Ross Young, founder of the research companies Display Supply Chain Consultants and DisplaySearch, has published some interesting information for Xiaomi fans who are eager to launch smartphones in a new format, especially foldable devices.
According to information it has received from its supply chain sources, Xiaomi will be the next manufacturer to launch a foldable smartphone. More precisely, next year Xiaomi has big plans, as the Chinese manufacturer is preparing to launch not one or two, but three models.
So the next foldable to hit the market is likely to be from Xiaomi, which is expected to have 3 foldables on the market in 2021. In fact, they will have all 3 types. The first will be foldable, the second will be foldable and the third will be cupped.
– Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) December 24, 2020
The source adds that the screen of the first smartphone will fold around the body of the smartphone when folded. The main screen can support 90 and 120 Hz refresh rates and will be covered with an ultra-thin Samsung UTG protective glass. The Xiaomi phone with foldable screen, code-named Cetus, must be equipped with a 108MP camera and run Android 11 ready for use.
The screen of the second smartphone will fold inward and be protected from damage by the case. The third smartphone will look like the modern Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Moto Razr 2019 shells.
It should be added that Xiaomi showed a foldable smartphone prototype in early 2019.
Xiaomi folding phone with code name Cetus leaked in code MIUI12
A few weeks ago, XDA senior member kacskrz discovered a new Xiaomi phone with the code name ‘Cetus’ from the code for the latest MIUI 12 beta. One of the return key values is ‘isFlodAbleDevice’. The latter is a deliberate spelling mistake. It must be osFoldAbleDevice. Another proof is that there are fields in the display code to monitor and identify the folding status. So there is every reason to think that we are dealing with Xiaomi’s first foldable phone.
In terms of configuration, the information that can be seen is limited. However, it does include a Snapdragon processor, the underlying Android 11 system, a 108MP main camera, etc.
Previously, Xiaomi had demonstrated a prototype of a foldable smartphone. In addition, it also launched the concept of the MIX Alpha surround screen. However, there was no follow-up information. Honestly, Lei Jun said that making a smartphone with a surround screen is not easy. This simply meant that Xiaomi was not focusing on this phone at the moment.
On the other hand, the counterparts of Android Samsung and Huawei, foldable screen phones generated a great response from the market. Considering that Huawei is encountering difficulties, it may be a good time for Xiaomi to launch a foldable screen.