OnePlus could be working on a folding phone — this time for real

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OnePlus could be working on a folding telephone — this time for existent

(Prototype credit: Permit's Go Digital)

Before this twelvemonth, OnePlus looked similar information technology was going to steal the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3's thunder with a foldable of its own… only for it to be an elaborate prank promoting a 50% disbelieve.

While that experience may make those hankering over a OnePlus branded foldable a bit more skeptical in futurity, it does announced that the Chinese company is testing the waters in that space.

LetsGoDigital has uncovered a patent for a OnePlus foldable that would exist quite singled-out from the current options on the market, with a double-hinged, tri-fold blueprint that can be propped up as a triangle, or unfolded in total to exist a long, alpine tablet.

At a glance, this blueprint may look a flake similar the 'Z' fold-shaped triple fold design Samsung is rumored to be working on. But it'due south actually more of a 'Chiliad' with two thirds of the foldable display staying on the outside, and one acting every bit the cover when it'south in its phone shape. The telephone volition apparently use a magnetic slider system to lock itself in identify and prevent it from folding back on itself when in use.

(Paradigm credit: Let's Get Digital)

According to the site, that means that the phone will be a bit thicker than electric current smartphones, but all the same thinner than a 'Z' shaped device. The 2 hinges the device uses are different sizes though, which — along with the thicker primary brandish role — could cause the device to wobble when laid apartment in its unfolded state.

Are ii folds amend than ane? We'd need to play with a prototype to really know for certain, but the use cases described by LetsGoDigital experience a little flimsy at this bespeak. Aye, beingness able to switch between a double and triple-size screen may be useful in some circumstances. Merely the patent also describes how the phone could be used by 2 people at one time, with one side showing YouTube and some other with a messaging application. To us, that sounds similar a utilise case that few people, if anyone at all, has ever wished for.

Is that worth calculation an actress mechanical hinge for, considering it was the reliability of the hinge organisation that gave Samsung so much trouble with the original Milky way Fold? We'll have to wait and run across.

But it's worth remembering that plenty of patents never find their style from theoretical idea to commercially available product, and there's a good hazard that will apply to this as well. Even if OnePlus does treat us to a foldable in fourth dimension, information technology may well finish up looking very different to this.

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing near tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine as well. When not weighing upwards the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, y'all'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth fourth dimension.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/oneplus-could-be-working-on-a-folding-phone-this-time-for-real

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