Last week we took a look at some of the flagship smartphones that are on the market to give you a good idea of this year’s cream of the proverbial crop, but in 2020 smartphone innovation has taken a big leap forward. Today, we take a look at some of the devices that are pushing the envelope in the smartphone space.
LG Wing
The LG Wing is the first device we are going to look at that has changed things up. It looks like a standard smartphone would, but when you get it in your hand a flick of the thumb changes everything. The LG Wing has a 6.8-inch P-OLED display that flips up to horizontal and exposes a smaller 3.9-inch G-OLED display that’s housed underneath.
The Wing is built from aluminum and Gorilla Glass 5 front and back and runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G. It carries 8 GB of RAM and a 4,000 mAh battery that lasts a little longer with the lack of a premium chipset. The tri-camera setup includes a 64-megapixel wide angle lens and dual ultrawide angle lenses of different speeds.
As unique as the form factor is, the LG Wing presents some innovative new options for users and software developers alike. It is currently available in Aurora Gray and Illusion Sky and will be coming to most carriers soon.
LG Wing
Body: Aluminum with Gorilla Glass 5 Front and Back
Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x (~511 ppi)
OS: Android 10
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Expandable Memory: Yes (microSDXC)
Cameras: Rear – 64 MP (wide), 13MP (ultra wide), 12 MP (ultra wide) Front – 32 MP (wide)
Sounds: Loudspeaker, No Headphone Jack
Battery (endurance rating): 4,000 mAh (87 hours)
Security: In-screen fingerprint reader
Miscellaneous: Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity, Compass, IP54 dust/water
Other versions: None
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2
As smartphones go, the Galaxy Z Fold2 may be the most gratuitous device currently available. Built on an aluminum frame with glass and plastic, the Galaxy Z Fold2 acts like a traditional smartphone when it is folded with a 6.23-inch Super AMOLED display, but when unfolded, the user gets a huge 7.6 inch display that resembles a tablet.
The device offers specs similar to the Samsung flagship with a Qualcomm 865+ processor, three cameras, and a standard 4,500 mAh battery. It features two selfie cameras, one for each display. With two displays and three sets of cameras, Samsung has eschewed efficiency for a dedication to the form factor.
Available in Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, and a Thom Browne Edition Grey, you can get it today from most major carriers.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2
Body: Aluminum with plastic front and Gorilla Glass 6 back
Display: Folded: 6.23-inch Super AMOLED Unfolded: 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (~373 ppi)
OS: Android 10
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+
Memory: 12 GB RAM
Expandable Memory: No
Cameras: Rear – 12 MP (wide), 12 MP (telephoto) 2x, 12 MP (ultra wide); Front (Folded) – 10 MP (wide); Front (Unfolded) – 10 MP (wide).
Sounds: Stereo Speakers, No Headphone Jack
Battery (endurance rating): 4,500 mAh (87 hours)
Security: Fingerprint reader
Miscellaneous: Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity, Barometer, Compass, Bixby assistant
Other versions: 5G version
Samsung Z Flip and Motorola RAZR
The Samsung Z Flip and the Motorola RAZR take the nostalgia of the flip phone and turn it into something special. Utilizing the old form factor of the popular flip phone, each device flips open to reveal a smartphone. Pretty ingenious if we may say so.
The Motorola RAZR 5G is actually the second edition smartphone RAZR. Motorola has built a device that features a small display on the front of the phone while folded, but the real gem is the 6.2-inch P-OLED screen while unfolded. The RAZR runs Android 10 on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip and 8 GB of RAM with 256 GB of onboard storage space.
The Z Flip is Samsung’s attempt at making a similar device, and in many ways they do it better. The Z Flip doesn’t have much of a front facing display, but when you open the device you get a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED smartphone display that is in line with many of the largest phones currently available. The Z Flip runs Android 10 on a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor, the best one Samsung uses at the moment. This provides a Samsung phone experience on a phone that you can fold up and put in your pocket.
Eventually these thin, flexible OLED screens will allow manufacturers to do some really neat things, but to get the technology off the ground, they will need to make devices that will sell immediately. Latching onto the nostalgia of flip phones is a great way to finance additional innovations.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Body: Aluminum with Plastic Front and Glass Back
Display: Folded: 1.1-inch Super AMOLED; Unfolded: 6.7-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED (~425 ppi)
OS: Android 10
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Expandable Memory: No
Cameras: Rear – 12 MP (wide), 12 MP (ultrawide). Front – 12 MP (wide)
Sounds: Loudspeaker, No Headphone Jack
Battery (endurance rating): 3,300 mAh
Security: Fingerprint reader
Miscellaneous: Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity, Barometer, Compass, Bixby assistant, IP68 dust/water resistant
Other versions: No
Motorola RAZR 5G
Body: Aluminum with plastic, Gorilla Glass 5
Display: 6.2-inch P-OLED (~373 ppi)
OS: Android 10
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
Memory: 18 GB RAM
Expandable Memory: No
Cameras: Rear – 48 MP (wide)
Sounds: Loudspeaker, No Headphone Jack
Battery (endurance rating): 2,800 mAh
Security: Fingerprint reader
Miscellaneous: Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity, Barometer, Compass, Bixby assistant
Other versions: RAZR (2019)
The rectangular smartphone isn’t going anywhere, but the more that manufacturers are able to create innovative new devices with OLED technology, the more people will be willing to pay a premium price for unique smartphone designs.
What are your opinions of these devices? Should smartphone companies explore new form factors more, or is the traditional smartphone good enough? Leave your thoughts today in the comments section below.