What do smartphones of the future look like? Do images from science fiction films (with all the holographic projections) immediately spring to mind? While that could eventually be the case, that reality is still a pipe dream for now. For some, the future is a lot closer and may already be at our doorstep. We are talking about foldable phones: regular-sized smartphones that can be transformed into something bigger (a tablet) or smaller (a closed clamshell phone) at will by the act of physically folding the device. While the jury is still out on whether foldable smartphones are the shape of the future, you can get a piece of these high-tech devices right here and right now—if you have the moolah for it!
The Best Foldable Phones In The Malaysian Market
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
Samsung is among the very first pioneers in foldable phone tech. The Galaxy Fold was released to high excitement and at a very high price tag too. However, it quickly turned to growing scepticism once the flaws of the new concept phone started to rear their ugly heads.
Then, Samsung went back to their drawing board and emerged a year later with the Galaxy Z Fold 2—a much-refined sequel from the original that had fixed a lot of its shortcomings while improving its strong points. The result? Arguably the best folding phone you can buy today.
Huawei Mate Xs
Not to be left behind in the foldable tech race, Huawei is providing some serious competition to Samsung with its Mate X series. While both the Galaxy Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 2 fold inward, Huawei did the inverse by designing the Mate X’s (and its updated version Mate Xs) display to fold outward. As cool as it may look, such an outward-folding mechanism makes the screen more susceptible to external harm.
Still, it can’t be denied that Huawei has pulled off a technological marvel with the Mate X and Mate Xs. But with the recent announcement of the Huawei Mate X2, you might be better off waiting for the newer model.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Samsung has used their foldable display tech to not only make a smartphone–tablet hybrid but also a clamshell-shaped phone that harkens back to the pre-smartphone era. The Galaxy Z Flip—when folded—becomes much more compact and this is the biggest benefit of such a form factor. This makes slipping it into your jeans pocket or handbag much more effortless than the big, bulky behemoths that dominate the market today.
Female users will love the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip’s chic design that also resembles a makeup cushion when folded. Besides, who doesn’t love the oh-so-satisfying feeling of ending a call by snapping the phone shut? It’s one of the best marriages of sophisticated technology and nostalgia.
Motorola Razr (2020)
Remember the super sleek Motorola Razr series of clamshell mobile phones that were all the rage back in the day? In 2019, with foldable screens made possible, Motorola resurrected the icon by giving us the modern era Motorola Razr. Reincarnated as a foldable phone, the Razr was launched to much fanfare, but issues with some of its hardware and mediocre specs coupled with an eyebrow-raising price tag somewhat dampened the crowd enthusiasm.
Less than a year after it was made available to consumers, the updated Motorola Razr (2020) was released, and it is an improvement over its predecessor in almost every way. Also new to the phone is 5G support.
Will There Be More Foldable Phones Coming To Malaysia Anytime Soon?
With the technology being relatively new in the industry and expensive to manufacture, we probably won’t be seeing an outpouring of foldable phones in the local market anytime soon. However, we’re also certain that it will not be the last we have seen of them for the rest of 2021.
There is every possibility for the Huawei Mate X2 to make its way into Malaysia later this year. Then, there are the next iterations of Samsung’s foldables to look forward to. It is heavily-rumoured that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is heavily rumoured to come with stylus support, and Samsung may also drop the Galaxy Z Flip 2 as part of their next big major launch in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, don’t be surprised to see the likes of Xiaomi and Oppo entering the playing field with their foldable debuts.
The Future Of Smartphone Or Expensive Gimmick? Foldable Phones Are Just Getting Started
There may come a time in the near future when foldable phones are the norm and we see everyone carrying one. Or they could go the way of past promising-yet-ultimately-doomed trends such as 3D movies. Either way, the tech is indeed exciting and opens up lots of possibilities for innovative ways to use a smartphone, even if it is still in very early stages. One thing’s for sure though. Whether you want to carry a tablet in your pants pocket or you desire a piece of nostalgia without sacrificing the latest features, you can own one in Malaysia right now!
There are a lot more smartphone innovations to check out, such as these fastest charging smartphones.
