14 DAY TRIAL // While Microsoft’s foldable Surface Phone continues to be a dream that never seems to come true, other companies might embrace this approach sooner, and one of them could be LG.
A patent filed by LG in 2016 envisions a handset that at first glance appears to be similar to what Microsoft has in mind for the Surface Phone, though the South Koreans take this approach one step forward and offer some extra features as well.
Basically, the Surface Phone is all about the foldable screens and the revolutionary hinge that holds them together, and while LG also appears to be thinking of a similar approach, they’re also exploring a design allowing for two different batteries and two headphone jacks.
The patent was discovered by LetsGoDigital and is simply called “mobile terminal,” discussing a handset whose design would allow for multiple form factors depending on the position or angle of the displays. This is something we’ve heard about on a possible Microsoft Surface Phone as well, but for the time being, everything appears to be in the concept stage and nothing more.
Two displays, two batteries, two headphone jacks
The LG model could serve as a tablet when flat, with the foldable displays also enabling a phone design, with extra features shown on the side, like icons, date, and time.
The displays can also be used independently, so while on one screen the user can watch a movie, for instance, the other can be used for browsing the web or anything else.
Interestingly, the patent also envisions a fingerprint sensor integrated into one of the displays, a technology that giants like Apple and Samsung have been trying to develop for quite some time. The other screen could come with a dual-camera system or a 3D camera. Each display would be powered by a separate battery, and when used flat like a tablet, the device would benefit from increased battery life.
As with everything in patent stage, it’s worth reminding this is just an idea and nothing more, with no sign that mass production could begin anytime soon.
