Google, Oppo and Xiaomi are said to be developing their foldable smartphones, according to a leak from The Elec site which specifies that the three manufacturers are working with Samsung Display for the screen part.
A foldable Google Pixel?
Samsung timidly launched the folding smartphone market in 2019 with its Galaxy Fold. Although this was a notable feat (accompanied by a hitch on reliability), sales were kept under wraps. Early models of new technology are generally considered beta products, in addition to being very high in price. Huawei, which had quickly proposed an alternative, found itself in the same situation.
The two manufacturers offered the first improvement this year with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Huawei Mate X2, but prices have not fallen. The democratization of this new telephone format will obviously involve a wider distribution with more accessible prices. For this, other brands need to get started. And that is precisely what Samsung Display is on the way to achieving.
While the Korean is working with Apple on a potential iPhone Fold, The Elec site reports today that Samsung is in contact with Oppo, Xiaomi and Google in order to provide them with flexible OLED panels. The three manufacturers would have gone on different designs.
Oppo would have chosen a vertically folding model, such as the Galaxy Z Flip with a 7.7-inch panel when unfolded.
Xiaomi ultimately preferred an inward folding model, unlike the prototype he showed almost two years ago. We suspect that in everyday life, it is easier to protect the slab with this design. The screen would be 8 inches when unfolded.
But ultimately, the surprise would come from Google. Indeed, no rumor so far lent such a project to the Internet search giant. For its future and hypothetical Pixel Fold, the American manufacturer would have set its sights on a 7.6-inch OLED panel. Google has even reportedly placed an order with Samsung Display, but no further details were disclosed. Too bad, especially since on the side of Apple, the iPhone Fold is also in full development with several patents filed in recent months.