The world’s first foldable phone is getting a sequel next week - Android

The world’s first foldable phone didn’t come from Samsung or Huawei, as it came from Chinese display maker Royole in late 2018. The Royole Flexpai wasn’t the most polished example of a foldable phone though, and more prominent companies quickly overtook the display firm in terms of volume and design.

Now, Royole CEO Liu Zihong has confirmed (h/t: MyDrivers) that the Flexpai 2 is coming on March 25. News of a Flexpai 2 isn’t new, as the display maker previously said it was planning to reveal the second-generation foldable at MWC.

At the time of the MWC announcement, Royole said the new device would offer “flagship performance” and “next-generation flexible technologies.” Zihong has now confirmed that the Royole Flexpai 2 will indeed offer a Snapdragon 865 processor and dual-mode 5G support.

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The Royole Mirage smart speaker has a wraparound touchscreen display

Royole was the company that launched the first foldable smartphone with a flexible display in early 2019 with the Royole FlexPai. Today at CES 2020, Royole announced its second product that uses its flexible display …

In other words, there’s a good chance that the Flexpai sequel will be the most powerful foldable phone on the market upon its release. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is equipped with last year’s flagship silicon, while the Motorola Razr offers 2018’s upper mid-range SoC.

The biggest question is whether Royole can deliver a more durable yet polished design. Foldable phones generally use plastic screens that are prone to scratches, although the Galaxy Z Flip also uses a layer of ultra-thin glass as well. So if we’re seeing the first Flexpai’s screen tech on the new device, then you’ll want to take extra special care of it. Hopefully Royole gives us a more aesthetically pleasing hinge compared to the original (seen below) too.

We’re also wondering about availability, as the consumer version of the original Flexpai was only available in China (save for the sketchy Escobar Fold). So here’s to the Royole Flexpai 2 having a wider launch.

What would you like to see from the Flexpai 2 in terms of features and design? Let us know below!

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