A Low-quality Replica of the Galaxy Z Flip 3
While Chinese companies are releasing foldable phones imitating Samsung Electronics’ Foldable Phone Z series one after another, industry analysts say there is a big difference in performance between Samsung models and Chinese products.
A video posted on Folder Universe, a YouTube IT device channel, on Dec. 31, 2021 shows the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Huawei’s P50 Pocket, respectively. The Z Flip 3 remains open, while the upper half of the P50 Pocket quickly collapses. The P50 Pocket seems to have no sustaining force on its hinge part that allows the product to be folded and unfolded. This means the P50 Pocket does not properly function as a foldable phone.
Huawei unveiled the P50 Pocket on Dec. 3. At the product unpack event, it stressed that the P50 Pocket is slimmer than the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
SamMobile, an IT media outlet, recently pointed out that the P50 Pocket is a low-quality replica of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and has problems with the hinge part. Nevertheless, the P50 Pocket is 400,000 won to 800,000 won more expensive than the Galaxy Z Flip 3 (1,254,000 won), depending on the memory size. The former does not support 5G mobile communications.
In addition, China’s Oppo recently released its horizontally foldable smartphone Oppo Find N. Noting that the display of its new phone has fewer wrinkles than Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 3, it said it is ahead of Samsung in the foldable phone technology. But Oppo Find N’s displays are mainly based on Samsung Display’s technologies. In addition, some critics say that the hinge part still needs to be tested, even though Oppo claims it has fewer wrinkles. The method Oppo used to minimize wrinkles was previously used by Motorola and, at the time, it exposed limitations such as the wrinkles being divided into two parts when used for a long time.