What do all the foldable smartphones we’ve seen so far have in common? They fold once and split in two. Regardless of the format (fold or flip), they all have a single hinge that divides the screen into two. Although developers have improved the format, it remains the same. However, it was only a matter of time before we saw larger foldable smartphones with two folds. A few weeks ago, the Chinese brand Tecno became the first one to show off its concept.
Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2. This is what the company is calling the strange conceptual smartphone. Because yes, the Phantom Ultimate 2 is just a concept, a technical test. It's just like the first version of the Phantom Ultimate, which was a concept of a rollable smartphone. What exactly does the term concept phone mean? That Tecno may never launch it. Nevertheless, seeing this smartphone’s results and possible uses is interesting.
From large to much larger. The key to foldable smartphones is that they take a large or relatively large screen and turn it into an even larger one. It’s the closest thing to a “phone that turns into a tablet” right now. The problem is that the unfolded screen format is more 1:1 than 4:3 or 18:9, which isn’t the best for viewing content. A dual-fold, or tri-fold, smartphone takes this idea a step further.
Tecno’s tri-fold screen. The Chinese company has implemented a 6.48-inch LTPO OLED display when folded. When you open it, the screen goes from 6.48 inches to 10 inches with a resolution of 2,880 x 1,620 pixels and a 4:3 format. In other words, you go from a large smartphone to a medium-sized tablet.
Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2. Image | Tecno
Tecno claims that the Phantom Ultimate 2 is the first foldable with TDDI technology. In other words, the display controller and touch sensor are on the same chip. But what’s more striking is its thickness of only 11 mm when fully folded. Knowing that it’s a concept, and with that in mind, we’re talking about a device that folds twice and is thinner than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. The rear cover is 0.25 mm thick.
The hinge. It’s normal to think that the screen is the most important thing in a foldable smartphone, but it’s really not that big a deal. The display is essential, yes, but the hinge is critical. Not only does it ensure that the device opens and closes, but how much or how little you notice the fold depends mainly on the hinge. In this sense, Tecno has implemented not one but two hinges, whose mechanisms, according to the company, can withstand 300,000 folds. The point is that the hinges aren’t in the middle of the smartphone but on the sides. So, when you use it folded, you won’t see any wrinkles.
Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2. Image | Tecno
Interesting uses. Beyond the apparent use (taking your smartphone out of your pocket on the subway and turning it into a tablet to watch a chapter of a show while you travel on the train), I can think of other uses, such as turning it into a small computer, a real-time translator for two people, or a device for collaborating on a document.
Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2. Image | Tecno
The next step in foldable smartphones. Although Tecno was the first to present its device publicly, it wasn’t the first manufacturer to show its work. Samsung unveiled its triple display prototype with dual fold at iMiD 2021, and TCL did the same at MWC 2022. Last week, Huawei announced its own tri-fold smartphone, the Mate XT Ultimate Design, and Xiaomi is also said to be developing one. What seems clear is that foldable phones are about to be completely revamped.
Images | Tecno
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