Almost all designs have pros and cons, but Huawei’s latest foldable phone makes it hard to decide which is better.
When it comes to foldable phones, the Samsung name is probably the most visible. This is partly due to marketing and parties, as more foldable devices are now available on the market. However, it is not the only player, not by a long shot, and rival brands like OPPO and Vivo are beginning to emerge to challenge its position. However, disgraced Chinese brand Huawei has been playing this game just like Samsung, and has been pushing a different design in what is now considered a common fold. Seemingly giving it up, the beleaguered company is going back to its roots with a little feature that might really change the game.
Designer: huawei
While many people imagine that foldable phones can be folded like books, which is how Samsung’s “in-house” design works, it’s not the only way to fold. In fact, it’s the most effective method because of the many compromises you have to make. Such a device, for example, would be unusable when closed and folded unless there was a second screen outside. It also requires the folded area to have a gap, which means it doesn’t really fold without a few tricks.
By contrast, the “external” design that Huawei has adopted addresses these issues, though it has its own problems. You only need one screen, which cuts costs, and you can fold the phone because there’s already a natural curve on the outside of the screen. You can use the main ‘rear’ cameras to take selfies without having to hold the fragile phone precariously. On the other hand, this delicate and flexible screen is always outside, always exposed to the weather and any dangerous objects that can penetrate its softer material.
Last year’s Huawei Mate X2 ditched Samsung’s internal exterior design, and Samsung seems to have won that debate. However, with the Mate Xs 2, Huawei is aiming for a revival and has included a feature that makes the Galaxy Z Fold 3 look inept. Huawei’s latest foldable phone supports the stylus, but unlike Samsung’s version, it actually works whether the phone is unlocked or folded.
With the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung made the decision not to make the external “Display Cover” compatible with its S Pen Fold version, mainly because it uses different technologies than regular Galaxy Note phones. This means you’ll need to unlock your phone first to use the stylus on the flexible display inside. Since it uses the same screen anyway, the Huawei Mate Xs 2 doesn’t have to compromise on features just because it’s folded in half.
Whether this works in practice is still unknown, mainly because the Huawei Mate Xs 2 has yet to be released more widely. It’s currently only being sold in China, for $1,500, and there’s no word yet on a global release. Samsung will also launch the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in a few months, but the first leaks and rumors do not paint a very hopeful picture. We’re still far from that point where people don’t have to compromise or risk losing their investment in foldable phones, which means the device category still has a long way to go before it becomes mainstream.
