Skip to main content

Rumor links Xiaomi to a Galaxy Z Flip-style folding smartphone

Xiaomi may release a folding smartphone by the end of this year, and according to new rumors, the phone may resemble the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. This means that, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Fold or the Huawei Mate Xs, Xiaomi’s phone will be a clamshell device, designed to fold up and be easier to carry around than normal big-screen smartphones.

The rumor comes from sources in the supply chain, who state Xiaomi has approached Samsung Display to supply it with the screens needed, ready to start mass production of the phone during the second half of 2020. It’s not clear whether Samsung will be able to meet the demand, however.

In the ZDNet report on the supply chain rumor, an official is quoted as saying Samsung Display’s flexible screen production line is currently adjusting to cope with a future Samsung folding phone. This may not leave much room for Xiaomi, so should it come out with a folding phone, initial supplies may be limited providing the deal can be struck.

Xiaomi has been linked with folding smartphones before. In January 2019, Xiaomi co-founder Bin Lin showed off a working prototype on video. The phone was a backward folding device along the same lines as the Huawei Mate Xs. Towards the end of the year, it filed a patent for a clamshell folding smartphone, and renders were created around it, giving us an idea of what the final device may look like.

Like the Galaxy Z Flip, the Xiaomi phone is shown with a large internal screen and a smaller outside screen when folded up, which shows the time and notification icons. The hinge design looks slightly different to Samsung’s version, and the most recent report says Xiaomi is working on ensuring it’s very durable, while still enabling the same variable angle control seen on the Galaxy Z Flip.

Xiaomi also has a strong relationship with Samsung. It has used Samsung AMOLED screen panels in several of its phones, including the Mi 9, and apparently the Mi 10 too. It has also collaborated with the company on creating the 108-megapixel camera sensor used on the Galaxy S20 Ultra and the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro. This will likely put Xiaomi close to the top of the list for purchasing the folding screen panels when they are available.

If Xiaomi can secure the folding screens from Samsung and begins mass production after the summer, a release may come before the end of 2020. But production and release plans do change, especially given the continued uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
The 9 biggest phones we’re still expecting in 2023: iPhone 15, Pixel 8, and more
iPhone 14 Pro Max surrounded by other flagship phones.

Nearly a third of 2023 has already passed, and we’ve already seen a slew of new flagship phones from a variety of manufacturers. So far, we have had the OnePlus 11 and Samsung’s latest flagship Galaxy series, which includes the S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra.

But there’s still more than eight months left in the year, which means plenty of time for the other flagship phones to appear. We’re still expecting a lot in 2023, so let’s take a look at what we’re waiting for.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro

Read more
Latest Galaxy Z Flip 5 leak shows a big screen upgrade
The cover screen on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.

We've been hearing rumors regarding the exterior screen for the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 5 for a few months, but a new render seems to further corroborate those previous reports while also providing a sliver of new information. According to an image shared by SamMobile, expect the Z Flip 5 to have a screen that covers nearly the entirety of the closed top section of the foldable — a huge upgrade over the Z Flip 4.

The previous concept images we've seen (shared by YouTube leaker SuperRoader) imagined the front display to be split into two discrete parts: one small screen next to the cameras to display the time, battery life, and other quick information — plus a larger screen that takes up the rest of the space that can be used to respond to notifications, take selfies using the rear cameras, and interact with the rest of the phone's features without needing to unfold it.

Read more
Could this be our first look at the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5?
Concept render of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.

As the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has drawn closer, there's been plenty of speculation regarding what the new foldable will look like. Now, we may be one step closer to solving that mystery.

Recent concept images shared by Technizo Concept and YouTuber Super Roader aim to give fans an idea of what to expect when the Z Fold 5 is officially revealed, or when leaked renders inevitably start to surface. Before viewing the concept images, it's important to remember that they're just that: a concept. There's nothing official about what Technizo Concept has made; they're not leaked renders or official stills. Instead, the renders provide a look into what the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could look like based on information that's leaked so far, as well as recent trends in Samsung hardware.

Read more