Technology

Foldable Phone Timeline 2011–2026: Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi & Apple

Foldable phones evolved from flexible OLED prototypes into commercial devices that fold like a book, flip like a classic clamshell, and now unfold twice into t…

Swipe to explore ›
AiTimeline Home
THE FLEXIBLE-DISPLAY DREAM

Samsung Shows Early Flexible AMOLED Prototypes

Samsung showcased early flexible AMOLED display concepts, proving OLED panels could bend without breaking. None of these were shippable products, but they planted the id…

AiTimeline Home
CURVED SCREENS GO COMMERCIAL

Galaxy Round and LG G Flex Bring Curved OLED to Market

Samsung's Galaxy Round and LG's G Flex used flexible OLED manufacturing to ship fixed-curve phones. Neither device folded, but both proved bendable-substrate manufacturi…

AiTimeline Home
THE FIRST COMMERCIAL FOLD

Royole's FlexPai Beats Samsung and Huawei to Market

Startup Royole shipped the FlexPai, an outward-folding phone using a flexible OLED panel, narrowly beating Samsung and Huawei to market. It sold in limited numbers, with…

AiTimeline Home
MAINSTREAM ERA BEGINS

Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X Launch

Samsung's Galaxy Fold and Huawei's Mate X are seen as the true start of the mainstream foldable story. The Galaxy Fold's launch was delayed for months after review units…

AiTimeline Home
FLIP PHONES RETURN

Galaxy Z Flip, Motorola Razr and Oppo Find N Mature the Format

Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip and a revived Motorola Razr brought the classic clamshell shape back with a flexible screen, while ultra-thin glass replaced fragile plastic cove…

AiTimeline Home
THE TRI-FOLD BREAKTHROUGH

More Brands Enter, Then Huawei Ships the First Tri-Fold

Google, OnePlus, Honor and Oppo widened the field through 2023, pushing thinner bodies and better cameras. In September 2024, Huawei's Mate XT became the first mass-prod…

AiTimeline Home
FOLDABLES GET THINNER

Galaxy Z Fold7 and Honor Magic V5 Chase Record Thinness

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold7 measured about 8.82mm folded in independent testing, roughly half the thickness of 2019's original Galaxy Fold, while Honor's Magic V5 and Oppo'…

AiTimeline Home
THE MATE XT2 RACE

Huawei Launches Mate XT2 as Xiaomi and Apple Close In

Huawei unveiled the Mate XT2 on 7 September 2026, powered by its new Kirin 9050 Pro chip, priced from 19,999 yuan (about $2,980). Sales begin 12 September 2026, the same…

AiTimeline Home

Want the full timeline?

Read the complete story, FAQs and key facts.

AiTimeline Home