LG has patented a new smartphone, a device with a flexible, wrap-around display. This patent surfaced in China. It was submitted back in July last year, and it was approved on January 17. The documentation was included in the WIPO database as well.
Now, the moment you hear wrap-around display, your mind may go to the Xiaomi Mi MIX Alpha, but this phone by LG is aiming at something else. The Mi MIX Alpha’s display cannot be unwrapped / expanded, this one can.
This LG phone with a flexible, wrap-around display reminds us of the Huawei Mate X
So, this is essentially a foldable smartphone, similar to the Huawei Mate X. When folded, the display covers both the phone’s front and back sides, as well as its right side. Only the left side of the phone is never covered by that display.
When unfolded, that display basically doubles in size. So you can basically go from the size of a smartphone, to the size of a tablet by unfolding the display.
Based on the provided patent sketches, this phone will include a rather thick bezel above the display. The phone’s cameras will be included there, along with its sensors. Bezels will be almost non-existent elsewhere, though.
We’re not sure how will this display stay in place when folded, but it’s possible magnets have something to do with it. On the flip side, there could be some sort of a button that enables the display to become undocked, we’ll see… if this phone ever becomes a reality.
To make things even more interesting, this phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack, based on these sketches. That port is placed at the bottom of the phone, along with a loudspeaker, a microphone, and a Type-C USB port.
We’re not sure if this phone will ever become a reality. This is just a patent, nothing else, and companies register quite a few of those a year. LG still did not introduce its first foldable smartphone, though.
LG will hopefully unveils its first foldable smartphone this year
The company is expected to unveil its foldable handset sometime this year. We’re still not sure what will it look like, or anything of the sort. No leaks or rumors regarding its design or release date surfaced to date.
LG does need to get into the game as soon as possible, to compete with other OEMs. The company hasn’t really been doing great when it comes to smartphone sales, but the foldable sector is still wide open.
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona is starting next month. LG probably won’t announce its foldable smartphone there, but it will probably unveil at least one flagship-grade phone.
The company may mention its foldable handset in one way or the other, though. We’re hoping that the company will release at least some info regarding such a device.
