[Xiaomi's 7 Fold Smartphone] Xiaomi patented seven design options for a foldable smartphone

Back in December, reputable insider Ross Young revealed that four foldable smartphones from companies such as Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo will hit the market this year. He later clarified that only Xiaomi can release three different types of folding devices. It is now revealed that the company has patented seven different foldable smartphone designs.

Four patents contain information on new smartphone designs. Three of the described variants of devices have a form-factor of a vertical "clamshell", like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or Motorola RAZR. The first two patented devices have full-screen displays without notches or holes, while the third variant resembles an inverted Motorola RAZR.

Four more devices described in the patents are made in the form of a book, that is, they are reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy Fold design. Two of them boast an unusual design in which half of the internal screen can act as an external display. Two more options have a simpler design with an inner screen that folds in half.

Of course, at the moment these are just patents, but it is likely that Xiaomi will bring some of them to life already this year.

Source: Gizmochina [+]