Skip to main content

Check out TCL’s cool new foldable concept phones

MWC 2025
Read our complete coverage of Mobile World Congress

Despite early teething problems, foldable screen technology is finding its way into an increasing number of innovative new devices. Foldable screens mean that manufacturers can create devices that, in theory, offer the portability of a typical smartphone, with the screen real estate of a tablet. Properly implemented, this gets you the best of both worlds.

TCL has unveiled two intriguing concept phones that could add further variety to mobile devices. While at first glance they appear similar to other foldables, a closer look reveals unique hidden talents.

Recommended Videos

Fold n Roll

TCL Fold n Roll concept device.
TCL

The key to the Fold n Roll’s party trick lies in its name. It features a screen that measures roughly 7-inches when unfolded, but which can then be extended still further to 8.8-inches via a mechanism that unrolls an extra section of screen from one side of the device. This way, TCL is able to cram an even larger screen into the phone without increasing its overall size.

The screen features 2880 x 2160 resolution, which works out to 360ppi (pixels per inch). It’s 8mm thick when unfolded and 18mm thick when folded. That means there’s probably a 2mm gap between the two halves when it’s folded up.

Ultra Flex

TCL Ultra Flex concept device.
TCL

The Ultra Flex appears to be a somewhat more traditional foldable smartphone, if traditional is a word that can be applied to any of these unusual, bleeding-edge devices. It implements a 360-degree hinge design so that it can go from a closed clamshell to a tablet to a more standard smartphone format.

The screen is an 8.01-inch PLP AMOLED 2489 x 1860 resolution display that supports the active pen stylus. Looking at the design, we can see that it has two sets of cameras: A rear array with three cameras and a flash and two front-facing cameras.

Folding into a flexible market

TCL has been working on foldable phones for some time now but has yet to actually launch one. They face stiff competition from other brands that have already established themselves in the foldable phone market. Samsung is already on its third iteration of their Galaxy Z Fold series, with the Fold 3 being a fearsomely capable device.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G.
Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

It’s much like TCLs Ultra Flex, but the Fold 3 offers a second whole screen so that it can be used as a phone with the main camera array still available. The Ultra Flex, on the other hand, takes the approach of implementing a 360-degree hinge so that it doesn’t need that extra display. The tradeoff is that in phone mode you can only use the smaller front-facing camera array. A potential advantage of The Ultra Flex design is that when folded closed, all of its screen space is protected, much like a classic flip phone.

Though we have no indication of how either device might be priced, it is logical to assume that the Ultra Flex might be a relatively affordable foldable when compared to the Fold 3. Since it doesn’t have a second exterior screen like the Fold 3, that should keep costs down.

Concepts worth having

The Fold n Roll is clearly aimed at shrinking the footprint of foldables without sacrificing screen space. To me, this is an important factor, as one thing that has put me off of these devices is that they tend to be bulkier than standard smartphones. The Fold n Roll could offer a more pocket-friendly alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

It’s important to remember that these TCL foldable phones are still just concept devices, so they may well change dramatically when and if they eventually hit the market.

Andy Zahn
Andy Zahn is a freelance writer and photographer living on a small farm in the shadow of Mt. St. Helens. He currently writes…
This is our best look yet at Google’s new foldable Pixel phone
A close-up render of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Thanks to 91Mobiles, we’re gaining more insight into the upcoming Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Recently released official-looking product renders offer our best glimpse into the phone’s design.

The recently leaked images by tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer (@OnLeaks) showcase the new foldable phone in Obsidian and Porcelain colors. The phone appears to have a wider aspect ratio than the original Google Pixel Fold, which this new phone is anticipated to replace. In addition, we expect the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will feature a taller cover screen and a larger inner folding screen than its predecessor.

Read more
Forget the Galaxy Z Fold 6. This new folding phone already beat it
Vivo X Fold 3 Pro held in hand.

Foldable phones are pretty darn expensive. This means buying more than one is usually off the table for most folks, including those who already have the money to buy one. So if you buy a foldable that good but not great, you're most likely going to end up with buyer's remorse and even end up hating the form factor altogether. 
That brings me to Vivo's newest sideways folding smartphone: the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro. It's the most put-together foldable phone I have used to date, leading with many superlatives in the category. This includes the brightest display on a foldable, the fastest charging on a foldable, and arguably some of the best cameras paired with Zeiss' incredible science. It may very well be the best Android phone -- not just the best foldable -- I have used so far. 

The X Fold 3 Pro is Vivo's third Fold, as the name gives away. But it's only the first time that Vivo has the confidence to release it outside of China. The phone is still only selling in parts of Asia for now, and while there is some hope for it to launch in Europe, that may depend on its success in the existing markets. For Vivo, however, it's more of a statement piece than just a product, which is why it has gone above and beyond in making it one of its most likable devices so far. 
I have been using the phone for about three weeks, and I feel it challenges the limitations that incumbent leaders in the category blame for their lack of innovation -- save the folding screen. Here's why I thnk it is the best foldable and may have beat the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 even before its formal announcement. 
Unmatched ergonomics

Read more
This new folding phone costs less than half the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max
ZTE Flip 5G color options.

Earlier this year, ZTE offshoot Nubia showed off a foldable phone, and expectedly, the biggest draw was its supposedly attractive asking price. As U.S. shoppers waited for the phone to hit retail shelves, ZTE launched it in Japan as the Libero Flip. Thankfully, the wait is finally over on this side of the Atlantic, as well.

Nubia's website has recently listed the Nubia Flip 5G for pr-eorder on its website. The best part is the asking price, which is only $500 for the base variant with a respectable 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. You can bump the RAM to 12GB and double the storage capacity for an additional $200.

Read more