Analysis on the Development of Folding Mobile Phone in the Future

Tiled ZTE axon M

For users like me who are full of feelings for old devices, when I first met ZTE axon m, I couldn't help feeling: the large flip design is really cow X! The folding design can not only obtain a greater field of vision, but also inherit the portability of the flip phone. Even if the screen proportion of full screen mobile phones is large, it is difficult to compare with the two in one screen of folding mobile phones. At the same time, the portability after folding is unmatched by large-size full screen mobile phones.

ZTE axon m four modes

Of course, even if the most excellent design does not have the support of rich functionality, it is difficult to escape the scope of gimmicks. ZTE axon m provides four display modes for folding form:

Dual screen mode

Dual screen mode: independent display on two screens and independent operation. Similar to the split screen function we use now.

Extended mode: two screens are combined into one screen display, so as to obtain a larger field of vision.

Chess match in mirror mode

Mirror mode: two screens display the same content, which is suitable for multi person operation.

Single screen mode: the phone folds up and only the home screen works. Convenient one hand operation, more portable.

From these modes, the folding design of ZTE axon m covers almost all the usages of dual screen. But obviously, double screen folding will not stop here.

Samsung folding screen mobile phone

Samsung folding mobile phone

It has long been rumored that Samsung will launch a folding mobile phone. The biggest difference between this phone and ZTE axon m is that the folded screen is integrated. Moreover, according to the information currently exposed, a screen is added on the inner side of the folding screen and outside the folding screen for routine operation. In other words, we will see a more technical folding mobile phone.

Lenovo folio

In fact, as early as 2016, Lenovo demonstrated folio, a foldable mobile phone with a foldable screen, at the techworld conference. The device can have a 7.8-inch 1920 * 1440 resolution screen in tablet mode, and the screen size is 5.5 inches in folded state. But so far, it has not been listed. The reason may be that the collapsible screen needs to be supplied by a third party, and the supplier is estimated to be Samsung.

Lenovo folio with plastic OLED

At present, there are still many technical challenges in screen folding. Although OLED screens can achieve flexible bending, the demand for cover glass needs to be replaced by flexible materials. The folio mentioned just now is the plastic OLED. While replacing glass, it also brings problems: will the flexible protective layer and display fall off due to multiple folds? What is the scratch resistance of the flexible protective layer, and can it fully protect the display layer? Whether the mass production of flexible protective layer has qualified yield and low price?

Samsung folding mobile phone

But it is certain that once this screen foldable mobile phone is mass produced, mobile electronic devices will obviously enter a new era. When the folding screen technology is mature, the large and clumsy electronic display devices are likely to be replaced, and our living space will be further released.

Samsung folding mobile phone after unfolding and folding

Of course, it's a little far away, but the folding phone with foldable screen can really bring a more complete visual experience. This means that the tablet has completed its historical mission.

The more use of this folding mobile phone depends on the folding angle of the screen.

Folding screen function

When it comes to the functions of folding mobile phones, ZTE axon m has actually given us a set of excellent schemes - through the mutual cooperation of two screens, we can realize the functions that are difficult to achieve on one screen. Of course, for future folding screen phones, these functions are not all.

1. Handheld simulation

Nintendo new 3DS

A friend told me that the folding design of ZTE axon m is somewhat like a 3DS handheld, and it would be good if the mobile phone could replace the handheld in the future. Theoretically, the folding design of ZTE axon M can indeed be simulated into a handheld mode. One screen is used for screen display and the other screen is used for auxiliary display and operation. Without peripheral accessories, this may be the best solution without affecting the game screen.

2. Portable double game console

The folding phone can provide two views

Just now I talked about the folding angle of the foldable mobile phone. If the rotation angle of about 270 degrees can be realized, the mobile phone with foldable screen will provide mirrored game images for two players at the same time as ZTE axon M. In the future, after the folding mobile phone has stronger performance and power, it can realize the split screen experience of two person games with the handle peripherals.

3. Mild office tendency

Simulated notebook for light office

4. Simulation reading

Of course, the game is only one of the extensions. Applications with interactive operation interface and display interface can be separated through dual screens to provide display interface and operation interface respectively. When the folded screen is large enough, it can even simulate a laptop. In other words, folding mobile phones will be able to meet a certain degree of office needs.

Simulated books bring better reading experience

In addition, because the folding mobile phone is more similar to real books, it can simulate a more real reading effect. Moreover, smart phones also allow e-books to develop in a diversified direction, such as inserting animations and videos into books to make reading more intuitive. At the same time, it also provides ideas for the paper newspaper simulation of web page layout.

In fact, folding is not the only solution

After talking about the benefits of folding the screen, are you excited? Here, I would also like to say wait. Don't worry, because the folding mobile phone hasn't really been on the market, and the actual experience has to wait until the real phone is in hand. In addition, there is still a prominent contradiction between the extended function and portability of folding mobile phones. For the best experience, folding phones need to evolve further. Interestingly, the future mobile phone form is not just folding.

Cylindrical scroll mobile phone

Not long ago, Samsung applied for a patent. In addition to the foldable design, there is also a scroll design. This design also includes two schemes, one is the cylindrical scroll design, and the other is the rounded quadrangular design. The screen can be retracted on the axis and expanded when necessary. More interestingly, the rounded quadrangular design also includes fingerprint identification function. It's really a brain hole.

Rounded quadrangular scroll mobile phone

In my opinion, this scroll design is less likely to be applied to mobile phones. After all, expanding the screen is a matter that affects the operation efficiency. But it's great to be bigger as office and entertainment equipment. If the performance is sufficient, it's possible to replace the notebook.

Flexible mobile phone

Flexible mobile phone is also a good concept, because this design can greatly solve the portability problem of smart phone. For example, users can tie the mobile phone to their arms. Of course, the problem is that the internal components are difficult to achieve flexible bending. Here we also want to talk about Lenovo.

Flexible mobile phone and folding mobile phone display

At the same techworld conference in 2016, in addition to the foldable mobile phone, there is also a practical flexible mobile phone. Lenovo places multiple foldable hinges on the mobile phone through a certain material and new design, and places the components that cannot be folded on the parts that do not need to be folded, so as to realize the flexible bending of the mobile phone. This phone is also not available, but it proves the existence of flexible mobile phone design.

Folding or flexible phones seem a little far away now. Can they really come? I can give you a positive answer.

When our parents were using the big BB, they didn't expect that there would be mobile phones that could listen to songs and read novels on the Internet in the future; When our brothers and sisters are using Motorola and Nokia, they will not think that one day these mobile phone giants will not go back to the past, nor will they think of today's smart phones and full screen; In the same way, although folding mobile phones now seem far away, maybe our children will use them. Always believe in technology. It never stops moving forward.