Foldable phones have a moment

Foldable phones hit the headlines in 2019, when companies love it Samsung, Huawei i Motorola introduced their first flexible devices. If the rumors and reports are true, 2022 is shaping up as another banner of the year for foldable phones, and Samsung, Motorola and Google are expected to unveil new flexible designs.

Samsung’s foldable phones, which are being talked about, could even arrive in the coming months if the company follows its previous pattern. For example, Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Flip 5G in the summer of 2020 and Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 in August 2021.

Sales of foldable phones are growing, but they are still not nearly as ubiquitous as standard phones. Deliveries of foldable smartphones increased by 264.3% in 2021 compared to 2020 according to The International Data Corporation. But IDC estimates that only 7.1 million folding phones shipped in 2021, compared to 362.4 million phones shipped in the fourth quarter of last year alone.

Here’s a look at rumors of Samsung, Motorola and other folding phones that are said to be under construction.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Samsung’s phone-tablet hybrid is expected to be upgraded this year. Based on leaks and rumors that have surfaced so far, it looks like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will be a moderately improved version of the current By switching 3. It could have a sleeker design, thanks to thinner hinges towards the fertile girl Ice Universeas well as improved camera on a par with that of Galaxy S22. Qualcomm’s recently announced Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 will reportedly power the device, a source claims.

But what I really hope to see for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the cheaper price. The current version costs $ 1,800 without a replacement, making it one of the most expensive phones in the world. But display analyst Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, speculates Samsung’s new generation of folding devices will get a reduced price.

Samsung is usually introducing its new foldable phones in August, so we expect to hear more in the coming months. See our full story for more details on what to expect Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

Samsung is also expected to launch a new version of its clamshell shell, Galaxy Z Flip style flip phone this year. Similar to the rumors about Z Fold 4, information leaks about Z Flip 4 indicate that this will be a refresh of the current model, not a dramatic change.

The Z Flip 4 is expected to get a bigger cover according to Youngdisplay analyst, and Yogesh Brara writer for 91mobiles who claims to have received a full list of Z Flip 4 specifications. Such an upgrade would make it easier to check time and notifications at a glance without opening the phone.

We won’t know for sure until Samsung announces a new version of the Z Flip, which is likely to happen in August. Check out our full story to learn more about what we might see in Z Flip 4.

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New Samsung folding

But perhaps even more exciting is the idea that Samsung could introduce a whole new type of folding phone this year. In a tweet that seems to have been deleted, Ice Universe said earlier that Samsung could debut with the third type of folding devices this year. Young also answered to say that the Samsung slider phone was scheduled for production in 2022, but that it was thrown out further.

If Samsung is planning to launch a foldable device in a new style, there are certainly many ideas to choose from. Korean technology giant has introduced itself several new concepts at CES 2022 in January, including phones with a three-way slider screen and a slider. Samsung has given no indication that it plans to launch a new type of foldable device soon, but we expect its next big Unpacked event to take place in August.

2022 Motorola Razr

Motorola may be preparing its cult Razr for another comeback. The company reportedly works on a a new version of its foldable Razr flip phone which could have a cheaper price, a new dual pill camera and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, according to leaks from well-known leaks Steve Hemmerstoffer (via CompareDial) and Evan Blass (published on 91Mobiles).

In the end we liked it 2020 Class due to its sophisticated design and improved battery life. But CNET reviewer Patrick Holland pointed to the then $ 1,400 price of the phone and other shortcomings, such as poor camera performance in low light, prevented it from being as good as it could have been. Hopefully, Motorola has resolved these concerns if the third-generation Razr turns out to be real.

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Google Pixel Fold (or Pixel Notepad)

Google could be the next big technology company to jump on the folding phone. The company is reportedly working on a collapsible Pixel that could have a similar shape as the Oppo’s Find N and a price lower than the Galaxy Z Fold 3, according to 9to5Google. The output also says the phone could be called the Pixel NotePad, but warns that its camera could be a step further than the Pixel 6.

Google has not yet said a word about any plans to release a foldable phone. We also didn’t see any clues about the collapsible Pixel at Google I / O, the company’s annual developer conference where it sometimes shows off new technology concepts. But given Google’s recent focus on hardware – it has highlighted I / O announces six new gadgets – It would not be surprising to see a company experimenting with folding devices.

If Google has a folding phone under construction, it is unclear when it will be launched. The Korean news site The Elec said that Google had previously planned to release the device in the fourth quarter of 2022, but the company reportedly postponed the launch.

TCL folding phone

TCL has given up on release plans folding flip phone phone in 2021, but is not giving up yet. A Chinese electronics manufacturer has introduced two new concepts earlier this year for phones with retractable and foldable screens. One concept has a screen that can be folded inwards and outwards, while another can bend and expand the size of the screen.

TCL did not say when it plans to roll out the folding phone. But if and when it does, the company plans to keep the price at $ 700 or less, TCL told CNET earlier. Reaching that price will be a challenge, but hopefully it will motivate other phone manufacturers to make their foldable folding devices similarly affordable.

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Foldable iPhone

Apple is one of the few major smartphone manufacturers that hasn’t rolled out a foldable phone, and it’s unclear if it ever will. But rumors of a flexible-screen iPhone have been circulating for years, prompting speculation. If Apple is working on a foldable iPhone, it probably won’t release the device for a few more years. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote in his Power On newsletter in 2021 that the folding iPhone is two to three years away. Screen supply chain analyst Young also said in February that Apple’s foldable iPhone would be delayed until 2025, according to 9to5Mac.

Waiting a few years for the launch of your first folding device may not be a bad idea. Foldable phones are expected to occupy 1.8% of the total smartphone market by 2025, a jump from 0.5% in 2021, according to IDC. The market research company also says folding is expected to take over one-third of the premium market for Android phones.