OPPO set to unveil foldable smartphone in February

The year 2019 is shaping up to be one hell of a bender, with an increasingly large number of manufacturers pledging to launch a foldable smartphone. OPPO is the latest phone brand to add its name to the list, with Product Manager Chuck Wang indicating the company will reveal its first foldable smartphone at Mobile World Congress at the end of February.

While Wang did not provide concrete details with regards to aesthetic or functionality, past OPPO patents have revealed designs including a flip-phone-style form factor, a tablet-style device that folds in half, and a 'triple screen' device where the display can further extend after you unfold.

The news coincides with OPPO announcing it will invest approximately $2 billion in research and development next year, a 150% year-on-year increase. This increased investment will also focus on emerging technologies include 5G, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things devices.

OPPO's foldable isn't the only bendy smartphone we're expecting to see next year. Samsung recently unveiled a concept for its foldable smartphone, LG is expected to unveil its own foldable device in January next year, with Huawei following close behind in February.

Alex Choros

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Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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