Xiaomi has patented a new clamshell-style folding phone, and it’s a doozy, with dual selfie cameras and a unique folding design.
As TigerMobiles posted, Xiaomi has published a new patent with the Chinese trademark office, CNIPA. The patent shows a clamshell type phone that folds backwards and lengthwise, so the top of the screen folds over to the back of the device.
Most interestingly, the design doesn’t appear to fold in half. Rather, the folding crease is towards the top of the device, so that only a small part of the display actually moves. The dual hole-punch selfie camera setup, then, becomes the rear camera setup as well.
Photos courtesy of TigerMobiles
Using one camera module both front and back isn’t a new idea (à la the underrated Asus Zenfone 6), but Xiaomi’s choice is an interesting one given that a device’s rear camera setup is usually superior to its selfie camera(s).
Given this interesting design, there are a number of possible benefits. With only one camera, this phone might boast more competitive pricing compared to its peers. Then again, a foldable phone is hardly likely to be affordable at all. But unlike other foldables, this ‘partial-fold’ design might only need a single battery, unlike the dual-cell hybrid design on the Galaxy Z Flip, for example.
If released, this design could be the first foldable that doesn’t fold completely (or nearly) in half. In any case, it certainly does punctuate the fact that manufacturers so far are just scratching the surface of foldable possibilities.
Create a free account and join our vibrant community
Register to enjoy the full PhoneArena experience. Here’s what you get with your PhoneArena account:
Follow us on social media to catch the latest trending stories, watch exclusive videos, and join the conversation with our vibrant community!
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us!
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: