Who Invented the Foldable Phone? The Quiet Race No One Saw Coming

You’ve probably seen one by now. Someone is flipping open a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold at a café. A YouTuber is stress-testing a Motorola Razr. Or an ad promising a phone that folds like a book.

Foldable phones are no longer sci-fi. They’re in stores. They’re in people’s pockets. They’re in product roadmaps from almost every major phone maker.

But ask anyone who actually invented the foldable phone, and the answers get fuzzy. Some will say Samsung. Others might mention Huawei. The truth? Foldables were decades in the making, and their patent history is a battlefield full of twists, failed experiments, and quiet filings by companies no one saw coming.

In this article, we’ll unpack the invention story of foldable phones, who really filed first, which patents made them possible, and how the battle for the fold is still unfolding.

The Origins: Early Concepts and Prototypes of Foldable Phones

The journey toward foldable smartphones began decades before their commercial debut, rooted in visionary concepts and experimental prototypes that aimed to revolutionize mobile technology. Some of the early innovations and concepts were:

Kyocera’s Dual-Screen Design (2011)

Kyocera introduced the Echo, a pioneering dual-touchscreen Android smartphone. This device featured two 3.5-inch displays connected by a hinge, allowing users to operate separate applications on each screen or combine them for a larger viewing area. While the screens were not flexible, the Echo’s design laid the groundwork for future foldable devices by exploring the potential of expanded screen real estate within a compact form factor.

Nokia’s Morph Concept (2008)

Nokia unveiled the Morph, a conceptual device showcasing the potential of nanotechnology in creating flexible and stretchable OLED displays. The Morph could be folded and reshaped, illustrating a future where mobile devices adapt to various forms and functions. Although purely conceptual, the Morph highlighted the possibilities of flexible electronics in mobile devices.

Motorola’s Patent for Foldable Displays (2010)

Motorola filed patents detailing designs for foldable smartphones that could transform into tablet-like devices. These designs emphasized the potential of flexible display technology to create versatile form factors, allowing a single device to serve multiple functions.

Technological Challenges and Developments

Transitioning from concept to reality required significant advancements in materials science and engineering. Early prototypes faced challenges such as display durability, hinge design, and software optimization to accommodate various screen configurations. Innovations in flexible OLED technology, robust hinge mechanisms, and adaptive user interfaces were essential to address these issues and pave the way for practical foldable smartphones.

These foundational efforts and explorations set the stage for developing commercially viable foldable smartphones, marking a significant evolution in mobile device design and functionality.

From Dream to Display: The Breakthroughs That Made Foldables Real

For decades, foldable phones were more idea than reality. Then, almost overnight, they were on store shelves. But it didn’t happen overnight.

Between 2018 and 2024, a series of make-or-break innovations turned foldables from fragile concept devices into mass-market products. From flexible OLED breakthroughs to hinge engineering, this era was when companies finally figured out how to fold a phone and make it last.

Royole FlexPai (2018): First to Market, Not to Win

Chinese startup Royole was the first to launch a foldable phone. The FlexPai, unveiled in late 2018, had a flexible AMOLED display that folded outward. While technically the first, its thick body, clunky software, and durability concerns meant it never gained traction. But it proved one thing: foldables were possible.

Samsung Galaxy Fold (2019): The Real Starting Point

In 2019, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Fold, the first foldable phone designed for scale. The original version had flaws, a fragile display, and a dust-sensitive hinge, but Samsung paused the launch, reengineered the device, and relaunched it months later. It marked the beginning of the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series, which now lead the foldable market.

Huawei Mate X (2019): The Outward-Folding Rival

Launched just days after the Fold, Huawei’s Mate X featured an outward-folding display and sleek design. However, U.S. trade restrictions and software limitations stalled its global success. Still, it pushed the envelope on hardware and IP filings.

Motorola Razr (2019–2023): Nostalgia Meets New Tech

The rebooted Motorola Razr, released in late 2019, brought back the iconic flip-phone design, this time with a foldable OLED screen inside. It struggled at launch but saw major improvements in its 2022 and 2023 versions, including a more durable hinge and better battery life.

Oppo Find N Series (2021–2023): Rethinking the Fold

Oppo surprised everyone with the Find N series and was praised for its near-invisible display crease and compact form factor. The hinge design allowed for a tighter fold and better weight distribution, influencing future hardware standards.

Google Pixel Fold (2023): Software-First Approach

Google entered the space with the Pixel Fold, optimizing Android to support foldable form factors better. The Pixel Fold emphasized multitasking, UI fluidity, and app continuity, bringing much-needed polish to the foldable software experience.

TECNO Phantom V Fold and V Flip (2023–2024): The Budget Disruptor

TECNO’s Phantom series brought foldables to mid-tier pricing, challenging the notion that foldable phones had to cost over $1,500. While imperfect, they expanded access and showed where the market could go next.

These launches weren’t just hardware milestones. They solved the exact problems that early concepts couldn’t:

Hinge durability and dust resistance
Foldable OLED longevity
Multi-mode UI and gesture fluidity
Compact battery architecture in dual-body formats

This wave of innovation didn’t just make foldables real; it made them usable.

The Patents That Made Foldable Phones Possible

The evolution of foldable smartphones has been driven by groundbreaking patents focusing on flexible displays, hinge mechanisms, and multi-fold designs. Below is a selection of pivotal patents that have significantly contributed to this technological advancement:

Patent Number	Assignee	Description	Significance
US9504170B2	Apple Inc.	Details flexible display devices with hinges allowing multiple configurations, including front-to-front and back-to-back orientations.	Demonstrates Apple’s exploration into flexible display technologies and hinge mechanisms, contributing to the foundational concepts in foldable device designs.
US20150233162A1	Samsung Display Co., Ltd.	Describes a hinge device for foldable display apparatuses, ensuring stable support and protection during folding and unfolding.	Highlights Samsung’s focus on hinge mechanisms that enhance the durability and user experience of foldable displays.
US20250080212A1	Motorola Mobility LLC	Details a foldable mobile device with an automatically adjusting hinge based on user movements, utilizing special materials and small motors.	Showcases Motorola’s efforts to enhance user experience by developing hinges that adapt to user behavior, improving ergonomics and usability.

These patents exemplify significant advancements in foldable smartphone technology, focusing on flexible displays, hinge mechanisms, and novel form factors. They highlight the industry’s commitment to innovation, addressing challenges related to durability, functionality, and user experience in foldable devices.

The IP Wars You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Foldable phones didn’t just spark a hardware race; they also triggered a quiet but fierce IP battle among the world’s biggest tech players. Behind every hinge innovation and flexible OLED panel is a stack of patents and legal tension over who owns what.

Here are some of the most significant (and underreported) patent disputes and positioning moves in the foldable phone space:

Samsung vs BOE (Ongoing, 2023–Present)

BOE, a major Chinese display maker, has emerged as one of Samsung Display’s biggest competitors in flexible OLED manufacturing. In 2023, Samsung Display filed multiple patent infringement lawsuits against BOE in the U.S., alleging unauthorized use of its OLED technologies in foldable displays. BOE has countersued in China, creating a cross-border patent standoff.

Why it matters: This battle affects the supply chain for foldable displays, especially for OEMs looking for alternatives to Samsung.

Apple’s IP Stockpiling (2011–Now)

Though Apple hasn’t released a foldable iPhone (yet), it holds over 30 patents related to foldable displays, hinge mechanisms, and flexible battery configurations. It’s quietly building a patent wall while observing the market’s legal landmines.

Why it matters: Apple’s approach signals long-term IP strategy: protect first, release later. It also acts as a deterrent to potential infringement.

Motorola vs TCL (2019)

In 2019, TCL unveiled foldable prototypes eerily similar to Motorola’s Razr reboot. While no formal suit followed, Motorola filed defensive patents and closely monitored TCL’s product announcements.

Why it matters: It exposed how thin the line is between design inspiration and IP violation, especially when multiple companies work with the same display suppliers.

Patent Thickets in Flexible Displays

Dozens of smaller players and display OEMs, like Visionox, E Ink, and even Royole, hold narrow but critical patents around flexible substrates, lamination methods, and touch sensitivity in foldable formats.

Why it matters: As foldables become mainstream, companies must navigate a dense patent thicket where unintentional infringement is increasingly likely.

These battles show that the foldable phone war isn’t just on shelves; it’s in courtrooms and patent databases. And the next major innovation might not win because it’s better. It might win because someone filed first.

Standards, Licensing, and the IP Maze of Foldable Phones

The rapid evolution of foldable smartphones has not only introduced groundbreaking hardware but also ushered in a complex web of intellectual property (IP) considerations. Central to this landscape are Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs), licensing agreements, and the intricate dynamics of standardization.

Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs) in Foldable Technology

SEPs are patents that claim inventions essential to a technical standard. In the realm of foldable smartphones, SEPs ensure interoperability and compatibility across devices, covering aspects like display technologies, hinge mechanisms, and communication protocols. Patent holders of SEPs are typically required to license these patents on Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) terms to prevent anti-competitive practices and ensure broad access to standardized technologies.

Licensing Challenges and FRAND Commitments

Navigating the licensing of SEPs presents several challenges:

Determining FRAND Terms: Establishing what constitutes fair and reasonable terms can be subjective and often leads to disputes between patent holders and implementers.
Royalty Stacking: Implementers may face cumulative royalty demands from multiple SEP holders, potentially inflating costs and complicating licensing negotiations.
Patent Pools: To streamline licensing, some entities form patent pools where multiple patent holders aggregate their SEPs, offering collective licenses to implementers. While this can simplify negotiations, it also requires careful management to align with antitrust regulations.

Regulatory Developments and Industry Responses

Regulatory bodies are increasingly focusing on SEP licensing practices to balance innovation incentives with market competition:

European Union’s Proposed SEP Regulation: The EU has introduced proposals to enhance transparency in SEP licensing, aiming to reduce information asymmetries and facilitate agreements on FRAND licenses. This includes establishing a competence center at the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to oversee SEP-related activities.
Industry Perspectives: The proposed regulations have elicited mixed reactions. Telecommunications companies express concerns about potential delays in licensing and impacts on innovation incentives, while implementers, such as automotive manufacturers, support measures that promote fair access to essential technologies.

Implications for Stakeholders

For companies operating in the foldable smartphone market, understanding the SEP landscape is crucial:

Patent Holders: Must navigate the balance between monetizing their innovations and adhering to FRAND commitments, ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks.
Implementers: Need to conduct thorough due diligence to identify relevant SEPs, assess associated costs, and negotiate licenses that mitigate the risk of infringement while fostering product development.

As foldable smartphone technology continues to advance, the interplay between standardization, patent rights, and licensing will remain a pivotal factor influencing market dynamics and innovation trajectories.

How Global Patent Search Helps You Navigate Foldable Tech

If you’re building or researching foldable phone tech, the IP maze can be overwhelming. With patents spread across hinge designs, flexible displays, and multi-mode form factors, it’s easy to miss what already exists or who filed first.

Global Patent Search (GPS) helps you cut through the noise.

Here’s how:

Search in plain language
Describe an idea like “hinge that adjusts based on screen angle” or “foldable phone with tri-panel display” and GPS will surface relevant patents.
Find prior art before you build
Easily check if your concept overlaps with existing patents so you can pivot early or strengthen your claims.
Explore feature-level patent clusters
Identify patents tied to specific innovations like magnetic hinges, layered OLED panels, or adaptive UIs.
Get a global view
Discover who’s innovating where, across jurisdictions and assignees.

Whether you’re an engineer, product strategist, or legal analyst, GPS helps you move forward with clarity, not guesswork. Try the Global Patent Search tool.