Recently, it has been reported that Xiaomi’s First Folding Screen Phone may be released within this year, and it may be the sequel to the Xiaomi MIX series, Called Mi MIX 4 Pro Max. According to sources, the screen of the Xiaomi folding phone may be supplied by Huaxing Optoelectronics, using an outward-folding dual-screen solution.
While last month, a Xiaomi phone with the model “M2011J18C” passed the audit and certification of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, but there was not much information public. According to the famous leakster “Digital Chat Station”, this device is the first flagship folding screen phone of Xiaomi, with no openings on the front.
Not only that, the “Digital Chat Station” has previously stated that the new Xiaomi folding phone will be released before the Mi tablet, with larger screen size, good performance, and support for high refresh rates and high-pixel lenses. In addition, Ross Young, the founder and chief analyst of DSCC, also corroborated the information that “Xiaomi will launch a folding screen.” He said:
Xiaomi is expected to launch three folding screen phones in 2021, namely the outward-folding type, the inward-folding type, and the clamshell type, namely the three mainstream forms at present.
On March 2, Ross Young stated that Xiaomi is about to launch a folding-screen phone, which may be called Mi MIX 4 Pro Max, supplied by Huaxing Optoelectronics, rather than SDC (Samsung Display). Ross Young added that the in-folding solution SDC will provide during the year will have a larger screen.
It should be pointed out that just last month, Korean media “TheElec” pointed out that Samsung Display is currently developing foldable OLED panels to supply OPPO, Xiaomi, and Google, and smartphones using these panels will be launched within the year. In Ross Young’s revelation, he also pointed out that the Xiaomi folding screen phone solution adopts an external folding form, and the shape is more like Huawei Mate Xs.
From the naming of the Xiaomi folding screen predicted by Ross Young, it is not difficult to know that this product may be a sequel to the Xiaomi Mi MIX series. It is worth mentioning that in the live broadcast of Mi Fan New Year’s Eve dinner last month, Lei Jun has personally confirmed that he will restart the Mi MIX product line.
In addition, based on other leaks, the new Xiaomi folding screen, codenamed Cetus, which has a 108MP camera and will run MIUI 12 based on Android 11, its screen refresh rate can achieve 120Hz, and will use the latest UTG flexible glass technology of Samsung.
This website has inquired that Xiaomi affiliated companies have applied for patents on foldable phones many times. According to an enterprise search, there are a total of 15 intellectual property rights related to the “Xiaomi Folding Screen”. Among them, in 2018 alone, Xiaomi affiliated companies applied for 7 intellectual property rights related to folding screens; in 2019 and 2020, they applied for 4 intellectual property rights.
Based on these patents, LetsgoDigital has rendered pictures of Xiaomi folding screens. It should be pointed out that the Xiaomi folding screen rendered by LetsgoDigital uses an in-folding solution, which is different from other news that uses an out-folding solution.
It can be seen from the rendering that the Xiaomi folding screen uses an inward-folding screen, and there is also a secondary screen on the back. The overall structure is similar to the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
In the unfolded state, the edge of the Mi Folding Screen has the same width as the border, and the four corners are rounded. The camera module uses a pop-up dual camera for the front camera, and the three rear cameras on the back are arranged in a vertical row. In the folded state, the area of the secondary screen on the back is much smaller than the body, and a pop-up camera can also be used.
There are three groups of four buttons on both sides of the fuselage, and the SIM card slot is selected at the top. There is a Type-C interface and openings for the earpiece and microphone at the bottom, and there is no 3.5mm audio port.
Although LetsgoDigital’s rendering model is different from the current forecast of the out-folding solution, the Xiaomi folding phone that adopts the out-folding solution may be from the “Xiaomi Folding Phone Prototype” that Xiaomi officially unveiled in January 2019. Get a glimpse of some of his thoughts on the outward folding scheme.
On January 23, 2019, Xiaomi President Lin Bin posted a video on his Weibo about operating the Prototype of the Xiaomi folding phone. Judging from the video, this phone adopts the method of folding outwards on both sides. In the unfolded state, it is more like an Android tablet (the crease can be seen on the screen). The screen ratio is about 4:3, which can be compared Fold the opposite sides on the long side.
The folded phone is more like an Android phone that can be operated normally. The screen ratio is similar to 16:9, the left and right edges are both screens, and the folded part only shows the background color.
After overcoming a series of technical problems such as flexible folding screen technology, four-wheel-drive folding hinge technology, flexible cover technology, and MIUI adaptation, we made the first folding-screen phone, which should also be the world’s first dual-folding phone.
This symmetrical double outer folding form perfectly combines the experience of using a tablet and a Smartphone, which is both practical and beautiful. Although it is still a prototype, I will send it out for everyone to see. If you like it, we will consider making it a mass production machine in the future.
At that time, in response to the above Weibo, Xiaomi’s product director Wang Teng also commented, he said:
Many companies are doing pre-research on folding shapes. What we do is to fold outwards and double folds. Outer folds are more difficult than inward folds, and double folds are the difficult double. Choosing the double-folding method allows the phone to be used normally whether it is folded or opened. The prototype is pretty cool, but there are still many difficulties that need to be overcome.
Judging from the content observed in the video on this website, this phone is not good enough in system configuration, and it is prone to jams and misoperation.
However, after two years of research and development, although the new face of the Xiaomi folding screen phone is still not known, it can be known that Xiaomi’s First Folding Screen Phone is no longer in the engineering stage, but is preparing to move forward in the production stage. On the whole, the folding screen phone of Xiaomi is just around the corner.
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