The future of phone design: flexible screens that roll up

The biggest obstacle to the widespread adoption of phones with these new models is their high price. Samsung’s first foldable phone launched in 2019 for $ 1980. Last year’s Z Flip cost $ 1,380 and Microsoft’s Surface Duo sells for $ 1,400. However, those technologies will start to become a little more accessible this year, according to industry analyst Patrick Moorhead, founder and president of Moor Insights & Strategy.

“There is a price problem. I see it going down this year, ”says Moorhead. “If penetration prices could be applied to reach the entry level at $ 1,000, it would start to generate considerable volume.” Moorhead also expects to see more of these foldable models at Mobile World Congress in June. (The MWC usually takes place in late February in Barcelona, ​​but the show has been postponed to June due to the Covid-19 pandemic.)

Another obstacle is reliability. Most high-end single-screen phones these days have durable glass protecting the screen, as well as an IP68 water resistance rating that protects it from accidental submersion in water. Still, the Galaxy Fold 2019 came to a halt after specks of dust crept inside the foldable phone’s hinge, resulting in a delayed launch and forcing Samsung to change the hinge mechanism. It was an embarrassing stumble, but things have come a long way in a year.

“When Lenovo launched Yoga, it took years for the industry to improve in areas like hinges,” says Moorhead. “We’ve even seen year-to-year changes with Samsung when the second version of the Fold used a brush mechanism, while the previous version used a traditional hinge. That might not seem like a big deal, but in the world of mechanical construction is huge. “

This brush mechanism cleaned the inside of the hinge whenever the phone was opened or closed, and it helped prevent debris from sneaking into the internal components of the Fold 2. Moorhead expects foldable phones to slip away. this year feature the same levels of durability that we expect from rectangular tile designs. Streit echoed Moorhead’s sentiments and pointed out that mechanical engineering is playing an increasing role in the design of smartphones. “This industry hasn’t needed a lot of moving parts over the past 10 years,” he says. “The roll up must be a very good mechanical experience that keeps dirt out.”

TCL has announced plans to launch a foldable or rollable phone in 2021, and LG has confirmed to Nikkei that the LG Rollable will go on sale this year. None of this is to say that the traditional one-screen phone experience is going to be gone anytime soon. After all, Streit notes that people still buy flip phones today. He also says these new display technologies are “a long-term strategy” for TCL.

Let the good times roll

It is to be expected that the first wave of devices with these new rolling screens won’t try to incorporate too many new features. Otherwise, phone makers run the risk of overwhelming consumers accustomed to traditional smartphone designs.