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Android needs to capitalize on its foldable momentum before it's too late
Foldables are unique to Android, but that's unlikely to last forever
Part of what makes Android such a great option for smartphone users is the sheer number of choices to pick from. Of course, in the United States, there are far fewer options than in other parts of the world. But choices remain. Regardless of your budget or phone needs, there is a device that can check those boxes. That's not even accounting for the folding phones, of which there are options in both brand and form factor.
Shopping for a foldable this Black Friday? Buy anything but the Pixel Fold
Google's first-gen hardware is better left as a proof of concept
With Black Friday deals in full swing, it's only natural to look for the biggest savings possible. While we've found all sorts of smartphones on sale this year, foldables are where you'll find the best bargains this holiday season. Whether you're upgrading from an earlier model or diving into the future of mobile for the very first time, there are plenty of options worth checking out.
Microsoft Surface Duo 2 stops by the FCC before its debut later this week
This time the phone is more of, you know, a phone
Microsoft has a press event scheduled for this Wednesday, September 22nd. The Surface Duo 2 is expected to attend, among other less mobile Surface-branded hardware. In apparent preparation for a rapid release, the successor to the unique dual-screen folding phone stopped by the Federal Communications Commission for the usual round of testing and certification.
Watch JerryRigEverything beat up $1800 of folding phone in the Z Fold3 torture test
Surprise: it can take a punch!
While it's cheaper than previous generations, the dramatic Galaxy Z Fold3 is still the most expensive phone in Samsung's lineup, and among the most expensive phones on the market. That being the case, there's something extremely satisfying about watching someone destroy it with methodical precision. You know what this is leading up to: it's JerryRigEverything's YouTube breakdown of the Z Fold3.
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Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked event was just earlier today at 10AM ET, and although endless leaks undercut the anticipation a bit, there's still reason to be excited. We got our first official glimpse of the new Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3, with plenty of improvements over last year's models. There was some concern that OnePlus would try to one-up Samsung with its own Galaxy-themed teaser, but it turns out that wasn't a problem, the company is just back to dumb and awful marketing, and you can go back to ignoring them.
Samsung's colorful foldable cases might be even better looking than the Z Flip3 and Fold3 themselves
All designed to help you get a grip (on your phone, at least)
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We're racing towards the launch of Samsung's newest flagship folding phones, but that doesn't mean the leaks are slowing down. We've already seen a stylus-equipped case for the Galaxy Z Fold3, and now we're getting a new look at all of the unique cases that'll help you protect your next foldable.
Latest Samsung leak just further establishes: the Z Fold3 is this year's Note
In case you had any doubt
Another week, another chance to get a look at Samsung's upcoming slate of foldables. Thanks to leaked renders, we have a pretty good idea of what the Galaxy Z Fold3 will look like. Similarly, some recent FCC filings confirmed native S Pen capabilities to help make up for this year's missing Note series. Another question surrounding the Z Fold3's stylus has been answered today, as a new leak shows off a folding case with a special slot for its S Pen.The folks at 91mobiles managed to get a look at Samsung's official case for its new folding phone, and it includes a slot along the hinge capable of storing the stylus when not in use. Based on the previous leaks of the device, there won't be anywhere to actually store the S Pen in the body itself Note-style, which means a case like this might be your best bet for avoiding losing your stylus.
Samsung's next foldable phone just can't stop leaking
A refinement on last year's design, along with some new colors
If Samsung was hoping for a leak-free summer, the last week of news has ruined those plans entirely. Not only did we get a good look at the company's first Wear OS watch, but yesterday, the Galaxy Z Flip3 showed off its next generation of clamshell smartphones. If you've been waiting to get your eyes on that device's big brother, today's your lucky day. New renders show off the Galaxy Z Fold3 from every angle, complete with three stylish colors.Today's leak, courtesy of 91mobiles, gives us our best look yet at Samsung's next tablet-sized foldable in all its glory. Based on these renders, the Z Fold3 will continue to refine the same basic design of the original Galaxy Fold, keeping the large 6.23" display from last year's Z Fold2 paired with an ever-so-slightly smaller 7.55" internal screen. Like we saw on the Z Flip3, the selfie camera has been moved under the panel, freeing up some of that precious real estate for full-screen apps. The back of the phone keeps its triple-camera layout, though the LED flash has been relocated to sit at the bottom of the lineup.
Samsung shows off its newest OLED tech in a crazy concept video
Your next foldable phone might transform into your alarm clock
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Samsung's first-gen folding phone was rough around the edges, but with each new device comes plenty of refinement, proving the tech is here to stay. It's no secret that the company is working on follow-ups to last year's Galaxy Z lineup, and we might be looking at a preview of what's to come. As part of Display Week 2021, Samsung Display unveiled some new OLED panels today that could hint at the future of smartphones.
Samsung is reportedly working on a dramatic dual-hinge Fold flagship for 2021
A wider tablet-style screen would work better for apps and video
If one fold is good, two folds are better. That appears to be the thinking at Samsung's R&D department, where engineers are reportedly hard at work on a double-hinged phone in the Galaxy Fold series. According to a business report from Nikkei, Samsung is looking into a double-hinged design, with hopes to unveil it before the end of 2021. That's on top of new iterations of Samsung's existing folding designs, the large Galaxy Z Fold and the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip.
A bunch of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 features are rolling out to the original Fold in the US
Now if only it got a bigger exterior screen via a software update
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Samsung released the Galaxy Z Fold2 a while back, packed with a slew of features that make it significantly better than the company's first attempt at a foldable phone. But the company hasn't forgotten about the first-gen Fold just yet. It's inheriting a few Z Fold2 capabilities via a firmware update that's now starting to roll out in the US.
Microsoft's Surface Duo was finally revealed after almost a year of teasing just earlier this week, and our readers seem pretty polarized about it — and the whole category of folding phones in general. To be fair, there are a lot of disadvantages, like sky-high price tags and durability concerns. In my mind, we've reached the second generation of foldables, and some of those issues are starting to be resolved (outside price, anyway). With the development made so far, I'm curious to know if you'd consider a foldable for your next phone.
Galaxy Z Flip review, two months later: The right phone at the wrong time
Folding phones are the future, but don't buy this one
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The progress we've made with folding phones in just the last year is stunning. We went from teasing the concept behind a glass box to several shipping products in just about no time, culminating almost precisely one year later in this: the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. It's a folding vision from the future, loaded with flaws and bent like a scythe in preparation of the Flat Phone Reaping. Even if you don't buy the Z Flip (and you shouldn't), your current phone's days are numbered.
TCL doesn't have a folding phone to sell you, but it does have more ideas for one
Say hello to the world's first tri-fold smartphone
The folding phone market is heating up, and while smartphone manufacturer TCL has shown off concepts for some of its potential foldables, the company has yet to announce a concrete product. That isn't changing, but TCL today unveiled two new form factors it's exploring: a phone with a pull-out display, and one with a tri-fold design.
Galaxy Z Flip first impressions: Folding phones have turned the corner
I'm convinced — this is the future
Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip, the company's latest folding phone, has been making plenty of waves in recent days — first for being the world's very first glass folding phone, and later for being more delicate than "glass" would imply. I've only had the day to play with the phone following our very brief time with it at Samsung's event, and while I'm trying to reserve my full judgment for later, I have to say: So far, I really like it.
Folding phones are so hot right now, but there are still many Android OEMs that haven't taken a crack at the idea. TCL showed off an early prototype of a Galaxy Fold-like device at CES earlier this year, and now it looks like the company might be working on something much different.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip is now official as the first formal announcement at Samsung's Unpacked event, before even the Galaxy S20 series. The company is "changing the shape of the future" with the Galaxy Z Flip. The new folding phone, featuring a folding glass display, will be available starting this Friday the 14th, beginning at $1380.
If you've been impatiently waiting for OnePlus to release a folding phone, we finally know why the OEM hasn't taken the plunge yet. At CES last week, Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn from The Verge chatted with OnePlus CEO Pete Lau (and his interpreter, Eric Gass) about the company's Concept One phone, 5G technology, and when consumers should expect a OnePlus foldable device to hit the market (spoiler: not anytime soon).
Following a string of delays and an anticipated late-October launch, Huawei's Mate X folding phone has finally gone on sale in China for a mere $2400 (16,999 Chinese Yuan). Or, at least, it was on sale. The phone has reportedly sold out in just minutes, though more rounds of sales are expected to happen in the coming days.
Huawei’s first foldable phone — the Mate X — may finally see the light of day this November 15 after a twice-deferred launch since June. The delays were partly in view of the company's trade hurdles concerning Android, and largely to make hardware refinements to avoid a Galaxy Fold-like recall. Huawei took this time to hone the Mate X’s out-folding display with a layer of transparent polyimide (PI), which should prevent the screen from scratching.