Maybe it’s finally time for foldable phones

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 will be 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. i Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 in August 2021.

Sales of foldable phones are growing, but they are still not 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 were shipped in the full 2021, compared to 362.4 million phones shipped in just the fourth quarter of last year.

Here’s a look at the 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 reportedly due 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 discounted price.

Samsung typically unveils its new foldable phones in August, so we expect to hear more in the coming months. Check out 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, leaks of information 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 the 91mobiles site who claims to have received a full list of Z Flip 4 specifications. Such an upgrade would make it easier to check the 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 could see in Z Flip 4.

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New Samsung folding

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

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

Motorola Razr 2022

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 camera in the form of a pill 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 Razr due to its sophisticated design and improved battery life. But a 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. We hope Motorola has solved these problems 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 foldable 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 that is 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 plans to release the foldable phone. We also didn’t see any indication of a 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 does have 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 delayed the launch.

TCL folding phone

TCL has given up on release plans folding switch phone phone in 2021, but is not giving up yet. The Chinese electronics manufacturer introduced two new concepts earlier this year for phones with folding and bending screens. One concept has a screen that can be folded inward and outward, 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 challenging, 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 released a foldable phone, and it’s unclear if it will ever and 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 it’s another two to three years until the foldable iPhone. 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 collapsible model 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.