Method again in 2019, Xiaomi patented a tri-fold design, however figuring out what we all know now, that sort of funky design won’t ever work in the true world. There was one other patent that confirmed a extra smart design, however it wanted segments to bend each methods, which can be tough. A month in the past, we heard rumors that Xiaomi will showcase a tri-folding telephone (or no less than a prototype of 1) at MWC in February 2025. And now a patent revealed by the China Nationwide Mental Property Administration has been revealed that exhibits what this system may seem like.
The patent was issued again in December of 2022 and has been saved underneath wraps since then. In contrast to that earlier design, this one is way more smart and follows the identical primary plan because the Huawei Mate XT Final – there is just one display screen that may unfold to be absolutely accessible or fold so that you simply solely see one third of it.
The digicam island is way smaller than what the Mate XT has, however that simply may be wishful pondering within the patent. The person segments on a tri-foldable must be fairly skinny to maintain the folded thickness cheap, which pushes the digicam modules out right into a chunky island.
Xiaomi’s patent for a tri-fold telephone
Anyway, primarily based on the rumor from August, this tri-foldable can be a part of the Xiaomi Combine sequence. It’s not clear whether or not this would be the new Combine Fold or a separate sequence, nonetheless.
Huawei acquired there first, however a number of firms are engaged on tri-fold designs. Xiaomi, after all, but additionally Samsung. Again in 2022, Samsung demoed the Flex G idea, which folds twice inwards (sort of forming a G form). Going again even additional to 2020, Samsung Show’s weblog shared some ideas on tri-folding (and rollable) designs. Keep in mind, this was solely a yr after the unique Galaxy Fold launched.
Additionally in 2020 we went hands-on with a TCL tri-fold show idea. The yr after, a Microsoft patent confirmed a tri-fold Floor telephone (although we’re fairly positive the Floor line is useless at this level). There are extra contenders – this yr we’ve seen tri-fold ideas from Oppo and Tecno. Let’s simply say that 2025 may see a Cambrian explosion of tri-foldables.
Supply (in Chinese language)