Xiaomi: this smartphone folds in three, the war of manufacturers is launched
Xiaomi Redmi 13
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While the world has yet to embrace foldable smartphones, a new generation is emerging. Xiaomi is one of the forerunners as shown by this patent unveiled by the China National Intellectual Property Administration.
Patent shows Xiaomi's foldable smartphone
The patent, filed in December 2022, features a more practical design than Xiaomi's previous concepts. This foldable smartphone is inspired by the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate with a single screen capable of fully unfolding or folding back to expose only a third of its surface.
The camera module looks more compact than the one on the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate, although this patent doesn't mean the smartphone will have this design. The thickness constraints of tri-fold devices often require larger sensors.
Rumors suggest that this smartphone could be presented at MWC 2025. It is also rumored that it would be one of the models in Xiaomi's Mix range.
Other manufacturers in the race
While Huawei has cut the grass under the competition's feet, several manufacturers are exploring this format at their own pace. Samsung notably presented the concept of Flex G in 2022, a model that folds twice inwards. As early as 2020, Samsung Display already mentioned its interest in this design.
Other manufacturers like TCL, Microsoft, Oppo and Tecno have also presented concepts or filed patents for devices that fold in half. However, launching such smartphones represents a big technical challenge in terms of durability and ergonomics. But in return, this format offers great possibilities in terms of user experience and versatility. Even Apple has been thinking about it for a while to launch a foldable iPhone.
