Xiaomi Officially Shows Off a Prototype of Its Dual-Folding Phone

Not too long ago, we got our first leak of the potential Xiaomi foldable phone. At the time, we were unsure as to whether the leaked device was real. Well, as it turns out, the device is actually real. Xiaomi’s co-founder Lin Bin confirmed on Weibo that the company is working on a dual-folding phone, showing off a demo of the device itself.

Bin showed off a demo of the protoype device, which could be named Mi Dual Flex or Mi MIX Flex. The device is supposed to be the world’s first dual-folding phone, meaning you can fold it from both sides to use it as a regular phone or open both the sides up to use the device as a tablet. It does look a little too wide when used as a tablet, though.

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The device is certainly much different from other foldable phones we have seen, and with Samsung set to launch its foldable phone next month, it won’t be surprising to see Xiaomi coming out with something similar sometime soon.

“Xiaomi’s dual-folding phone is coming! After tackling flexible folding display, four-way folding hinge, flexible cover tech, MIUI adaptation and other technical challenges, we have made the first foldable phone, and should also be the world’s first dual-folding phone,” Bin said in the post, reports Engadget.

Bin claims that the design of the device is “practical and beautiful”, though we will obviously have to wait for the final product to see how things actually are. Foldable phones so far have not been very impressive, and there are always some constraints. And I am sure there will be something similar with the Xiaomi dual-folding phone.

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Conversation 15 comments

  • BrianEricFord

    23 January, 2019 - 12:01 pm

    <p>The 3D TV of 2019.</p>

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    23 January, 2019 - 12:33 pm

    <p>… Why though?</p>

    • ecumenical

      23 January, 2019 - 1:48 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#398934">In reply to jimchamplin:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Looks awesome to me. Fits in my pocket during the day, but I don't need to break out a separate tablet when I want to sit on the couch and read news or watch videos.</p>

      • digiguy

        Premium Member
        23 January, 2019 - 3:28 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#398953">In reply to ecumenical:</a></em></blockquote><p>The idea is good but this implementation is crap. The device is way too small both as a tablet and as a phone. This makes no sense. Hopefully they'll come with a more sensible device….</p>

        • VancouverNinja

          Premium Member
          23 January, 2019 - 4:38 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#399002">In reply to digiguy:</a></em></blockquote><p>While I am not down with an Andorid device the size is good enough to kill a huge amount of tablet use if it can unfold to the size they have shown. When your 4 inch or 5 inch screen can double instantly who wants to go grab a tablet? This is close to the dream.</p>

  • Alexander Rothacker

    Premium Member
    23 January, 2019 - 1:13 pm

    <p>Interesting, instead of closing the screen to the inside, this has the screen on the outside, I think I like that idea. But I'm not sure why they have two hinges with half screens that fold to the back, instead of one hinge with a full size screen. Seems like one additional hinge that can potentially break and adds complexity to the phone.</p>

  • palmer73

    23 January, 2019 - 1:29 pm

    <p>If you're familiar with the BSG franchise show Caprica, you'll see how everyone just uses a regular looking piece of paper to get their messages or send messages.. I think that is the inevitable goal to get to a point where we just have "paper" and that's it…. I had the LG-FLEX phone for awhile and it was pretty cool to see where fold-able technology is going.. </p>

  • VancouverNinja

    Premium Member
    23 January, 2019 - 2:24 pm

    <p>This type of device will cause convergence of mobile phones and tablets. </p><p><br></p><p>Let's see what Microsoft has to offer this year. Cool times head. </p><p><br></p><p>Amazing that the smart phone and tablet categories are looking like they are nearing the end of their reigns so quickly.</p>

  • akinvic

    23 January, 2019 - 3:06 pm

    <p>Interesting but it'll be twice as thick as a regular smartphone when folded and possibly weigh twice as much as well. I imagine they'll figure out how to do protective cases for such a device…but that'll add to the bulk as well.</p>

    • HellcatM

      23 January, 2019 - 7:52 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#398993"><em>In reply to akinvic:</em></a><em> Yes but people put cases on their phones that sometimes make them twice as thick (the otter cases). I don't see it being a big deal, people just won't be able to stick them in their back pockets which I think looks stupid anyway.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Rycott

    Premium Member
    23 January, 2019 - 4:33 pm

    <p>The concept looks great but I'm not sure I want my screens on the bottom though.</p><p><br></p><p>I'd hate to see how the wear and tear of the bottom parts of the screen would happen over a period of time.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      24 January, 2019 - 4:42 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#399015">In reply to Rycott:</a></em></blockquote><p>Given the penchant from certain family membery to slide electronic devices across "dirty" tables, I wouldn't want it anywhere near them.</p><p>We were rebuilding the ground floor of our house and the table had dust, grit and dirt on somebody pushed my camera across the table to me, screen down. :-(</p><p>When I screamed at them, they just shrugged and said "es ist ein Gebrauchsgegenstand" (basic commodity or an item of daily use)…</p>

  • waethorn

    23 January, 2019 - 8:33 pm

    <p>All of these look just so terrible!</p><p><br></p><p>The screens look extremely plastic-y and unlevel.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • dontbe evil

    25 January, 2019 - 1:08 am

    <p>if it's real, is million of years ahead of samsung (and apple)</p>

  • ashfaqmb

    18 March, 2019 - 2:30 pm

    <p>nice <a href="That's a lot of requirements. How many people are there who Use Galaxy S8/S9 Have Surface Go Are insiders on fast ring?" target="_blank">phone</a></p>

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