In October 2019, TCL’s original concept for a “crazy” triple-folding phone was in its early stages. The idea was already starting to come to fruition, with the “DragonHinge” allowing it to “open” in multiple directions, but it lacked a working screen. While the “crazy” hybrid phone-tablet is already quite the prototype, it’s still evolving into a functional device. Specifically, when users fully open the device, they have a 10-inch tablet with a large plastic screen. They can fold it so that only two screens, while the unused part can either be removed or used to support the rest of the device.
Users can also use only one screen, as is done in traditional mobile devices. This device is divided into three parts, each of which includes a 6.65-inch display and its own battery. When one folds all three parts, the thickness of the device increases and gives the feeling of three phones stacked on top of each other. Running Android, the device adapts to each opening and closing of the screen, but there is a delay when changing modes, which is not surprising for such a device. It is clear that this device is not yet ready to compete with the Samsung Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate XS.
Stefan Streit, TCL's general manager for global marketing, said in an interview that the currently unnamed device is one of three prototypes that TCL is currently experimenting with as the company looks to enter the global phone market under its own brand. TCL is best known in the United States for its quality televisions.
Other ideas from TCL include a clamshell device that the company showed off at CES in January and a slideable wheeled AMOLED display that uses a motor to expand the screen from 6.75 inches to 7.8 inches. Streit notes that the company is working with Google to optimize Android for the many foldable elements.
However, it is not yet known when or if these devices will be available on the market, although Streit says that some kind of foldable device will be released in the first half of 2021. Finally, TCL announced at CES that it plans to release a more traditional phone called the 10 Pro in the US in 2020.
