The most interesting foldables, rollables and demos at MWC 2023
Smartphone manufacturers have been experimenting with flexible screens for many years now. Some of the earliest examples date back to 2012, when both Samsung and LG announced devices with “rolling” displays. However, these concepts never made it to market.
With the announcement of the Royole FlexPai at CES 2019, it seemed that the age of the foldable phone was finally upon us. But, despite all the hype, the FlexPai was a commercial flop.
The FlexPai wasn’t the only foldable phone to be announced last year. At MWC 2019, Huawei unveiled the Mate X, while at IFA, Samsung took the wraps off its highly anticipated Galaxy Fold.
Both the Mate X and Galaxy Fold were scheduled to launch in late 2019, but both were delayed due to issues with the display. The Mate X finally launched in China in November, while the Galaxy Fold is still yet to go on sale.
At MWC 2020, Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Flip, its second attempt at a foldable phone. The Z Flip uses a “clamshell” design, which is very different from the Galaxy Fold.
While the Galaxy Z Flip is currently the only foldable phone on the market, it’s not the only flexible device. In 2019, LG unveiled the LG Signature OLED TV R, which features a 65-inch OLED display that can be rolled up like a poster.
At CES 2020, Chinese company TCL showcased its own rollable TV concept. The TCL prototype features a 65-inch display that can be rolled up and stored in a box.
While foldable and rollable phones are still in their infancy, it’s clear that they are the future of mobile devices. With that in mind, here are the most interesting foldables, rollables and demos at MWC 2020.
1. The Royole Flexpai 2
Royole was one of the first companies to unveil a foldable phone, and the Flexpai 2 is its latest attempt. The Flexpai 2 is a sequel to the original Flexpai, which was launched in 2019.
The Flexpai 2 features a 7.8-inch display that can be folded in half. When folded, the Flexpai 2 resembles a traditional phone. When unfolded, the Flexpai 2 can be used as a tablet.
The Flexpai 2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, and it comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Flexpai 2 also has five cameras, including a main sensor, an ultra-wide angle sensor, and a telephoto sensor.
2. The TCL Rollable Phone
TCL’s rollable phone concept is one of the most intriguing devices on this list. The TCL concept features a 6.75-inch display that can be rolled up and stored in a compact case.
When stored, the TCL concept looks like a traditional phone. However, when you take it out of the case and roll it out, the TCL concept becomes a tablet.
The TCL concept is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, and it comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The TCL concept also has four cameras, including a main sensor, an ultra-wide angle sensor, and a depth sensor.
3. The Xiaomi Mi MIX Alpha
The Xiaomi Mi MIX Alpha is one of the most interesting foldable phones on this list. The Mi MIX Alpha has a wraparound display that covers the entire phone.
When folded, the Mi MIX Alpha resembles a traditional phone. However, when unfolded, the Mi MIX Alpha becomes a tablet.
The Mi MIX Alpha is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, and it comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The Mi MIX Alpha also has five cameras, including a main sensor, an ultra-wide angle sensor, and a telephoto sensor.
4. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is the only foldable phone on the market. The Galaxy Z Flip features a “clamshell” design, which means that it can be folded in half.
When folded, the Galaxy Z Flip resembles a traditional phone. However, when unfolded, the Galaxy Z Flip becomes a tablet.
The Galaxy Z Flip is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, and it comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Galaxy Z Flip also has two cameras, a main sensor, and a depth sensor.
5. The LG Rollable TV
The LG Rollable TV is one of the most interesting rollable devices on this list. The LG TV features a 65-inch OLED
