The ability to fold a smartphone in half and utilize it as a tiny device was first made available by Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy Fold, the first foldable phone commercially released in 2019, was manufactured by a South Korean business. Numerous foldable gadgets were introduced last year by companies like Oppo, Motorola, and Huawei. Xiaomi also sells phones with foldable screens, but exclusively in China. Foldable phones offer advantages and downsides from a practical standpoint. As a result, companies continue to improve these products. Folding phones cost far more than regular phones because they employ special technology. Therefore, purchasing such a handset is to the customers like making a long-term investment; nobody wants them to be harmed.
And now, supporters of foldable phones have excellent news thanks to a recent article. However, it's possible that the next foldable phones would need to follow Google's unique hardware requirements, which might make them more durable. Let's investigate this in greater detail.
Future foldable phones might need to comply with Google's hardware requirements.
The hinge mechanism is located in the middle of the foldable phone. Although the hinge is fairly resilient, it loses its rigidity after two to five years of regular use, as is the case with most things.
Let's go on to the main topic. Mishal Rahman, a tech specialist, asserts that Google is taking foldable phone quality standards requirements into consideration. A foldable quality review system will be used by the US business for smartphone manufacturers. The business must respond to a questionnaire from Google and deliver sample devices to the owner of the platform for in-depth evaluation.
Be aware that manufacturers frequently indicate how many folds their products have. According to Google's specifications, all foldable phones must be able to fold and unfurl at least 200,000 times. This is consistent with Samsung's promises on the foldable Galaxy Z. However, some companies, like Oppo, assert that hinges on devices with 400,000 folds would last longer. Even if a phone is used 100 times per day and can be folded and unfolded 200,000 times, it will endure for about five years. Mishal Rahman also mentioned that after 200,000 folds and unfolds, foldable gadgets having a "torque hinge" will need friction torque equal to at least 80% of the original torque.
To meet Google's requirements, smartphone manufacturers must also give their foldable phones three years of security updates and two significant OS updates. However, the devices' high price may let down the users a little. There is no greater requirement for foldables than the usage of ultra-thin glass. To ensure quality and extend the lifespan of foldable phones, Google's requirement for this hinge and fold lifespan is a positive step.