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Motorola's foldable display RAZR leaks ahead of today's launch
Motorola's upcoming foldable display RAZR has leaked just hours before the company is likely to announce it at an event in Los Angeles. These new photos of the phone come courtesy of a Federal Communications Commission certification. And while they don't reveal much about the phone we didn't already know, they do provide us with our best look at the device yet.
Motorola's foldable RAZR may have been spotted in the wild
Yesterday a flurry of leaked photos showed Motorola's upcoming RAZR posed for press pics, but now a picture has surfaced on China's Weibo network claiming to show one in the wild. Sunniton posted this picture saying it was the real thing, showing the device fully unfolded, in someone's hands. The chunky bottom chin is on full display, and what appears to be a notch at the top. At this point we've heard all about its purported $1,500 price, midrange-ish specs and of course, the flexible screen inside that might bring back the classic feeling of snapping a phone closed to end a call. Yesterday's pictures also showed that the device could be used by touch with it folded closed thanks to controls and a small screen on the outside that's also useful for taking selfies. With less than two weeks to go before Motorola's planned press event on November 13th, we can only wait and see what else leaks out before the device is officially revealed.
Motorola's foldable display RAZR leaks in first official-looking images
Perennial leaker Evan Blass has shared what looks like our first offical look at Motorola's upcoming foldable display RAZR phone. In contrast to the fan render Motorola used to tease the phone back May, the image Blass shared appears to be an official marketing image. Unsurprisingly, the device looks a lot like the original RAZR, complete with a thick bottom lip. Thanks to the flip phone factor of the device, it looks like the front-facing camera will allow you to take both selfies and regular shots by folding out the display. There's also what appears to be a front-facing fingerprint sensor on the chin.
Samsung teases a clamshell foldable phone concept
Samsung's foldable display tech won't just be limited to book-like phones akin to the Galaxy Fold. The company used its annual Developer Conference to preview a vertically folding, clamshell-style form factor. The company only said it was "exploring" the concept as part of its overall work on foldable devices, but it clearly put some thought into the technology. A short demo showed a user recording video in full screen at one moment, and creating a split view with more extensive controls when folding the phone 90 degrees. This might be ideal for recording your hands-free TikTok clips -- you'd have a built-in stand.
TCL’s tri-fold prototype phone folds in thirds like an accordion
Now that we have phones that fold in half, companies are starting to imagine phones that fold in thirds. In January, Xiaomi teased a concept phone that folds on both sides. This week, CNET got its hands on another concept by TCL. This one starts as a ten-inch tablet and has dual hinges that fold in opposite directions like an accordion.
Huawei will finally release its $2,400 Mate X phone on November 15th
After multiple delays, Huawei's foldable Mate X is nearly ready for launch -- but only in its homeland. Huawei is launching the phone in China on November 15th for ¥16,999, or roughly $2,400. Suddenly, the Galaxy Fold seems like a bargain. You do get 5G wireless, 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for your trouble, although there's no Samsung-like concierge service here. There is a ¥2,699 (about $380) screen repair service, which you might just need when the fragile foldable display sits on the outside.
Samsung's Galaxy Fold Premier Service debuts in the US
Did you buy the updated Galaxy Fold now that it's finally available? You now have the posh support to go with it. Samsung has launched its Galaxy Fold Premiere Service in the US, offering all of the foldable phone's buyers dedicated support through video chat (through the Members app) or conventional voice calls. If you're in the right location, you can also get in-person tutorials.
iFixit tears down Samsung's 'improved' Galaxy Fold
iFixit pulled its first Galaxy Fold teardown after Samsung scrapped the phone's April launch to improve its durability. Now that the foldable has finally reached stores, though, it's ready for take two. The DIY repair site has posted a teardown for the revised Galaxy Fold that reveals both the known innards and, crucially, the additional protections for that folding screen.
Samsung's Galaxy Fold will have support from 'hundreds' of apps
Foldable phones aren't worth much without apps that can take advantage of their screens -- Huawei even postponed the Mate X to give app makers more time to optimize their titles. That might not be much of a problem now that the revised Galaxy Fold is finally ready to make its debut. Samsung revealed that it has worked with Google and developers to bring Fold support to "hundreds" of apps, including big names like Amazon Prime Video, Facebook, Spotify and Twitter. This comes after Samsung and Google set up test labs that have spent months helping app makers fine-tune their work for the Fold.
Samsung cancels Galaxy Fold pre-orders to 'rethink' the experience
Samsung may be on the cusp of launching the updated Galaxy Fold, but that isn't stopping the company from making last-minute changes to its launch plans. As YouTubers, writers and others have discovered first-hand, Samsung is cancelling all Galaxy Fold pre-orders from its online store in order to "rethink the entire customer experience," ranging from the actual purchase through to after-sale support. This includes the just-announced Premier Service that gives foldable phone buyers around-the-clock direct access to experts.
Samsung's next foldable phone reportedly tucks into a square
Samsung still hasn't shipped the Galaxy Fold, but it apparently has a follow-up in the pipeline. Bloomberg sources claim the tech firm is developing a phone with a 6.7-inch screen that folds into a square much like a classic clamshell phone. It wouldn't just spark nostalgia for flip phones, either. The company reportedly wants this device to be thinner and more affordable than the $1,980 Fold, and is said to be partnering with designer Thom Brown on a look that would appeal to those interested in "fashion, status and luxury." It won't be that inexpensive, then.
You can once again pre-register to buy the Samsung Galaxy Fold
After a more than five-month delay, it looks like Samsung, true to its word, is on track to launch the Galaxy Fold this September. As of Monday, the company is once again allowing consumers in the US to pre-register to purchase its first foldable smartphone. The fact Samsung is allowing individuals to pre-register to buy the Fold suggests we'll see the phone finally make its way to consumers sometime later this month.
Our foldable future is running a little late, and that's OK
From the moment it was first teased last year, Samsung's Galaxy Fold convinced many that foldable phones were the next frontier to conquer. To no one's surprise, it wasn't long before competitors announced foldable plans of their own, feeding a cycle of hype that culminated at this year's Mobile World Congress. Samsung showed off the Galaxy Fold to the public (albeit, behind glass). Huawei unveiled its Mate X, a beautiful rival to Samsung's device that somehow cost even more. And Motorola, which had long been rumored to be working on a foldable, indiscreetly confirmed its plans to launch one this year. By this point, industry watchers and phone nerds had worked themselves into something of a foldable frenzy, and Samsung was supposed to be the first to scratch that itch. The Galaxy Fold was slated to launch in the United States on April 26th, but that, uh, clearly didn't happen.
Samsung chief says he pushed Galaxy Fold 'before it was ready'
Samsung hasn't commented much on its decision to delay the Galaxy Fold and address design flaws, but it's opening up a little today. The company's electronics division CEO, DJ Koh, told those at a media event that he "pushed [the phone] through before it was ready." The setback was "embarrassing," he added. While Koh didn't elaborate on what happened, the statement suggests that Samsung was in a hurry to get the Fold out the door and claim some bragging rights.
Samsung's Galaxy Fold delay could extend through July?
The strange case of Samsung's Galaxy Fold may drag on throughout the summer, according to a report in The Korea Herald. The outlet -- which reported in May that Samsung would reach a conclusion on the launch in a couple of days -- now says that according to company officials, if it were going to launch in July then they'd be preparing by now. It also mentions CEO DJ Koh telling another outlet just last week that the device would arrive before July. So what's the truth? At this point it's tough to discern beyond the company's actions. In a week, we'll be two months clear of Samsung announcing a delay in the launch after several reviewers experienced broken units. A week later Samsung told investors it would still release the device, and planned to announce a new launch date in the coming weeks.
Samsung still doesn't know when the Galaxy Fold will launch
Remember how Samsung said it would narrow down its plans to relaunch the Galaxy Fold sometime in mid-May? Well, it's been a month -- and now those rumors of an extended delay appear to be coming true. A spokesperson has reiterated to CNET that a new release date is still due sometime in "the coming weeks," suggesting that you might not get a new release date until July or later. Given that the phone was originally supposed to be in customer's hands in late April, would-be buyers might just face a delay of three months or more.
Lenovo stole a fan's video to promote the foldable Motorola RAZR
Yesterday, Lenovo shared a promotional video for the rumored foldable Motorola RAZR. While the 30-second teaser was shared with members of the media during a group interview and was accompanied by the Lenovo logo, it appears that the company used video from a fan and branded it as its own. The footage that was played by Lenovo was actually spliced together from a render created by tech YouTuber Waqar Khan. According to Khan, he didn't give Lenovo permission to use the concept images that he created. Engadget has reached out to Lenovo and Motorola regarding the video and will update this story if we hear back.
Here's how Samsung may fix the Galaxy Fold's design flaws
When Samsung said it was delaying the release of the Galaxy Fold to fix its design issues, it didn't really say how it would address the flaws. You might have a clearer idea after today, though. Yonhap News claims Samsung will tuck the protective display layer into the body, preventing users from peeling it off under the mistaken belief that it's an everyday screen protector. It will also block the gaps at the top and bottom of the hinge to prevent debris from wrecking the foldable display, according to the South Korean news outlet.
Motorola's foldable RAZR appears in supposed leak
Images of an unannounced new version of the Motorola RAZR appear to have leaked online. The renders, which first appeared in a post on Weibo and were reuploaded to SlashLeaks, depict a vertically folding screen design. They also show off a wireless charging station and range of accessories, all of which seems to fit in a triangular box.
iFixit: Samsung's Galaxy Fold is 'alarmingly fragile' (updated)
There's been another teardown of the Galaxy Fold, and this one might help explain why Samsung decided to delay the phone's launch. iFixit has conducted a part-by-part dissection that suggests the design is "alarmingly fragile," particularly around the hinge. While the actual folding mechanism appears sturdy (if possibly vulnerable to wearing down in the long run), there's no ingress protection -- dirt can easily slip inside, potentially getting stuck between the hinge and the plastic OLED screen.
