The once innovative idea of phones folding down and flipping up was first seen in the small cellphones which were popular in the early 2000s. Fast-forward two decades later, this iconic design is making a comeback, and No… it’s not a retro throwback. With Samsung’s innovation of the Dynamic AMOLED technology, today’s smartphone screens can literally fold in half, freeing up more space in your pocket, while also adding more features and uses to the already new phone concept. The first folding smartphone saw its launch in 2020 with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, boasting a folding Dynamic AMOLED display with 1080 x 2636 pixels, as well as a Super AMOLED screen for its cover display.
This new phone style also comes with a unique form of phone usage, with easier calls and notification settings, and compatible apps that utilize the folding screen technology to its maximum. While the Z Flip is still considered a high-end niche product, many have seen its advantages in producibility and ease of use, with many trying their hand at the new device. Of course, other brands have also started releasing their own versions of this new phone technology. Here are Some of Them…
1. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series is already in its fourth iteration with the Z Flip 4. Released in 2022, this latest OLED flip phone uses the latest Dynamic AMOLED screen to fold its 6.7-inch display horizontally without any drawbacks. This phone also fixes some of the past issues with the device, while ensuring that its traditional smartphone capabilities live up to par with what people are demanding. Now running the latest Android OS, with possible updates to newer versions, supported, an octa-core Snapdragon chipset, and up to 512GB storage, 8GB RAM, the Z Flip 4 can give any Flagship device a run for its money.
2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Releasing alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 4, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 takes the foldable phone to new heights, giving you a powerful smartphone to tablet hybrid in one device. Unlike the Z Flip, this device has the form factor of a 7.6-inch square tablet device with Foldable Dynamic AMOLED screen, which folds vertically into a smartphone with a 6.2-inch AMOLED cover screen. This basically gives this device three screens that supports 4K playback. Powering this device is the latest Android OS, the same octa-core Snapdragon processor, up to 1TB internal storage, and 12GB RAM.
3. Oppo Find N2 Flip
While Samsung mostly dominated the foldable smartphone market in the early 2020s, Oppo finally brings in a worthy competition on the field with the Oppo Find N2 Flip. Using a newer LTPO Folding AMOLED screen, this device shares the flip phone form factor, while also boasting a much bigger 3.2-inch AMOLED cover display for notifications. The Find N2 Flip runs ColorOS 13 based on Android 13, on a Dimensity 9000+ octa-core processor. The phone also boasts larger storage capacity with 512GB internal ROM and 16GB RAM
4. Microsoft Surface Duo 2
Unlike the other phones in the list, the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 doesn’t use the latest folding AMOLED screen. Rather, this device is basically two AMOLED phones put together to create an 8.3-inch device with two distinct screens. While you can’t watch videos on a large screen here, you can compensate by using two screens simultaneously to multitask. Running Android 11 OS, on a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, 512 UFS storage, and 8GB RAM, this may not give an “authentic” smart flip phone device, but you can overcompensate with its much more affordable price tag.
Overall, seeing the “old concept” be implemented into a new innovation is truly the bases of what the cellphone is. Over the decades, the portable phone has seen many changes in its use and technology. And it’s not about to end soon. Maybe we’ll see another “throwback” design make a return as a new technology that once again evolve how we use smartphones in the future.
