Smartphone Makers Seek Foldable Phones with Flex Appeal
Mobile-phone makers think they have a solution to slowing sales: smartphones with big displays that fold up like books.
At least five of the world’s leading sellers of phones, including Apple Inc., have sought patents for folding models, which would mark the biggest design change to the flat rectangular slabs that have been ubiquitous since the dawn of the smartphone era a decade ago. At least two companies – Samsung Electronics Co. and Huawei Technologies Co. – have confirmed plans to release handsets with foldable displays; Huawei is targeting a release for next year.
Smartphone companies see such an innovation as necessary to arrest a sales slowdown tied in part to a lengthening cycle of device replacement. These days, consumers see less of a need to upgrade for incremental annual improvements in software, screen quality and camera capability.
In addition, creating displays that are larger but don’t take up much space in a purse or pocket takes on urgency as service providers roll out next-generation 5G wireless networks, accelerating a boom in consumption of video, virtual reality and other visually engaging media.
First, though, smartphone makers must overcome some challenges, such as developing a device flexible enough to fold in half that doesn’t sacrifice display quality and durability. Other hurdles include supply-chain limitations for the required materials, higher building costs and the ultimate commercial question: Will consumers want these phones?
“It will take several years to persuade consumers that these foldable phone factors will bring you good benefits, a better experience,” said Jusy Hong, a smartphone analyst at IHS Markit. Regardless, “the smartphone market has matured, and we need something new.”
智能手机商又出新招，开始研发折叠屏手机
手机制造商认为它们找到了解决销售增长放缓的办法，那就是屏幕可以像书本一样折叠的大屏智能手机。
苹果公司等全球至少五家畅销手机制造商已寻求获得折叠屏手机专利，这将标志着10年前智能手机时代开始以来无处不在的平面矩形屏幕的设计进步。至少三星电子和华为技术有限公司已证实，计划推出配有折叠屏的手机。华为的目标是明年发布。
智能手机公司认为，改革是阻止手机销售放缓和设备替换周期延长的必要之举。如今，消费者认为不太有必要为了每年改进一点的软件、屏幕质量和相机功能而更换设备。
此外，随着服务提供商推出下一代5G移动网络，加快视频、虚拟现实和其他视觉接触媒体的消费热潮，创造不占用钱包或口袋大量空间的更大手机屏幕成为一个紧迫任务。
首先，智能手机生产商必须克服一连串挑战，例如要研发出一款弹性足够大、可以一折二又不牺牲屏幕质量和耐用性的设备。其他挑战包括：所需材料的供应链局限性，产品造价攀升等等，而最终的商业问题是：消费者是否想要这样的手机?
IHS Markit智能手机分析师Jusy Hong说：“要说服消费者相信这类可折叠手机将给你带来好处以及更好的体验，将需要好几年时间;不管怎样，智能手机市场已经成熟，我们需要一些新的东西。”
