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Royole’s FlexPai could be the world’s first foldable phone you can buy

But is it really ready for the market?

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Royole is based in Fremont, Hong Kong and Shenzhen. (Picture: Royole)
This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Foldable smartphones seem to be the next frontier as handset makers look to take designs to the next level. The appeal for users is obvious: You can unfold the device to set up a bigger display for work and entertainment, while the rest of the time it can still sit comfortably in your hand or pocket.

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This week Royole -- a Chinese company specializing in flexible displays -- unveiled what it calls the world’s first foldable phone in Beijing -- days before Samsung is set to preview its own at a launch event on November 7.

Want one already? Well, you might need a big pocket.

Doesn't look like a device that can fit in my pocket. (Picture: Royole)
Doesn't look like a device that can fit in my pocket. (Picture: Royole)

The new phone, named FlexPai, comes with a 7.8-inch display -- around the size of an iPad Mini 4 -- with a thickness of 0.3 inches when unfolded.

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It doesn’t get much smaller after you bend it. Once folded, the device still measures 4 inches wide -- larger than most smartphones on the market. In comparison, Apple’s largest handset, the iPhone XS Max, is narrower by almost an inch.

It’s also pretty heavy. At 320g, the FlexPai weighs 50% more than the iPhone XS Max.

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