TCL Is Developing Five Foldable Devices, Patent Reveals

Dhir Acharya - Feb 18, 2019

Several images leaked from patent filings suggest that TCL is working on its own foldable devices, including tablets, smartphone, and a smartwatch.

Now, we hear about foldable devices everywhere, the concept is so attractive that even TCL, a television maker, is joining the game.

Reportedly, the Chinese firm is developing at least five handset devices that feature flexible screens, including two smartphones, two tablets, and a phone which can be worn around the wrist as a smartwatch. This information was first spotted by Cnet in TCL’s patent image filings.

The pair of tablets include one device capable of folding inward and the other folding outward. Similarly, the two horizontally foldable smartphones include one that folds in and the other folds out. The last one is a tall, skinny phone that can curve to wrap around the wrist.

The images obtained from TCL’s patent filings once further emphasizes the growing interest of the handset industry in foldable devices, considering it the next big leap in phone design. People are more and more dependent on their smartphones while it’s getting harder and harder to come up with such an innovation that’s worth the extreme price tag. So companies are raising hope on the foldable.

TCL at CES 2019

These images are the very first glimpse, TCL may either change or ditch the plan. Neither do we know for sure if these devices will enter the market.

Last month, however, a TCL executive said that the company plans to launch the first foldable device sometime in 2020. As the company produces various devices, there was no telling which one would be released.

At CES, General manager Stefan Streit of global marketing at TCL that beyond smartphones, other devices such as wearables, TVs, and households can also apply foldable technologies.

Another rendering spotted illustrates devices which fold in leaving a book-like gap in the middle, no other information available.

TCL is among top TV makers, but phones are a different story for the company. Not only did the company strike a licensing deal with Blackberry on making productivity-focused phones, but it has also had itself licensed out the Palm name to a startup. With these flexible designs, TCL is hoping to make itself recognized in the phone industry.