Google might push foldable smartphones to certain limits

Perceived as the future of smartphone technologies, foldable smartphones might sometimes face challenges with Google.

Samsung pioneered the foldable phone movement back in 2019. Since then, the market has seen numerous foldable models from brands such as OPPO, Motorola, Huawei, and Xiaomi. While these phones have their merits, they also come with their share of challenges. Brands have continually refined their designs, but these devices carry a hefty price tag, urging potential buyers to view them as long-term investments.

Central to the design of foldable phones is the hinge mechanism, which permits the phone to fold and unfold. Over a span of two to five years, particularly with daily use, this hinge can lose its robustness.

In a significant development for the foldable phone industry, Google has decided to enforce hardware quality standards for these devices. The tech giant aims to implement a review process for foldable quality. This will necessitate Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to undergo a questionnaire session with Google and submit device samples for detailed analysis.

Google might push foldable smartphones to certain limits

Typically, manufacturers specify a lifespan for their devices in terms of the number of folds. As part of its new mandate, Google will expect these phones to endure a minimum of 200,000 folding actions, mirroring the lifespan claimed by Samsung for its Galaxy Z series. Conversely, brands like OPPO claim an even more impressive lifespan of up to 400,000 folds for their devices. To provide some context, 200,000 foldings equate to about five years if the device is folded 100 times daily. Additional specifications from Google suggest that foldables with a 'torque hinge' should maintain at least 80% of their original torque after 200,000 foldings.

Furthermore, Google expects OEMs to provide two significant OS updates and three years' worth of security updates for these high-end phones, which, given their cost, might appear somewhat minimal to some.

Mandating such lifespan and quality standards for foldable devices is a positive step. It ensures that these phones not only meet quality benchmarks but also provide lasting value for users.