In an ever-evolving smartphone market, innovation is the key to staying ahead. Xiaomi, one of the leading smartphone manufacturers, is known for its bold moves in design and technology. Recently, a patent for a tri-fold smartphone was revealed by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), hinting at Xiaomi’s potential foray into this advanced foldable technology. The patent was originally filed back in December 2022, and after years of speculation, it’s finally come to light, raising questions about what the future holds for Xiaomi’s foldable phones.
A New Era for Foldable Phones: The Tri-Fold Concept
What is a Tri-Fold Phone?
A tri-fold phone, as the name suggests, is a device that folds in three segments. Unlike the current foldable phones that typically have two segments, this design allows for more flexibility, enabling the device to offer multiple viewing configurations. When fully unfolded, it turns into a tablet-like device, but when folded, it becomes as compact as a traditional smartphone, maximizing portability.
Xiaomi’s 2022 Patent: A More Practical Design
Xiaomi first patented a tri-fold design back in 2019, but that design seemed impractical for real-world use. The new patent from December 2022, however, presents a more refined and realistic approach. This updated design only has one screen, which can be fully unfolded to provide a large display or folded into thirds, allowing users to interact with a smaller portion of the screen.
The design mimics what we have seen with Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate, a foldable phone that successfully implemented a similar concept. Xiaomi’s tri-fold design, however, seems to offer a more compact camera island compared to the bulkier designs of some competitors.
The Challenges of a Tri-Fold Phone
While the idea of a tri-fold phone is exciting, implementing such a design poses significant challenges. One of the key issues is the thickness of the device when folded. To maintain usability, each segment needs to be incredibly thin, which complicates the internal design, particularly for housing high-quality camera modules.
Another challenge lies in the durability of the foldable display. While foldable screens have come a long way since the original Galaxy Fold, a tri-fold design requires the screen to bend in multiple directions, making the development of robust yet flexible display materials essential.
Xiaomi’s Tri-Foldable: Part of the Mix Series?
Mix Series or a New Lineup?
Rumors suggest that Xiaomi’s tri-fold device will be part of its premium Mix series, known for pushing the boundaries of smartphone technology. However, it is still unclear whether this tri-foldable will debut as part of the existing Mix Fold lineup or if Xiaomi plans to introduce an entirely new series dedicated to multi-foldable devices.
Xiaomi has remained tight-lipped on this matter, but industry insiders believe that the company could showcase a prototype of the device at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February 2025. If the rumors are true, this would mark a major step forward in Xiaomi’s foldable phone portfolio.
The Foldable Race: How Xiaomi Stands Among Competitors
Huawei’s Early Lead in the Foldable Market
Xiaomi isn’t the first company to venture into tri-fold designs. Huawei has already set a precedent with its Mate XT series, which introduced innovative foldable designs. Huawei’s early success in this field gives it an edge, but Xiaomi’s unique design approach might offer a fresh perspective that could challenge Huawei’s dominance.
Samsung’s Flex G Concept: A Vision for the Future
Another major player in the foldable phone market is Samsung. In 2022, Samsung demonstrated its Flex G concept, a tri-fold design that folds twice inward, creating a unique “G” shape. Samsung has been a pioneer in foldable smartphones, starting with the original Galaxy Fold, and has continued to refine its technology over the years. Like Xiaomi, Samsung is rumored to be working on a commercially viable tri-fold device, which could launch in the coming years.
Other Contenders: TCL, Oppo, and Tecno
Several other companies are exploring tri-fold designs as well. In 2020, TCL revealed a working concept of a tri-fold display, showcasing its potential. While TCL hasn’t yet brought the device to market, it remains a significant player in the foldable arena. Similarly, Oppo and Tecno have also revealed tri-fold concepts, signaling that the race to release the first widely available tri-fold phone is heating up.
Why 2025 Could Be the Year of Tri-Foldables
The Tri-Fold Explosion: A New Trend in Mobile Devices?
The increasing number of companies working on tri-foldable designs suggests that 2025 could see a surge in this new form factor. With Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei, and other manufacturers racing to perfect their designs, it seems likely that we will witness a Cambrian explosion of tri-foldable phones in the near future.
The tri-fold design offers several advantages. It provides users with a larger screen for tasks like gaming, video watching, and multitasking, while still being able to fold down to a compact size for easy portability. As more manufacturers enter the foldable market, we can expect innovations that address current challenges, such as thickness and durability.
The Future of Foldable Technology
Foldables Beyond 2025: Rollables and More
While tri-fold designs represent the next big step in foldable technology, other innovations are also on the horizon. In addition to tri-foldables, manufacturers are exploring rollable designs, where the screen can extend horizontally, providing even more flexibility for users. Samsung Display has been particularly vocal about the potential of rollable devices, and we might see rollable smartphones emerge as the next frontier in mobile technology.
What Consumers Can Expect
For consumers, the rise of tri-fold and rollable designs means more choices and better technology. As companies compete to perfect these designs, prices will likely come down, making foldable phones more accessible to the average consumer. Additionally, improvements in materials and manufacturing processes should lead to devices that are not only more durable but also more capable, with high-end cameras, powerful processors, and advanced software features.
Conclusion
Xiaomi’s latest tri-fold patent is a promising glimpse into the future of foldable technology. With multiple companies working on similar designs, the next few years could see significant advancements in this field. Whether Xiaomi’s tri-fold phone becomes part of the Mix series or launches under a new lineup, it’s clear that foldable technology is here to stay—and 2025 might just be the year of the tri-foldable phone.
As Xiaomi and its competitors continue to innovate, consumers can look forward to a new era of mobile devices that offer both portability and expanded functionality. Stay tuned for more developments as the foldable race heats up!
Source (in Chinese)
