Attractive, but still very expensive, folding smartphones such as Galaxy Z Flip should become more widely available in 2024. The proof is with several new models at 500 euros presented at the MWC show in Barcelona.
Like every new technology, folding screens first equipped high-end smartphones. This is even still the case, notably at Samsung where the first model in flip format (clamshell) is available from 1100 euros. But since the technology is now rather well mastered, it becomes more accessible, in particular for other manufacturers who do not have the same resources and means as the electronics giants. This is what we saw in the aisles of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) show which is currently being held in Barcelona. Three brands offer mobiles in flip, clamshell format, for less than 600 euros, including two priced at around 500 euros.
Folding smartphone at 500 euros: ZTE, Energizer and BlackView in the running
At the Chinese ZTE, which owns the Nubia and RedMagic brands, the folding format materializes in the form of a very well finished mobile, the Nubia Flip 5G. The smartphone has a 6.9-inch Amoled main screen refreshed at 120 Hz. On the front, however, you will only have to rely on a small circular Oled screen capable of displaying notifications and providing some shortcuts to apps but little more.
The photo component is provided by a 50 Mpx sensor, a 2 Mpx depth sensor and a 16 Mpx selfie camera. The whole thing is powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC supported by 6 or 8 GB of RAM. Finally, the battery offers a capacity of 4310 mAh and fast charging at 33 W. The Nubia Flip 5G will be available shortly for 600 euros.
Another player to enter the affordable folding smartphone market: Energizer. The American brand, owned by the French company Avenir Télécom, is usually known for its rugged smartphones or those backed by very high capacity batteries. For next November, the brand promises the U660S. A foldable smartphone that we were able to handle at the show and which left us with a good impression.
The device has nice finishes and does not seem too heavy (180 g). On the front, it offers a small Oled screen to display notifications. The internal screen offers a display area of 6.67 inches. This U660S has two photo sensors, a main module of 64 Mpx and a second of 8 Mpx.
The whole thing is powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC supported by 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space. This 4G device, with its 4000 mAh battery, we were told, will be offered in fall 2024 at a price of 500 euros.
Finally, tight budgets can also turn to another player, located in Hong Kong this time, unknown in France and yet marketed in France: BlackView. The brand offers smartphones, tablets, rugged models but also a folding device, the Hero 1O. Like the Energizer U660S, it is also powered by a Mediatek Helio G99 SoC with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space.
Here we benefit from two photo sensors (108 Mpx + 8 Mpx) and a 32 Mpx selfie camera. The internal screen has a diagonal of 6.9 inches and the external screen 1.19 inches. The battery capacity increases to 4000 mAh and supports fast charging at 45 W. BlackView should offer this smartphone for less than 500 euros, we were told at the show.