At 2019 MWC two foldable smartphones were introduced, the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X. The main difference between the two folding telephones is obvious; the Samsung device folds inwards, while the Mate X folds outwards. A recently published patent shows that Huawei is working on a new folding phone that can be folded inwards. This model also has a full-screen front display, Named as Huawei Mate X 2 foldable smartphone.
Huawei Mate X 2 foldable smartphone with new design
In July 2018 (before the introduction of the Galaxy Fold), Huawei Technologies filed a design patent with the WIPO Global Design Database. The patent was published on June 18, 2019, and shows a folding phone that at first sight looks a lot like the Mate X.
If you look at the drawings better, you see that the device can be folded inwards, ideal when you carry the phone with you, so that the screen remains better protected against scratches and bumps. In addition, a second front screen has been added, making the design very similar to the Fold.
The design patent consists of eight drawings. This time no simple sketches, Huawei has added 3D design renders to the patent. This further indicates that the Chinese manufacturer is actually developing this device. It, therefore, seems to be a logical successor to the Mate X.
Just like with the Huawei Mate X, the patented smartphone has a sidebar. This includes the camera system, consisting of several camera lenses. The device will probably be fitted with Leica lenses again. Thanks to the use of a sidebar, an almost full-screen design can be created, without a notch. When you fold the phone, the large flexible screen is on the inside.
When using the device, it may also be useful in some cases to use only one screen section. Finally, you do not always need a tablet format screen. It is, therefore, an additional advantage that Huawei has added a second screen to the front of the device. This screen is also considerably larger than the front screen of the Galaxy Fold.
The housing also seems to be lifted to a new level. The device gets a metal housing and seems to be quite thin. The corners of the folding telephone are significantly rounder than the existing design. The button structure also differs from the existing Mate foldable smartphone.
One button is placed on the right-hand side, with the SIM compartment directly above it. A connection for the charger is missing from the drawings. It is possible that this smartphone can only be charged wirelessly, although it cannot be excluded that this connection will still be added to the final model.
The updated smartphone design seems to surpass in all respects the design of both the Mate X and the Galaxy Fold. During transport, the flexible screen remains well protected and you have a smaller, but full screen, front display at your disposal. Once unfolded, a large screen unfolds, without a notch.
Introducing a new foldable phone from Huawei
Unfortunately, it is still unclear when Huawei will unveil its second-generation foldable smartphone. The launch of both the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Mate X has been postponed for the time being. The reason for the Fold is clear. Samsung is working in the background on an improved flexible screen after several review copies broke within a day.
With the Huawei Mate foldable smartphone, it is a bit more complicated, although Huawei’s CEO has indicated that he also wants to carry out additional tests, in order to prevent a similar drama as with the Fold, it seems obvious that America’s ban here also played an important role in it. Finally, the company can no longer introduce smartphones that run on the Android OS.
Within a few months, the Ark OS / HongMeng OS could be ready, but the question is how this operating system will perform and whether Huawei will manage to create just as large an app store as Google has. This may get in the way of the introduction of new foldable phones. Finally, they are very expensive devices, where people want to know what they are buying.