An application was filed by Xiaomi at the China National Intellectual Property Administration with the patents for its first tri-fold smartphone in early September this year.
The patents leaked recently by 91mobiles give an insight into the design of the upcoming handset.
Additionally, there were some rumors from a reliable source on the popular Weibo platform last month about the manufacturer’s plans to develop such a handset.
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According to the leaked details, Xiaomi is opting for a design or form factor similar to that of the recently leaked tri-fold Huawei Mate XT. The smartphone will have three hinges that will allow users to use the smartphone with three screen size options for different usage modes and a large viewing experience. The renders also suggest that the Xiaomi tri-fold smartphone will have a thin profile and flat side frames.
The leaked patents reveal the camera setup on the back panel. There will be three sensors in a row on a horizontal bar at the top of its rear panel. There is also a narrow pill-shaped LED flash after the last sensor. The images also show that the smartphone will have a buttonless design.
Xiaomi is likely to offer the tri-fold smartphone under its MIX brand. The manufacturer often offers its smartphones with innovative screen options under the MIX series in the home country. The handset is likely to support Android like any Xiaomi smartphone, which will give it an edge over Huawei’s offering.
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It is still unclear if the Xiaomi tri-fold smartphone will remain a concept model or make its entry into the consumer market as an actual smartphone. According to tipsters, the development of the tri-fold smartphone is in the final stages. Going by their claim, the manufacturer will unveil the smartphone at the Mobile World Congress event in February 2025.
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