TCL is still not quite ready to enter the foldable market but is diligently experimenting with different form factors of devices with foldable and flexible displays. The brand recently showcased to press two foldable prototypes it intended to reveal at Mobile World Congress.
While many other manufacturers have focused on different sizes and shapes of devices that bend either inward or outward, TCL’s first prototype instead utilizes a rollable function. The brand showcased a dummy model that had to be opened and closed manually but noted that the functional device features a motor-driven sliding panel that allows the rollable screen to expand or contract when a button is pressed.
The nameless device features a 6.75-inch display in its closed form that expands to a 7.8-inch display with the press of a button. Overall, the device is 9mm in thickness. The smartphone is currently not slated for a market release but instead demonstrates the brand’s dedication to developing unique products in this ever-changing mobile sector.
The manufacturer noted that even with all of the devices that have released so far there is still no leader in the foldable market, which could leave opportunity for TCL to step forward with a definitive product. There have been leaks and rumors that the brand has plans to release a 5G-powered foldable called the TCL FlexTab during the third quarter of 2020, but there has been no confirmation to that respect.
TCL detailed that it has 36 display styles of foldable with which is it currently experimenting. TCL first showcased its foldable concepts and introduced its DragonHinge technology for such devices at Mobile World Congress 2019. It also revealed an updated version of its clamp-close foldable at CES 2020 with a ButterflyHinge feature.
A market release for a TCL foldable is likely dependent on what the brand can develop with Google on the software and services side. On the hardware side, the brand notes that it has a lot of technology but is still learning and trying to figure out how to practically introduce a foldable device to consumers.
TCL’s second concept is a tri-fold tablet that features its DragonHinge and ButterflyHinge mechanisms that allow the device to fold. When laid flat, the device is a 10-inch tablet but can fold twice into a 6.65-inch handset with a 20.8:9 aspect ratio and a 3K display resolution.
Similar to the rollable device, this model had no immediate use cases but its folding ability is fascinating. The handset can be maneuvered into a Z shape with the entire display still functional. Users can meld the device into a kickstand-type setup, where only the frontmost part of the display is functional. When fully closed, the device is essentially a very thick smartphone with a front display and a rear-camera setup.
