TCLFlexV: A $40 Bargain or a Mere Gimmick?

TCLFlexV: A $40 Bargain or a Mere Gimmick?The first half of 2024 saw a surge in the small foldable phone market, with brands like Motorola, Honor, Xiaomi, and Huawei launching new models and pushing prices down, signaling a potential era of mainstream adoption. However, amidst these new releases, a forgotten gema TCLFlexV engineering devicereemerges into the public eye, priced at a mere $40

TCLFlexV: A $40 Bargain or a Mere Gimmick?

The first half of 2024 saw a surge in the small foldable phone market, with brands like Motorola, Honor, Xiaomi, and Huawei launching new models and pushing prices down, signaling a potential era of mainstream adoption. However, amidst these new releases, a forgotten gema TCLFlexV engineering devicereemerges into the public eye, priced at a mere $40.

What allure does this unreleased engineering model possess that justifies spending even $40 to try?

TCLFlexV: A Forgotten Foldable Dream

The story of TCLFlexV dates back to 2013. That year, Samsung showcased its Youm flexible OLED plan at CES, officially igniting the foldable phone era.

As technology progressed, 2019 saw the arrival of foldable phones like the Motorola Razr2019, Samsung Galaxy Fold, and Huawei MateX, marking the official entry of foldable devices into mass production.

TCL also sought its share in this landscape. In 2019, TCL Electronics' subsidiary, Huaxing Optoelectronics, displayed various foldable concept devices at MWC2019, including a 7.2-inch large foldable screen, an outward folding device, and several small foldable models with different form factors.

In 2021, TCL unveiled its Fold'nRoll concept product, combining Huaxing Optoelectronics' "Dragon Hinge" technology and extendable display panels to achieve an 8.85-inch to 10-inch giant screen, showcasing TCL's ambition in foldable technology.

Finally, TCLFlexV made its official debut at MWC2022. This phone features a 6.64-inch FHD+ flexible OLED screen supporting HDR10 true color, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, equipped with a 48MP main camera + 16MP ultra-wide-angle dual camera setup, and supports wireless charging.

A $40 Foldable: Bargain or Gimmick?

The TCLFlexV engineering device has attracted attention with its incredibly low price, but is it truly worth purchasing?

Design: Unique and Appealing

TCLFlexV sports a light gold frosted glass back panel paired with a metal frame, resulting in a simple, elegant, and smooth-to-the-touch design.

The secondary display sits above the rear dual camera module, featuring a slender 1.1-inch design. While the resolution is low, black borders are wide, and there are issues with illumination, the overall design remains rather harmonious.

Screen: Good Crease Control

TCLFlexV's screen crease control is remarkably good, barely noticeable to the touch. It's only perceptible at specific angles.

This is attributed to Huaxing Optoelectronics' flexible screen technology and TCL's hinge technology, which had already achieved a high level of maturity in 2022.

Hardware: Slightly Lacking Performance

The Snapdragon 765G processor powering TCLFlexV delivers an average performance, incapable of smoothly running demanding games.

By 2022, processors like Snapdragon 778G or Dimensity 1080/Dimensity 1100 had already emerged, making TCLFlexV's choice of the Snapdragon 765G seem slightly "outdated."

Imaging: Decent

TCLFlexV boasts a 48MP main camera + 16MP ultra-wide-angle dual camera setup. The main camera supports OIS optical image stabilization, with somewhat average image quality. Overall colors tend to be yellowish, and performance in extremely dark environments is subpar.

System: High Completion Rate

TCLFlexV's system is fully adapted for 90-degree folding. The upper half displays the viewing screen, while the lower half becomes a functional options area, enhancing the photo experience and flexibility.

Summary: High Completion Rate, But Lacking Competitiveness

TCLFlexV is a highly finished product with a unique design, excellent screen experience, and a high system completion rate. However, its hardware configuration lags behind its contemporaries, hindering its competitiveness.

Ultimately, TCLFlexV failed to make it to the market due to its lack of competitive pricing and challenges posed by component shortages and rising production costs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is a $40 TCLFlexV Engineering Unit Worth It?

For users with experience in gadget tinkering, a $40 TCLFlexV engineering unit can serve as a tool to experience foldable phones, but it's not recommended as a primary device.

Overall, TCLFlexV is a foldable phone forgotten by time. While it possesses a solid hardware and software foundation, it ultimately lost to market competition and pricing strategies. Its emergence showcases TCL's technical prowess in the foldable domain and highlights the bumpy and challenging path of foldable phone development.

Future Outlook: Trends in Foldable Phone Development

While the foldable phone market has seen rapid growth in recent years, it remains in its early stages and faces the following challenges:

- Price: Foldable phones remain expensive, hindering adoption in the mass market.

- Technology: Foldable technology requires further improvement, such as enhancing screen durability, reducing creases, and extending battery life.

- Applications: Applications for foldable phones are still being explored, requiring innovative uses to unlock their potential.

To address these challenges, foldable phone manufacturers need constant innovation, pushing boundaries in technology, design, and applications to truly unlock the market and accelerate the adoption of foldable phones.

Conclusion:

TCLFlexV's emergence illuminates the historical footprint of foldable phone development and fuels anticipation for their future. With continuous technological advancements, we can expect foldable phones to become even more powerful, more practical, and ultimately become an indispensable part of our lives.