If you thought that smartphones had reached their evolutionary peak, Motorola is ready to prove otherwise. With a flexible 6,9-inch pOLED display and a series of ingenious hinges, the company's new concept is a technological chameleon. It can transform from a classic flat “bar of soap” to an elegant bow, or even wrap around your wrist like a high-tech bracelet.
Motorola and the future of smartphones: beyond flexibility, towards adaptability
It is not the first time that Motorola has tried to "stress" the concept of flexibility for its smartphones. Already in 2016, its parent company Lenovo had presented a similar concept. Idem for other companies. This time, however, it seems that the technology is ripe to move from the laboratory to real life.
The new prototype offers a complete Android experience and can adopt different modes of use: at a glance the convergence between materials, form factor and component design is mature enough.
Technical features
First of all, the 6,9-inch POLED display with FHD+ resolution it is an engineering jewel. The real magic, however, lies in the hinges that allow the device to fold and adapt to different situations. In “stand-alone” mode, I read that the device offers a compact view on a 4,6-inch display. What if you're on the move? No problem, the device can be folded and worn like a bracelet, maintaining full connectivity.
The user interface was also designed to be intuitive and adaptable. When the phone changes modes, the UI changes to always offer an optimal visual experience. And that's not all: Motorola is also working on AI screensavers that change everything: from the format to the "responsiveness" towards different usage scenarios.
Futuristic vision
I'll say it again, for me Motorola didn't just create a gadget: it's truly exploring a new paradigm for smartphones. Lexi Valasek, from the American company's Research and Innovation team, showed the working prototype. And it's really convincing.
The brief (and uncertain) period of metamorphosis represented by folding phones has just begun and already feels outdated. With its ability to adapt and transform, the one brought by Motorola could very well be the next phase in the evolution of smartphones on the road to a convergence that will gradually also bring us viewers.
The future, it must be said, is increasingly flexible.