recently launched Honor Magic V2 probably holds the title of thinnest and lightest foldable, but its limited availability makes that pointless for some markets. One side effect of a thinner body, however, is that there will still be no room for an integrated S Pen, something Samsung loyals have been wishing for since the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design

Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design

Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design

Designer: Honor

There are rumors of an “ultra” model for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 where Samsung will pull out most of the stops. If true, this could be a titanium-clad model, in line with the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the general trend in the industry. Of course, this would also raise prices higher, especially if the so-called Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra will include other upgrades as well.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Galaxy Z Fold 6: Specs and Software

Samsung always gives its flagship products the best specs available in the market, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 won’t be any different. The question, however, is whether Samsung’s idea of “best” matches the expectations of buyers. This year, we’ll be looking at another iterative upgrade, and some consumers might not be that amused.

The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a no-brainer for a 2024 flagship, and we haven’t heard any whispers of a special version custom-made for Samsung or the foldable. What might not see a big jump, however, is the memory that comes with the phone. RAM will be capped at 12GB yet again, with storage coming in 256GB and 512GB capacities. It’s probably high time that we get a 16GB RAM, 1TB storage Galaxy Z Fold, but that might not be on the table unless those “Ultra” model rumors pan out.

The battery is yet another aspect that is unlikely to see any changes. Although a 4,600mAh battery was earlier rumored, a thinner and lighter design would probably make more sense if Samsung sticks to the same 4,400mAh pack. Unfortunately, charging technologies aren’t expected to change either and new owners will be stuck with the same 25W wired and 15W wireless charging speeds.

Given the expected timing of the launch, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be launching with the latest One UI 6.1 version that will still be based on the current Android 14 release. It will mostly be the same user experience on the Galaxy S24, just with some foldable-specific features mixed in. Do expect that Samsung will heavily advertise AI features as well, especially those that it wasn’t able to focus on earlier this year.

Galaxy Z Fold 6: Cameras

While the incremental upgrades to specs can be forgiven, the biggest Achilles’ heel of this year’s Samsung foldable will be its cameras. Contrary to expectations and wishes, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is now believed to use the exact same set of cameras that came with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 last year. That means a 50MP main camera, a 10MP 3x zoom telephoto, and a 12MP ultra-wide. The under-display camera under the foldable screen is expected to see performance improvements but still have the same 4MP sensor.

While it’s true that you can squeeze out impressive images from such sensors using software and algorithms, you can only go so far with relatively weaker hardware. The bigger question is why Samsung is unable to use better cameras when almost all its competitors can. Thickness is definitely not an issue and it’s not like Samsung’s foldables are less expensive than other foldables, so one can only wonder about the company’s reasons.

OPPO Find N3

OPPO Find N3

OPPO Find N3

Designer: OPPO

That said, it could be setting the stage for the rumored Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra that’s said to resemble the Galaxy S24 Ultra in some ways. In addition to a titanium frame, this Ultra foldable might borrow the 200MP camera of Samsung’s early 2024 flagship. That, however, might mean changing the foldable phone’s dimensions, particularly its thickness, so there’s a very slim chance that will be the case.

Galaxy Z Fold 6: Price and Launch Date

Samsung seems to be holding its second Galaxy Unboxed event earlier each year, especially now that it has retired the Galaxy Note line. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 was announced in late July last year, with the actual shipments starting around August. This year might follow the same pattern with the announcement happening around the second week of July. This earlier date might also be due to Samsung trying to avoid clashing with the 2024 Summer Olympics, where it could be a major sponsor and advertise the Galaxy Z Fold 6 heavily during the event.

We’re not expecting any price changes this year at least, especially since there aren’t any big changes happening. The past few foldable flagships launched at $1,800, and that could still be the same starting price for a 12GB RAM, 256GB storage configuration. That said, if there is an Ultra model, the pricing scheme could shift a bit and be a bit more complicated. The base Galaxy Z Fold 6 could start at $1,700 instead, while the Ultra model with its titanium design and higher specs might hit $2,000.

Galaxy Z Fold 6: Final Thoughts

It looks like Samsung fans will be facing another iterative cycle this year as far as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is concerned. While there will be marked improvements in terms of performance and design, some of the pain points current owners have remained unaddressed. Hopefully, the wider Cover Screen aspect ratio will indeed improve the phone’s overall usability, the change might be a bit too subtle to matter. Photography is where the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will hurt the most, and Samsung has to prove that it can pull out a rabbit from its hat using these aging camera sensors.

Although Samsung leads the smartphone industry because of its wide reach and prestige, it is risking that advantage by sitting on its laurels for too long in the foldable market. Although some of its competitors aren’t available in major markets where Samsung plays, they do drive home the flaws in Samsung’s design. If these brands can achieve something that a giant like Samsung can’t, then people will start losing confidence in the brand’s products, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of weaker sales for the Galaxy Z Fold line.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: News, Rumors, Price, and Dates first appeared on Yanko Design.

Google Pixel Fold 2 display might be even bigger, according to a leak

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After MWC 2024 last month, it was clear that foldable phones aren’t going anywhere despite previous prophecies of doom. Samsung is obviously very much in the running, and Honor is pulling out the stops as well. Google is the one brand that is believed to be a bit over the fence, especially in the direction it will be taking its Pixel Fold in. There are already some expected big changes in design, but the changes might be even bigger than expected, literally. According to the latest rumor, the Google Pixel Fold 2’s screens will indeed be bigger, but they will actually be a lot bigger than previously cited, and this change could have significant repercussions for the rest of the foldable phone’s design.

Designer: Google (via Ross Young)

Although foldable phones are marketed as phones that can turn into tablets, the reality is that they can only turn into mini tablets that are even smaller than the iPad mini. This is mostly due to the requirement that these devices should still be usable as normal phones, something that’s actually near impossible if you fold a 10-inch tablet in half. Not unless you can actually fold it in three, which is what Samsung might be doing soon.

In the meantime, however, phone manufacturers have to work within that limitation, and Google will apparently be pushing the boundaries with its second-gen design. According to the newest unofficial information, the Google Pixel Fold 2 will have an external “Cover Screen” size of 6.29 inches and an internal main display of 8.02 inches. Considering the first Pixel Fold had sizes of 5.8 inches and 7.6 inches for those same screens, that’s a rather big jump in terms of screen size. For comparison, the iPad mini has an 8.3-inch screen.

That size increase won’t just be for the sake of bragging, though, as it will definitely affect the usability of the device. Yes, you will be able to enjoy more content or a less cramped space, but that could come at the cost of being bigger to hold in one hand, especially when folded as a phone. There’s also the matter of bezel size, which the Pixel Fold was notorious for. Either way, it won’t be the compact foldable that many people actually loved, so Google might lose some fans but gain others.

Unfortunately, the source didn’t confirm the other two big changes rumored for the Pixel Fold 2, particularly the aspect ratio and especially the camera design. The latter might prove to be the more controversial change for Google’s once-beautiful design, especially if the hardware upgrade doesn’t exactly warrant that change. The screens for the Pixel Fold 2 will reportedly go into production next month, so an announcement won’t be far away.

The post Google Pixel Fold 2 display might be even bigger, according to a leak first appeared on Yanko Design.

Google Pixel Fold 2 display might be even bigger, according to a leak

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After MWC 2024 last month, it was clear that foldable phones aren’t going anywhere despite previous prophecies of doom. Samsung is obviously very much in the running, and Honor is pulling out the stops as well. Google is the one brand that is believed to be a bit over the fence, especially in the direction it will be taking its Pixel Fold in. There are already some expected big changes in design, but the changes might be even bigger than expected, literally. According to the latest rumor, the Google Pixel Fold 2’s screens will indeed be bigger, but they will actually be a lot bigger than previously cited, and this change could have significant repercussions for the rest of the foldable phone’s design.

Designer: Google (via Ross Young)

Although foldable phones are marketed as phones that can turn into tablets, the reality is that they can only turn into mini tablets that are even smaller than the iPad mini. This is mostly due to the requirement that these devices should still be usable as normal phones, something that’s actually near impossible if you fold a 10-inch tablet in half. Not unless you can actually fold it in three, which is what Samsung might be doing soon.

In the meantime, however, phone manufacturers have to work within that limitation, and Google will apparently be pushing the boundaries with its second-gen design. According to the newest unofficial information, the Google Pixel Fold 2 will have an external “Cover Screen” size of 6.29 inches and an internal main display of 8.02 inches. Considering the first Pixel Fold had sizes of 5.8 inches and 7.6 inches for those same screens, that’s a rather big jump in terms of screen size. For comparison, the iPad mini has an 8.3-inch screen.

That size increase won’t just be for the sake of bragging, though, as it will definitely affect the usability of the device. Yes, you will be able to enjoy more content or a less cramped space, but that could come at the cost of being bigger to hold in one hand, especially when folded as a phone. There’s also the matter of bezel size, which the Pixel Fold was notorious for. Either way, it won’t be the compact foldable that many people actually loved, so Google might lose some fans but gain others.

Unfortunately, the source didn’t confirm the other two big changes rumored for the Pixel Fold 2, particularly the aspect ratio and especially the camera design. The latter might prove to be the more controversial change for Google’s once-beautiful design, especially if the hardware upgrade doesn’t exactly warrant that change. The screens for the Pixel Fold 2 will reportedly go into production next month, so an announcement won’t be far away.

The post Google Pixel Fold 2 display might be even bigger, according to a leak first appeared on Yanko Design.

Google Pixel Fold 2 display might be even bigger, according to a leak

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After MWC 2024 last month, it was clear that foldable phones aren’t going anywhere despite previous prophecies of doom. Samsung is obviously very much in the running, and Honor is pulling out the stops as well. Google is the one brand that is believed to be a bit over the fence, especially in the direction it will be taking its Pixel Fold in. There are already some expected big changes in design, but the changes might be even bigger than expected, literally. According to the latest rumor, the Google Pixel Fold 2’s screens will indeed be bigger, but they will actually be a lot bigger than previously cited, and this change could have significant repercussions for the rest of the foldable phone’s design.

Designer: Google (via Ross Young)

Although foldable phones are marketed as phones that can turn into tablets, the reality is that they can only turn into mini tablets that are even smaller than the iPad mini. This is mostly due to the requirement that these devices should still be usable as normal phones, something that’s actually near impossible if you fold a 10-inch tablet in half. Not unless you can actually fold it in three, which is what Samsung might be doing soon.

In the meantime, however, phone manufacturers have to work within that limitation, and Google will apparently be pushing the boundaries with its second-gen design. According to the newest unofficial information, the Google Pixel Fold 2 will have an external “Cover Screen” size of 6.29 inches and an internal main display of 8.02 inches. Considering the first Pixel Fold had sizes of 5.8 inches and 7.6 inches for those same screens, that’s a rather big jump in terms of screen size. For comparison, the iPad mini has an 8.3-inch screen.

That size increase won’t just be for the sake of bragging, though, as it will definitely affect the usability of the device. Yes, you will be able to enjoy more content or a less cramped space, but that could come at the cost of being bigger to hold in one hand, especially when folded as a phone. There’s also the matter of bezel size, which the Pixel Fold was notorious for. Either way, it won’t be the compact foldable that many people actually loved, so Google might lose some fans but gain others.

Unfortunately, the source didn’t confirm the other two big changes rumored for the Pixel Fold 2, particularly the aspect ratio and especially the camera design. The latter might prove to be the more controversial change for Google’s once-beautiful design, especially if the hardware upgrade doesn’t exactly warrant that change. The screens for the Pixel Fold 2 will reportedly go into production next month, so an announcement won’t be far away.

The post Google Pixel Fold 2 display might be even bigger, according to a leak first appeared on Yanko Design.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 renders reveal sharp design, rumors of Ultra model appear

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MWC 2024 has seen several foldable phones that have either already launched or are still yet to come, showing that this growing market is, in fact, still growing. But even with the number of new players or new models popping up regularly, there’s no denying that one brand stands at the top in terms of both market share as well as mind share. That’s the advantage of being one of the first and one of the most aggressive to market foldable phones, but it’s an advantage that won’t last long if Samsung chooses to rest on its laurels. Previous rumors about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 hint at a very mixed bag, and fresh 3D renders of Samsung’s next foldable seem to prove that it is indeed going after iterative refinement over sensational new features.

Designer: Samsung (via Smartprix and Steve Hemmerstoffer/@OnLeaks)

Depending on how you look at it, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s design pictured in these unofficial renders could either be sleek or boring. It admittedly shares much in common with its predecessor, save for one detail. The corners are now more angular, which gives it a sharper appearance, literally and figuratively. In a sense, it resembles the boxy Galaxy S24 Ultra now more than ever, putting it in the same category as that “pro” smartphone.

The more interesting details, however, aren’t exactly apparent in these renders. The illustrations were based on unofficial sources which claim that when unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will have a dimension of 153.5 x 132.5 x 6.1 mm. While that does “confirm” that the phone is shorter and wider, it also indicates that the thickness hasn’t changed at all. That, in turn, could raise hopes that there might still be some room for an S Pen inside after all.

Other than that, there aren’t many changes expected for the next big Samsung foldable, especially when it comes to the cameras. That said, there are now whispers of an “Ultra” model apparently in the works, one that could have those much-awaited features like a built-in S Pen and upgraded cameras. This goes in the completely opposite direction of earlier rumors of a more affordable Galaxy Z Fold model. Then again, Samsung could also opt to lower the price of a “base” Galaxy Z Fold 6 ever so slightly in order to position the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra better.

Regardless of how its actual design will come out, it will be an interesting and critical time for Samsung’s foldables. While it’s still popular, it is no longer the only game in town and its competitors are gaining ground quickly. Sooner or later, it will need to take bigger and bolder changes, especially ones that people have come to expect from one of the biggest smartphone makers in the world.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Design: What We Know So Far

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Foldable phones are one of the more curious members of the mobile tech market. They seem like an answer looking for a problem, though some consider them as something they never knew they needed until they laid hands on one. It’s not exactly a stable market either, but that’s stopping Samsung from pushing out new models every year. 2024 won’t be any different, but the Galaxy Z Fold 6 might be, at least in some ways. Unlike its early days, Samsung seems to be content to move more slowly this time, letting its designs simmer longer even while its hardware grows by leaps and bounds. That’s especially true for its next foldable based on unofficial information, but that also paints a very mixed picture that could leave Samsung playing catch up in the very market it created.

Designer: Samsung

Thin and Square

While foldable phones over great flexibility, they come at the cost of not only complexity and price but also ergonomics. These devices are practically two narrow smartphones joined together, so their combined thickness when folded is also twice that of regular smartphones. The most basic solution would be to make the device thinner, but like with regular smartphones, you’re bound to hit the limits of how thin you can go without compromising durability or safety.

Pushing those boundaries has been one of the biggest obsessions that foldable phone makers have, and it seems that Samsung is joining the fray this year. According to the latest leak, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be 11mm thick only when folded shut, a significant diet compared to the 13.4mm thickness of the current Galaxy Z Fold 5. That would make the unfolded form only about 5.5mm thick, which is crazy thin even by regular tablet standards. If true, that hopefully won’t come with compromises to the phone’s structural integrity and battery life.

The profile isn’t the only thing expected to change in the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The external Cover Screen is also tipped to be a bit wider this time around, more in line with the standard aspect ratios of non-foldable phones. In theory, this would make it less awkward to use it as a regular phone when folded, but that also means that the unfolded aspect ratio will be more square than any Galaxy Z Fold before it.

S Pen No Home

Making the Galaxy Z Fold 6 thinner is going to be a dream come true for some fans, but it will also probably disappoint a certain group because of the consequences of that change. If you make a phone thinner, you either have to shrink or reduce the size of other components, for example, the battery, or spread them around wider. Either way, it’s going to be a cramped space inside, which leaves no room for an S Pen silo yet again.

Although the Galaxy Z Fold series has supported Samsung’s Wacom-powered stylus since 2021, the S Pen never really had a proper home inside the device itself. Contrast this with the Galaxy S Ultra series that, inheriting the Galaxy Note spirit, came with an S Pen as part of the package. There might be debates on the ergonomics of such a thin stick, but owners at least had the option of not buying two extra accessories just for that writing and drawing experience.

Yes, two accessories, because you’re likely to buy a compatible case if you’ll be investing in an S Pen Fold Edition. There really is no other convenient alternative to making sure that you don’t lose the stylus in your pocket, bag, or anywhere else. Unfortunately, designs for these cases feel more like works in progress and it seems it will continue to be the case for another iteration.

Camera Shy

The biggest disappointment, however, might come from the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s cameras. The latest word is that the upcoming foldable will sport a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 10MP telephoto camera on its back. The external front camera will be a 10MP selfie shooter while the internal front-facing camera has a 4MP under-display sensor.

Those are very much the same cameras used in the Galaxy Z Fold 4 from 2022, and although we don’t know yet of any hardware or software tweaks that Samsung will make, they’re still disappointing to hear. This is one area where the brand is being left in its competitors’ dust and where the product doesn’t feel deserving of its premium price tag. Some might actually forgive Samsung for putting a large camera bump on the phone’s back compared to reusing the same cameras for the third year in a row.

Of course, all of these are still unofficial information, so we might be pleasantly surprised by a more noteworthy Galaxy Z Fold 6 in August. Given the trends, though, that doesn’t seem to be likely, as Samsung is taking a more iterative approach to design with its large foldables. Maybe it doesn’t feel the heat from its rivals that don’t have the same market reach as the tech giant, but it’s also very close to stagnating and killing off the very trend that it started.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Design: What We Know So Far first appeared on Yanko Design.

Google Pixel Fold 2 renders say goodbye to a distinctive design

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The foldable phone market is still very young, which means there’s plenty of room for design improvement across the board. We can expect manufacturers to experiment with different combinations that try to cram as much hardware as possible inside super-thin bodies. Change is inevitable but not every change will be welcomed with open arms. Some are bound to be controversial, especially when they involve removing something that people have grown fond of. That might be the case with Google’s second foldable phone, which will trade its somewhat iconic “visor” camera design for a rather unusual spin on the common camera bump that might prove to be quite unappealing if these unofficial renders are correct.

Designer: Google (via Smartprix, @OnLeaks)

Granted, the Google Pixel’s rear camera bar isn’t exactly loved by everyone, but it still gives the smartphones a distinctive appearance that can be considered Google’s signature design. That’s not exactly easy to pull off on a foldable phone like the Pixel Fold, so Google had to modify it to be less elegant but still shouted “Pixel” nonetheless. Whether you liked that design or not, it might not be sticking around on Google’s foldable for long, and maybe not even on its future smartphones.

Renders based on leaked information reveal the alleged Pixel Fold 2 design that is so different from the first-gen foldable. Gone is the horizontal bar, replaced by what almost looks like a more conventional rounded square in the corner. That illusion quickly breaks down, however, when you notice the two horizontal pill-shaped cutouts for the camera lenses. In addition to possibly being very thick, this could easily be one of the least attractive camera designs today.

The more subtle changes can be found in the sizes of the two screens. Not only are they larger, they also have different aspect ratios. The external Cover screen, for example, is a bit narrower and taller, resulting in an unfolded shape that is more square than the first Pixel Fold. The bezels around the internal display are also much thinner, which leaves no room for a camera. Apparently, this could also be Google’s first phone to use an under-display camera as well.

None of these details are guaranteed, of course, and Google might surprise us with a Pixel Fold 2 that looks almost exactly like the Pixel Fold 1, except more refined. It is definitely within Google’s right to change its designs as it sees fit, but there are also times when you’re just left scratching your head at the oddity of it all. Fortunately, the Pixel Fold is hardly the only foldable phone available, especially with OPPO confirming it’s still in the race.

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Foldable Phone Designs are about to get more interesting but also less diverse

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The number of foldable phones launching each year is slowly rising, suggesting that these former novelty items are here to stay. To manufacturers’ credit, the phones are getting more reliable and attractive, even if their prices are still prohibitive for most people. With more players in the market, it’s bound to become a somewhat livelier place, with brands putting their own spins or changing designs to match or challenge their rivals. It now seems, however, that the still niche foldable phone category is about to enter another tumultuous phase with new designs that could shake up the market and some companies throwing in the towel, leaving only a few designs to stick and stagnate.

Triple Folding Phones

The biggest and perhaps only reason for a foldable phone would be to provide a device that can be used as a regular phone when wanted but can transform into a tablet when you want more screen real estate. The current crop of foldable phones does meet those requirements, though almost barely. As tablets, they’re painfully tiny even compared to the already small iPad mini and some 7-inch slates. As phones, some designs make them awkward to use because of their narrow and tall external screens.

One possible solution would be to have a large screen that can fold in three parts, turning into a phone-sized slab, albeit probably a bit thicker than even today’s foldable phones. Samsung has, in fact, been working on such a design for years and it finally showed off a prototype two years ago. It turns out that it might even launch its first tri-fold phone slash tablet later this year.

Designer: Samsung

This timeline is reportedly due to one of Samsung’s biggest rivals trying to make a move first. Huawei, who is rebuilding its empire in some markets, is rumored to be launching a foldable phone that transforms into a 10-inch tablet. Just for the title of being the “world’s first,” Samsung could be taking a big risk and making a leap of faith to get that triple foldable phone out the door quickly, even if it means repeating the mistakes of the first Galaxy Fold.

Stylus Support Inside and Out

One of the biggest draws of foldable phones is, of course, their big screens. They’re not just perfect for showing more content, but they’re also great for actually creating content. With tablets now being seen as productivity and creativity tools thanks to the iPad Pro, these foldable phones are truly powerful laptops you can fit in your pocket, at least in theory. Ironically, very few of the brands actually support such a use case with the right accessories. Even Samsung forces you to buy the S Pen Fold Edition if you want to scribble and doodle on your foldable phone like a notebook.

The newly launched mouthful that is the Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design bucks the trend by actually including a stylus inside the box. Granted, the price of this limited edition would make you think it should include such an item, but you’re also paying for other luxuries at the same time. For example, you get two charging bricks instead of one. Some foldable phones other than Samsung don’t even advertise support for a stylus even if they’re capable of supporting one.

Designer: Honor

More interesting, however, is how the Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design actually supports that active stylus not only on the large internal screen but also on the smaller cover screen. That one-ups even Samsung who is famed for its stylus-enabled Galaxy Note phablets, now sold under the Galaxy S Ultra brand. Honor is showing that such a set of features is possible, and it could lead to a long-overdue trend in the foldable smartphone market, presuming there’s still one in the next few years.

Design Monoculture

One of the reasons why the foldable phone market seems to have stabilized a bit is because of the number of players now in the ring. Of course, you have Samsung and Huawei leading the charge, but now you also have Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, Tecno, OnePlus, and Honor in the running. Unfortunately, there are whispers that two of these are bowing out of the race, and their absence could actually have an indirect though significant negative impact on foldable phones as a whole.

Those rumors claim that both OPPO and vivo are calling it quits in the foldable market. The cited reason is not exactly surprising, with both brands suffering significant losses in foldable phone sales last year and they don’t believe they can throw in more resources to recover. It’s unknown at this point whether OnePlus will also be following its cousins, though there’s a real possibility that these manufacturers will pull out sooner rather than later.

Designer: OPPO

While that indeed sounds like a win for Samsung and Huawei (and Honor), it might not actually be good for the entire market in the long run. Competition often breeds innovation, with these brands pushing each other to develop new designs and features at every turn. With only two contenders, each with their own separate kingdoms, there might not be enough incentive to push the boundaries, leading to stagnation and eventual death of the market.

Designer: Vivo

Uncertain Tomorrow

Of course, there’s still no confirmation that OPPO and Vivo are indeed making an exit strategy, but it does paint a picture that isn’t as rosy as these brands try to paint. Even with the popularity of clamshell-style foldables and with new models coming out year after year, actual sales might actually reveal a very different and less encouraging situation. Given the way technology is developing, foldable and rollable displays will eventually be a staple of tomorrow’s devices, but that doesn’t mean the market won’t experience a few flops first along the way.

The post Foldable Phone Designs are about to get more interesting but also less diverse first appeared on Yanko Design.

Google Pixel Fold prototype shows it could have been a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

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Although there were plenty of rumors and high expectations, it was still a bit of a miracle that Google came out with a foldable phone. After all, it didn’t exactly hold tablets in high regard, so a phone that transforms into one would have probably been even less within Google’s radars. Of course, that’s now history with the launch of the Pixel Fold, Google’s first and so far only foldable, which turned out to be quite popular, especially with its design. It turns out, there was a slim possibility that the Pixel Fold could have turned out very differently and looked more like Samsung’s design, at least based on a prototype that is now running over the Internet.

Designer: Google (via Mishaal Rahman)

Phone manufacturers go through numerous prototypes before settling on a final design, especially when the device is rather new or unconventional. That’s true for seasoned brands like Samsung, and even truer for the likes of Google, and a device codenamed “jumbojack” was spotted nearly four years ago as Google’s foldable prototype. Now that name has become a real device, at least based on what is allegedly that very same prototype device which happens to be a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2.

This “jumbojack” foldable doesn’t look like a custom prototype made by Google but an actual Galaxy Z Fold 2 that has been repurposed to run “stock” Android stripped of Samsung’s branding. It’s pretty much a quick and easy way for Google to test its Pixel user experience on a foldable without having to go through the trouble of assembling a prototype. That said, the final flavor of Pixel is quite different since it was designed to work on a foldable with a distinctly different form factor.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

The prototype does raise the question of whether Google actually considered following in Samsung’s footsteps to adopt a design that was already in use for a few years by that time. That meant that it would have used a design that resulted in a narrower external display, a squarish unfolded shape, and possibly a gap at the hinge when folded. Perhaps it was for the best that it went the other way and used a design more similar to the OPPO Find N, which was wider, a little smaller, and also a bit more comfortable to hold.

Then again, the “jumbojack” prototype might have simply been used to test the software without committing to the device’s design. Unfortunately, there are now rumors that Google might actually be heading towards Samsung’s direction for the Pixel Fold 2, along with a camera design that’s sure to cause some controversy. If anything, this alleged prototype only proves that there is still plenty of room for improvement in the foldable phone design space, but recent rumors are already painting a rather bleak future in that regard.

The post Google Pixel Fold prototype shows it could have been a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Wider, more ergonomic Samsung foldable phone might be in the works

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Samsung might be one of the pioneers of the whole foldable phone craze, but the disadvantage of being the first is that you risk getting things wrong the first time around. In contrast, hindsight is 20/20, as they say, and many of its competitors have used that advantage to catch up and even overtake Samsung at its own game. Of course, the tech giant isn’t content to just sit around while others outrun it, and it has been catching up with “innovations” like a hinge that lets the phone fold flat. Now it seems that Samsung will be catching up in another aspect, with a Galaxy Z Fold that’s a little bit wider when folded and, therefore, easier to use as a regular phone.

Designer: Samsung (via Pigtou and David Kowalski/xleaks7)

To be fair, Samsung was sailing on uncharted waters, so it was bound to miss a few marks. For its inaugural foldable phone, Samsung aimed for a tablet that was like a mini iPad mini or, closer to home, a smaller Galaxy Tab A, which meant it adopted a vertical or portrait format when unfolded. That meant it would have an extremely narrow phone when folded, which was heavily criticized for being awkward to hold and nearly unusable as a regular “candy bar” smartphone.

In contrast, foldable phones like the OPPO Find N and the Google Pixel Fold aimed for a more “traditional” horizontal or landscape tablet design, which had a few direct benefits in terms of consuming content like videos or even books. More importantly, however, it also meant that the folded form of the phone more closely resembles regular smartphones with a wider and sometimes shorter design. In over five generations, Samsung has never changed its design on that front, but that might not be the case with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or later models.

OPPO Find N3

OPPO Find N2

Vivo X Fold 2

Google Pixel Fold

A recent patent filed by Samsung reveals a foldable design that is significantly different from its status quo in more ways than one. First, it is noticeably wider when folded, giving it a shape that will feel more natural to use compared to the recent crop of Galaxy Z Fold models. Additionally, it’s also significantly thinner, both folded and opened, which would go a long way in increasing the usability of an otherwise heavy and bulky device. In other words, it would be the foldable that Samsung should have launched in the first place if it had the benefit of hindsight five years ago.

Of course, a patent doesn’t immediately mean it will be implemented, whether in the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or future incarnations. It is at least proof that Samsung is aware of the shortcomings of its current design and is taking steps to correct its course. It would definitely be grand if it could launch such a sleek foldable this year, but such a thin design would also go against calls for bigger batteries or a built-in S Pen. For now, other brands still have an advantage over Samsung in some aspects, including and especially the price of such a premium piece of technology.

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