TCL’s foldable phone concept bends in half like a stack of cash

Image: raymond wong/mashable

Huawei’s foldable Mate X is without a doubt the best gadget announced at Mobile World Congress 2019 and it’s easy to understand why.

But while every tech company is now rushing to release their own foldable device this year to compete with the Mate X and Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, TCL, which you may know for its excellent TVs sold at bargain prices, is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Rather than spring a half-baked foldable device on consumers, the company’s spending more time exploring new form factors a flexible display could enable, like a phone that bends in half like a stack of cash.

As I’ve argued many times, there are many things foldable devices need to overcome in order for anyone to even begin to take them seriously.

First, there’s the hinge. How do you make a hinge that looks good and doesn’t fail after repeated folding and unfolding? Similar to screen technologies, every company is developing its own proprietary hinge.

Second, there’s the crease. Almost all foldable phones I’ve seen have a visible crease running down the display where it’s folded. The crease is ugly and distracting. It’s a visual reminder that the device you’re holding in your hands is essentially a first-gen product that’s not quite perfected yet.

And third, there’s the design. Does a device unfold to reveal a larger screen on the inside like the Galaxy Fold? Or does it unfold to reveal a larger display on the outside like the Mate X?

With so many unknowns, it’s clear as day foldable phones are an ongoing work-in-progress and will be for the near future.

Image: Raymond wong/mashable

These challenges are precisely why TCL’s waiting before it releases its own foldable device(s). What if Samsung and Huawei are completely wrong with their approaches and foldable devices end up becoming a fad much quicker because they were rushed out before they were ready?

At Mobile World Congress, TCL previewed several foldable devices it’s exploring, but was quick to remind people they’re all concepts and prototypes.

One of the prototype devices uses the company’s proprietary “DragonHinge” mechanism to fold and unfold the screen. The device was less of a phone and more like a small paperback that folded open into a tablet.

Image: raymond wong/mashable

The device had a 7.2-inch AMOLED screen with 2,048 x 1,536 resolution, and while cool-looking (like all foldable devices at MWC), I could see the screen had issues with maintaining a consistent picture, especially at the crease. The outside of the screen used LEDs to display the time.

Image: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE

Another concept device on display was a phone with the DragonHinge and folded in half like you would do with a stack of cash. Though not functional, the foldable phone gives us an idea of what it would be like to use a foldable display to make phones more compact.

Image: Raymond wong/mashable

I’m not sure how well this would fit in your pocket, but it’s still interesting nonetheless.

Image: raymond wong/mashable

If TCL ever launches a device like this, it’d capture attention for sure.

Image: raymond wong/mashable

Huawei and Samsung are trying to convince people they’ve figured foldable phones out. But that’s not true at all. There’s still a ways to go before anyone nails the form factor. And by the looks of it, we’re nowhere close to even seeing what flexible and foldable screens will enable.

Image: raymond wong/mashable

Just look at all the concepts TCL’s exploring. The battle for foldable phone supremacy is only beginning.