Xiaomi's Tri-Fold Phone Patent Revealed: Z-Shaped Fold, Aligned with Huawei's Design

Xiaomi's Tri-Fold Phone Patent Revealed: Z-Shaped Fold, Aligned with Huawei's DesignFast Technology reported on September 18th that Huawei's sudden unveiling of a tri-fold phone showcased its powerful technological research and development capabilities in the field of foldable screens. However, other manufacturers have also been actively laying the groundwork in this area

Xiaomi's Tri-Fold Phone Patent Revealed: Z-Shaped Fold, Aligned with Huawei's Design

Fast Technology reported on September 18th that Huawei's sudden unveiling of a tri-fold phone showcased its powerful technological research and development capabilities in the field of foldable screens. However, other manufacturers have also been actively laying the groundwork in this area. Based on information released by the State Intellectual Property Office on September 3rd, Xiaomi's patent for an "Appearance Design of a Phone and its Main Body" was made public, revealing the design plan for Xiaomi's tri-fold phone.

The patent authorization announcement number is "CN308817132S", with an application date of December 21st, 2022. There are two proposed designs, both of which utilize the Z-shaped folding method consistent with Huawei's approach. Sketches show that the Xiaomi tri-fold phone features a thin body with a horizontally arranged triple-camera setup on the rear, accompanied by an LED flash.

While this phone may be a mere product of Xiaomi's ongoing research and patent reserves in the tri-fold technology, it signifies Xiaomi's exploration and investment in the field of foldable screen technology.

It is worth noting that early in 2019, Xiaomi co-founder Lin Bin unveiled Xiaomi's first dual-fold smartphone, a concept with striking similarities to today's "tri-fold" idea. At the time, the phone Lin Bin demonstrated was more of a technical showcase, with a folding mechanism that was impractical for regular use. Nonetheless, it signaled Xiaomi's commitment to building a foundation in foldable screen technology.

Lin Bin explained that Xiaomi's dual-fold phone had overcome a series of technical challenges, including flexible foldable screen technology, four-wheel folding hinge technology, flexible cover technology, and MIUI adaptation. This was likely the world's first dual-fold phone.

From Xiaomi's early dual-fold phone to the current exposure of its tri-fold phone patent, it's evident that Xiaomi has been continuously exploring and accumulating knowledge in foldable screen technology. While there's no definitive indication of Xiaomi's tri-fold phone officially launching, this patent revelation undoubtedly signals Xiaomi's persistent commitment to innovating in the foldable screen space, bringing more surprises and advancements to users.