The concept of foldable phone has been around for quite some time now. Phone manufacturers including Samsung, Huawei, ZTE, and Lenovo have talked about launching a foldable phone. Google has now confirmed at the Android Developer Summit that Android will be supporting this category of foldable smartphones. In the picture above, you can see the world's first foldable phone, the Royole FlexPai which is already available to purchase. This phone debuted in Beijing last month and features a 7.8 inch AMOLED flexible screen.
Samsung Electronics is another company which is betting big on the concept of foldable phones. The company has even invited Android developers to start writing apps for these phones. Apple has stayed away from talking about this futuristic concept of foldable phones.
Dave Burke, the VP of Engineering at Android said, “You can think of the device as both a phone and a tablet. Broadly, there are two variants – two-screen devices and one-screen devices. When folded, it looks like phone, fitting in your pocket or purse.The defining feature of this form is something we call screen continuity.”
Samsung has confirmed that the next generation Galaxy X will a foldable phone with the largest screen-to-body ratio in the market. According to Samsung, the foldable phone is an all-new concept in terms of design and user experience, which needs a different approach. Samsung is a frontrunner in bringing foldable phones in its portfolio.
The concept prototype by Samsung measures 18.5 cm diagonally. When it is folded, it looks like a thick phone. Google is expecting several manufactures to come out with their flagship foldable smartphones by early next year. However, they might be priced higher for most shoppers because of the designing challenges and efforts involved.
The concept of foldable phones powered by Android will add a new dimension to how we interact with phones. If you are using an app in folded mode, and switch to unfolded, Android will automatically make the transition seamless.
Manufacturers will have to be careful with the final design of the foldable phones and ensure that they don’t impact the user experience. Even though bendable phones provide a wow factor, mobile users can be put off by the thickness of the phone and its price tag. Companies are opening up these devices to developers early so that they can experiment with innovative user experiences on foldable phones.