The foldable smartphone market recently took a giant leap with the launch of the first-ever tri-folding smartphone, the Huawei Mate XT Ultra Design. Rumors also suggest that companies like HONOR and Xiaomi are already working on similar designs. Now, it seems we may have a new contender in the foldable market and it’s none other than Microsoft. A new patent filed by Microsoft reveals its intentions of jumping into the foldable battle with a 360-degree foldable device.
Microsoft’s patent reveals details and sketches of a 360-degree foldable device
Yesterday, folks over at MSPowerUser spotted a 38-page patent published on the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website. It should be noted that the patent was filed by Microsoft back in February 2021. Interestingly, the patent showcases a 360-degree foldable device that Microsoft could be planning to land on the market.
Microsoft’s patent further reveals that the device can double up as a tablet, a laptop, or other computing devices. The 360-degree foldable device includes a rear cover, a glass layer, and a light-emitting layer placed in between. There are special slots in both the cover glasses and the backplate that allow them to bend smoothly without any creases when folded.
What’s more interesting is that this foldable device folds in different directions. In simple words, this allows display panels on the left and right sides to face each other and turn away from each other. The folding mechanism is somewhat similar to that of Microsoft Surface Duo 2. But unlike the Surface Duo 2 which had visible hinges that join two separate screens, this one has a unified hinge mechanism similar to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Time will tell if we’ll ever see this device
Microsoft in its patent mentions that the 360-foldable device utilizes laser modification and wet etching techniques to provide smooth transitions allowing it to rotate without any creases. Besides, this also allows for maintaining the structure of the touch display module. It is worth noting that the device can be folded in 0, 180, 300, and 360 degrees.
All that said, it is an interesting design choice by Microsoft, especially when most foldable these days fold inwards. We can’t confirm if or when will Microsoft launch this 360-foldable device in the market. Moreover, if Microsoft pulls off this design, it could be a groundbreaking tech product to rule the foldable segment.