الوسم: foldable phone

  • Apple’s Foldable Phone Could Be Just a Pricey iPhone Air

    Apple’s Foldable Phone Could Be Just a Pricey iPhone Air

    When Apple introduced the ultra-slim iPhone Air earlier this year, it sparked a flood of opinions, with many praising the company’s return to innovative engineering and suggesting it offered a sneak peek of future releases. Interestingly, the iPhone Air provides a visual preview of Apple’s upcoming foldable smartphone expected in the next year — a device that’s essentially a “non-sandwiched” view of the new folding design.

    The Bigger Picture

    Industry rumors and expert analysis suggest that the upcoming foldable iPhone will be notably thin, incorporating a flexible screen approximately eight inches diagonally. The device is expected to effectively address common issues like visible creases or vertical lines across the fold, and it appears to draw heavily on the design and engineering principles seen in the iPhone Air.

    Visualizing the device

    According to reports, the foldable iPhone will resemble two titanium iPhone Air units placed side by side — highlighting its extraordinarily slim profile and engineering feats. This design concept emphasizes a sleek form factor that pushes the boundaries of smartphone thickness, promising a cutting-edge folding experience.

    Image showing a semi-open foldable iPhone concept, illustrating a sleek blend of innovation and aesthetics.

    A recent report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg provides additional insight, describing the device as a ‘super thin’ gadget that, when closed, will look like two titanium iPhones stacked together. His perspective underscores the impressive engineering prowess involved, although concerns about heat management are also raised due to the device’s slim profile.

    The Main Concern

    Let’s not forget that previous models like the Titanium iPhone 16 Pro have faced heat dissipation issues compared to their aluminum predecessors. Concerns about thermal performance are valid, especially considering the following reports about the iPhone Air’s heating behavior:

    Images of the iPhone Air, highlighting its sleek design but also hinting at potential warmth during use.

    Despite its attractive design, the iPhone Air tends to get quite warm during basic tasks, according to The New York Times. Similarly, benchmarks have shown that the less powerful A19 chip inside the iPhone 17 scored higher and generated less heat than the more potent A19 Pro in the iPhone Air. Performance throttling due to heat was noted, with tests indicating that the device’s performance may be slightly compromised during intensive use.

    Images illustrating the surface temperature issues associated with high-performance smartphones.

    A brief session of gaming, such as playing Diablo Immortal, caused notable warmth in the device but without significant performance degradation, according to The Verge. Meanwhile, some competing slim devices, like the Oppo Find N5 and Honor Magic V5, manage to stay cooler despite their slim profiles, which bodes well for Apple’s future foldable designs.

    Final Thoughts

    The engineering involved in the upcoming foldable iPhone appears promising, but heat management remains an important issue to monitor. Despite the slim design advantages, ensuring the device stays cool during demanding tasks will be crucial for consumer satisfaction. As Apple explores these new dimensions of foldable technology, it’s hopeful that the company will optimize both design and performance, avoiding the overheating pitfalls seen in earlier models.

  • World’s Thinnest Foldable Phone Is Thicker Than Before

    World’s Thinnest Foldable Phone Is Thicker Than Before

    I’ve had the chance to use the Honor Magic V5, which claims the title of the world’s thinnest foldable smartphone, a distinction that the Chinese brand aims to maintain into 2025.

    Despite its sleek design, the Magic V5 is actually thicker in one significant way compared to its predecessor, the Magic V3, which previously held the same title, as well as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold that was also in my pocket.

    If you’re after the absolute thinnest model, there’s a particular color of the Magic V5 you’ll need to select. Unsure? Let me break it down for you.

    The Color Dilemma

    Honor does tell the truth—the Magic V5 is indeed as thin as advertised, and it looks like the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 won’t surpass its thickness when it launches on July 9.

    I’ve spent some time testing the Magic V5, and I must say, I’m quite impressed by the quality of hardware that Honor has incorporated. It feels both slim and premium, along with surprisingly robust durability.

    However, there is a caveat regarding its measurements: when folded, the Magic V5 is 8.8mm thick, and 4.1mm when unfolded—at least when you choose the ‘Ivory White’ version, which is our first note of caution.

    The Magic V5 is available in four colors, but only the white option can boast the measurements stated above, holding the title of the world’s thinnest foldable smartphone.

    The other color variants (Black, Dawn Gold, and Reddish Brown) measure 9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded, meaning they aren’t quite as slender as the Oppo Find N5, which the V5 outshines for the thinnest title. They’re still impressive, but not quite as extraordinarily slim.

    The Thickness Comparison

    While the majority of the V5 maintains its touted slim profile, there’s an exception: the camera bump.

    Camera bumps are somewhat of a standard issue, as manufacturers try to balance a sleek design with powerful camera capabilities.

    Honor disclosed that it didn’t want to compromise on its camera features, resulting in a noticeable bump on the rear of the device.

    This bump is indeed larger than what was found on the Magic V3, and it makes the Magic V5 deeper at its thickest point compared to both its predecessor and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

    While Honor is transparent about these dimensions, similar tactics are employed by nearly all mobile phone manufacturers when showcasing device thickness. This reminds me of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc from 2011, which measured 8.7mm at its thinnest part—a notable achievement at that time.

    Though this additional bulk doesn’t heavily impact how the Magic V5 functions, placing it on a tabletop results in a noticeable angle due to its design.

    It easily fits into your jeans pocket; however, you might find that the bump snags at the opening if you’re inserting it base-first.

    In summary, the Honor Magic V5 showcases a significant advancement in foldable design. It truly is the thinnest foldable phone available—assuming you opt for the right color and can overlook that pronounced bulge.

  • Honor Says Galaxy Z Fold 7 Won’t Outsell Its Thinnest Foldable

    Honor Says Galaxy Z Fold 7 Won’t Outsell Its Thinnest Foldable

    We’ve learned that the upcoming Honor Magic V5 is set to become the slimmest foldable phone available, and now we have the precise measurements to back it up.

    The Honor Magic V5 will be 8.8mm thick when folded, making it 0.1mm slimmer than the current record-holder, the Oppo Find N5, and 0.4mm thinner than its predecessor, the Magic V3 (Honor is skipping the ‘4’ model and jumping straight to ‘5’).

    It’s important to note that this measurement does not account for the camera bump. Nonetheless, the Magic V5 isn’t far off in thickness compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra (8.2mm) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (8.3mm) — both of which are not foldable. This makes the V5 a foldable phone that you can easily slip into your pocket without it being cumbersome.

    Honor plans to officially unveil the Magic V5 on July 2 in China. However, it might encounter immediate competition from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, which are rumored to launch in the coming weeks.

    Despite this competition, Honor is confident it will maintain its lead in slimness, asserting, “while Samsung has hinted at a thinner Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Magic V5 is expected to keep its title as the world’s thinnest foldable device through 2025.”

    Will Samsung Keep Up?

    Samsung has also been showcasing its upcoming foldable, suggesting, “the latest Galaxy Z series is the thinnest, lightest, and most advanced foldable yet.” However, according to Honor, it seems unlikely that it will beat the Magic V5’s thickness of 8.8mm when folded.

    This aligns with earlier rumors from February, which indicated that the Z Fold 7 would measure 9.5mm when folded and 4.5mm when unfolded. More recent reports hint that it might be even slimmer, with estimates showing a thickness of 9mm when folded and 4.54mm when unfolded.

    If these estimates hold true, they would represent a significant improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which stands at 12.1mm folded and 5.6mm unfolded, but the Z Fold 7 would still be bulkier than the Magic V5 and the Find N5.

    We’ve also had our first glimpse of the V5 in person—check out our initial images of the device on Instagram.

  • Samsung’s Foldable Phone Plans Are More Ambitious Than Expected

    Samsung’s Foldable Phone Plans Are More Ambitious Than Expected

    Samsung has been at the forefront of foldable smartphones, and with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 nearing its launch, exciting new possibilities have surfaced. A recent patent reveals that Samsung’s ambitions for foldable devices may extend further than what was previously imagined. According to a report from SamMobile, the company is exploring the concept of a display that can fold not twice, not thrice, but four times, using three separate hinges. This innovative design could potentially allow the device to unfold into a substantial screen size, comparable to many tablet models.

    While it’s important to remember that a patent doesn’t guarantee that a product will hit the market, the sketches included provide a glimpse of what such a device could entail. Initial assessments suggest it may be somewhat bulky. The largest hinge, positioned centrally, facilitates the folding of the outer sections inward two times—first onto themselves and then onto the inner panels. This results in a device similar to the current layout of smartphones but several times thicker.


    Image used with permission by copyright holder

    Another diagram illustrates the potential final version of the device. While size may be an issue in the design sketches, it’s clear that this device would likely be thicker than any of Samsung’s current smartphones.


    Image used with permission by copyright holder

    It remains unclear how the configuration of the screen would function. When fully opened, the display appears to operate like a tablet, but if the device is only half-folded, would there also be usable internal screens? The complexity of additional displays and the engineering required raises questions about the anticipated price tag, but it is likely to be a high-end device.

    All of this remains hypothetical at this point. Samsung has not released any official comments on whether such a device exists or if they plan to develop one, but the patent hints at exciting potential in the ongoing evolution of foldable technology.

    If Samsung does launch a device like this, it could be among the first of its kind in the market. If executed correctly, it has the potential to redefine the tablet landscape, offering innovative ways for multitasking with different apps displayed on various sections of the screen, as well as a superior platform for media consumption.

  • Samsung Might Redesign The S Pen For Its Next Foldable Phone

    Samsung Might Redesign The S Pen For Its Next Foldable Phone

    Samsung is set to implement significant changes to the stylus input for its upcoming foldable device, moving towards a sleeker phone design. According to a report by ET News, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will adopt a stylus format akin to the Apple Pencil.

    Industry insiders indicate that Samsung plans to eliminate the digitizer component from the display assembly of this new device. The digitizer is a pressure-sensitive layer responsible for capturing the physical strokes of a stylus and translating them into digital signals.

    This change allows Samsung to reduce the phone’s thickness by 0.6 millimeters, resulting in a design that measures under 10 millimeters in thickness. This slimmer profile is inspired by the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition and surpasses the current Galaxy Z Fold 6 in terms of compactness and internal display size.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold with stylus.
    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 with the Fold Edition stylus. Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

    For the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung is aiming for a slightly larger 8-inch internal display while omitting the digitizer layer to maintain a slim profile.

    The challenge lies in how to incorporate stylus functionality without the digitizer. Samsung appears to be overhauling the entire stylus system and plans to adopt an active electrostatic (AES) technology.

    Unlike traditional digitizers, AES technology requires specialized sensors embedded in the display to create an electrostatic grid. This grid interacts with a stylus fitted with its own transmission unit, among other components.

    Side hinge view of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition.
    This is what the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could look like. Samsung

    Wacom explains the interaction in an AES stylus setup: “One sensor grid, along with the pen, acts as the transmitting unit that generates an electrical field; other grids serve as receiving units. The pen’s position is determined by the differences in the charge detected across the sensor grids.”

    This method minimizes input lag to mere milliseconds while maintaining high accuracy and features like pressure sensitivity. However, the stylus’s weight may increase as a result.

    This added weight isn’t necessarily a drawback, as thicker styluses like the Apple Pencil are popular for both basic note-taking and intricate sketching, finding a strong following among creatives who regularly use iPads.

    Half-open front and rear view of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition.
    Samsung

    The main concern is that the stylus will need regular charging for its internal battery, and how Samsung will approach this aspect remains unclear. Apple’s styluses either recharge wirelessly via magnets or use a wired USB-C connection to charge their batteries.

    Currently, Samsung offers a custom stylus called the “Fold Edition” designed specifically for the Galaxy Z Fold series, which differs from the slimmer options provided with the Galaxy S series and the older Galaxy Note series.

    It will be fascinating to see the design direction and pricing strategy Samsung chooses for its new foldable-friendly stylus. A price increase seems likely, given the added features and technology involved.

  • World’s Slimmest Foldable Phone Leaked And Looks Amazing

    World’s Slimmest Foldable Phone Leaked And Looks Amazing

    In about two weeks, the Oppo Find N5 is set to debut as the world’s slimmest foldable smartphone. With the launch event fast approaching, detailed images of the device have surfaced, showcasing its stunning design. Although Oppo has teased us with sneak peeks recently, this marks our first chance to view the phone from various angles and in multiple colors.

    The leaked images, shared by Evan Blass (via Substack), reveal the Oppo Find N5 in three distinct hues. What catches the eye immediately is its incredibly thin profile, measuring just 4.2mm—thinner than a pencil and even more slender than Apple’s groundbreaking iPad Pro.

    Oppo Find N5 in white, purple, and black.
    Evan Blass / Substack

    The black and white variants sport a familiar frosted glass finish, while the purple option stands out with its leather-like texture, reminiscent of the limited edition OnePlus Open released last year. Interestingly, the Oppo Find N5 is expected to be launched in the U.S. as the OnePlus Open 2.

    In terms of design, the device mirrors the aesthetics of the Oppo Find N3 and its counterpart, the OnePlus Open. The main differences lie in its thinner profile and several significant internal enhancements.

    Further inspection of the leaked images highlights the camera setup. Once again, Oppo collaborates with Hasselblad for camera technology, which hints at impressive photographic capabilities, as evidenced by the OnePlus 13. A periscope-style zoom camera is also apparent, adding to the allure.

    Oppo Find N5 render in white.
    Evan Blass / Substack

    Yet, the Oppo Find N5 is not just about style; it packs plenty of substance. Starting with the flexible inner display, one of the key attributes of foldable phones, recent insights from a company executive suggest that the annoying crease may be eliminated in this model.

    The device also addresses concerns about water resistance, boasting full-grade IPX6, IPX8, and IPX9 waterproofing—setting it apart from other competitors. Additionally, despite its thinness, Oppo has successfully incorporated a physical profile switch slider.

    Oppo Find N5 in purple.
    Evan Blass / Substack

    On the hardware front, the Oppo Find N5 will be equipped with Qualcomm’s powerhouse Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, which is also featured in many of the latest Android flagship devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

    Notably, the phone will support 50W wireless charging, surpassing the charging capabilities of rivals such as the Galaxy S25 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max, even when they are being charged via cable. The Oppo Find N5 is poised to become a standout leader in the foldable market this year, challenging Samsung and other competitors to keep pace with its innovations.