Joining the race to develop foldable smartphones, Chinese smartphone maker Oppo has now patented a design for a foldable device that could also be used as a tablet, media reported.
The patent was picked up by China Mobile (via GSMArena) and presents an exciting prospect for those awaiting the first truly foldable handsets.
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“The patent indicates that the device would look something like a regular smartphone device – albeit without a bezel on one side – when in one configuration, but that it could also open up to resemble a compact tablet,” Android Authority reported on Tuesday.
Oppo is said to be one of the manufacturers currently eyeing a foldable product, along with Samsung, LG and Apple.
Samsung will be testing the waters with its truly foldable OLED smartphone in its “Galaxy” series with a limited run in South Korea. It is one of the very few smartphone manufacturers hedging their bets on foldable flagships.
In November last year, Apple also filed a patent application for a yet-unnamed foldable device that can be “opened and closed like a book”.