Foldable phones are the new fashion in the Android world, and it seems like a flurry of new devices could hit the market starting in the third quarter of this year. DigiTimes reports that in addition to the new Samsung Galaxy Fold and Flip devices, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo also launched new foldable phones in 2021.
Samsung reportedly plans to release the Galaxy Z Fold 3 sometime in July. It will serve as the company’s major smartphone flagship in the second half of the year. Samsung reportedly confirmed that a new entry in its Galaxy Note range will not be released in 2021. The smaller Galaxy Z Flip 2 is also expected to hit the market in July.
DigiTimes also reports that Xiaomi plans to launch new foldable phones later this year. Details on these devices have not been disclosed, but they are expected to cost less than the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold, which launched earlier this year and had a startup cost of 9,999 yuan (~ $ 1,521 USD) in China.
Continue reading: The best foldable phones you can buy
In late 2020, Oppo introduced a concept phone, the Oppo X 2021, which included a rollable display that expanded the phone’s screen from 6.7 inches to 7.4 inches. At the time, said Oppo Android Authority There were no plans to produce a commercial version of this concept anytime soon. However, DigiTimes Now claims Oppo is preparing a rollable display phone for launch in the second half of 2021. The article also mentions that Vivo is launching a new foldable phone this year, but without giving any further details. According to a recent rumor, Vivo is working on a foldable clamshell phone similar to the Galaxy S Flip with a 7-inch main display that folds into a small 2-inch display when closed.
