When Samsung expanded its latest foldable smartphone portfolio in August this year, oneplus Has shared the teaser of its ‘foldable’ device. Although the teaser left much to be answered, a new patent filed by OnePlus reveals what the company could be working on in the foldable space. According to a report by LetsGoDigital, the company has filed a patent for a tri-fold smartphone in China.
The patent document is titled Mobile Terminal and it shows a smartphone with three foldable display parts. The document also revealed that it was invented by Gao Yang. As per the patent, the display on the smartphone will be supported by a double hinge that will allow the device to be folded in multiple ways. As of now, Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei are at the forefront of foldable display technology, but this design patent from OnePlus is unlike any other we’ve seen in the market.
Various reports suggest that for the patent document foldable smartphone was filed in China in 2020 and published in July 2021. The design is also included in the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) database. WIPO has also given OnePlus Seal of Approval and Security for the patented technology.
Although the company hasn’t revealed any details about the smartphone yet, LetsGoDigital suggests that we might be able to see the device with three display regions in 2022. Apple recently filed a patent for an all-glass iPhone with six display areas.
Oppo is reportedly ready to launch its own foldable smartphone codenamed “Peacock”. According to reports, the foldable phone will feature an inward folding design like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Huawei Mate X2. It is rumored to be equipped with Samsung’s 8-inch LTPO OLED panel that offers a refresh rate of 120W. The smartphone is rumored to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset
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