In the dynamic landscape of smartphone design, we find ourselves on the brink of a fascinating new era that is possible thanks to the marvel of flexible displays. Gone are the days of smartphone designs being limited to rectangular slabs of varying sizes. Thanks to flexible displays, buyers can now pick between, flip phones that hark back to classic designs, to folding phones that offer a big screen experience in a pocket-sized package. The year 2023 has been quite a spectacle, especially for tech enthusiasts. We witnessed a flurry of foldable device launches that are redefining the boundaries of innovation.
Behind the glitz and glamour of these smartphones’ design, lies the processor. These smartphones come with a number of design challenges/opportunities and it’s the processor’s job to make the most of what is available.
Enter MediaTek. The brand has been at the heart of many flagship devices over the years and is now lending its expertise to foldable devices. In fact, four major foldables launched this year were powered by MediaTek, which should give users an idea as to the trust consumers and companies have in the brand. From 5G connectivity to the magic of MediaTek HyperEngine, MiraVision, and Imagiq, MediaTek is ensuring that the devices of tomorrow are not just cutting-edge but performance powerhouses.
Any modern smartphone worth its weight needs to offer 5G connectivity and MediaTek’s processors help ensure fast and stable connectivity. The processors pack powerful 5G modems that support both mmWave and sub-6GHz to ensure connectivity. They also offer features technologies such as dual 5G standby and Dual VoNR to enhance connectivity and ensure a seamless communication experience.
With the extra real estate that folding devices offer, you need a great display to enjoy it in all its majesty. MediaTek MiraVison is an exclusive suite of technologies that intelligently adjust a wide range of display and video stream factors. It allows for features such as high-resolution display, HDR, and high refresh rates. It also packs a suite of AI-based features to help improve video quality and make the viewing experience even better.
Camera quality is key when it comes to any smartphone and folding phones are no different. In fact, the folding nature of these devices gives users better flexibility when taking pictures. MediaTek Imagiq ISPs are designed to not only allow for the best combination of sensors but also allow for a suite of technologies to take the best photos and videos. For example, it can use AI to help reduce noise, remove any blurring, and even take better pictures at night.
Of course, performance is something that these phones do not lack. MediaTek processors feature the company’s HyperEngine technologies that make the most of the CPU and GPU. This includes improvements to connectivity and responsiveness, which in turn affects your in-game experience. This includes the Rapid Response Engine which helps reduce input lag and the Resource Management Engine which helps ensure stability.
Now, let’s look at four awesome MediaTek-powered folding smartphones launched this year and see what they have to offer.
OPPO Find N3 Flip
By contrast, The OPPO Find N3 Flip is one of the newest devices on this list. Upon first glance, the phone is pretty similar to the Find N2 Flip. For starters, you still get a large 6.8-inch FHD+ LTPO AMOLED, with a max refresh rate of 120Hz and support for HDR10+. Even the cover screen is the same size at 3.26 inches. However, everything else has been made even better.
To kick things off, you get a more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC. This powerful SoC features the Cortex X3 core for immense levels of performance. You also get the new Arm Immortalis-G715 GPU that is capable of hardware-based ray tracing. It also packs an improved MediaTek Imagiq 890 ISP. This is very useful as the smartphone packs a 50MP triple camera setup with a 50MP+32MP+48MP combination. All this is then taken a notch higher by the fact that the camera has been co-engineered by the experts over at Hasselblad.
OPPO Find N2 Flip
The OPPO Find N2 Flip was one of the earliest folding phones to launch in India this year. This flip phone packs a MediaTek Dimesity 9000+ processor. This is an octa-core chipset that is based on the 4nm process. So you got greater performance and improved battery efficiency as compared to similar chipsets based on larger processes. The OPPO Find N2 Flip made the most of the MediaTek Imagiq 790 ISP inside by offering a 50MP dual-rear camera that was co-engineered by the folks over at Hasselblad. So it could take some very impressive photos.
As if that wasn’t enough, the OPPO Find N2 Flip also packed a large 6.8-inch FHD+ LTPO AMOLED, with a max refresh rate of 120Hz and support for HDR10+. There is also a large 3.26-inch cover screen. The large 4300mAh battery and 44W SUPERVOOC charging add the icing on this cake.
Tecno Phantom V Fold
Tecno threw its hat into the ring with the launch of the Phantom V Fold smartphone. This smartphone features a vertical fold that lets you open the device like a book. As a result, you get a much bigger screen. When closed, users get a very capable 6.42-inch FHD+ LTPO AMOLED display that can be used just like a normal display. However, when you open it up, you are greeted by a massive 7.85-inch Foldable LTPO AMOLED display with a max refresh rate of 120Hz!
The MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ processor at the heart of this smartphone helps you make the most of this display. It features the MediaTek MiraVision 790 which allows the phone to offer immersive visuals with life-like colours. Just what you need when consuming content on such a big display.
Tecno Phantom V Flip
The Tecno Phantom V Flip seems to have one goal in mind — to democratise folding smartphones. The device is very aggressively priced, which should make it more accessible to the masses. However, don’t think this premium smartphone would be underpowered. At its heart is the MediaTek Dimensity 8050 SoC. This octa-core processor features a single Arm Cortex-78 super core that is clocked at 3.0GHz. This should give users the performance they need to take care of any resource-intensive tasks.
Of course, that isn’t all that you get with the Tecno Phantom V Flip. The device comes with a 6.9-inch FHD+ LTPO AMOLED display with a max refresh rate of 120Hz. There is also a unique 1.32-inch circular cover screen. The camera sensors are placed around this cover screen and feature a 64MP dual-camera setup. There is also a 4000mAh battery with support for 45W Flash Charging.
As one can see, 2023 has been the year of MediaTek and foldable smartphones. The company has already established itself with excellence in the world of smartphones. With foldable devices, it looks like it isn’t content with simply keeping pace, it will instead set the pace for others to catch up!
