According to a recent design patent, OnePlus is experimenting with a novel and unusual foldable form factor. This patent was filed in 2020 however it was only published in June of this year.
The patent, Mobile Terminal has been added to the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) database. It was only released when the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) granted it the protection.
Similar to TCL's tri-folding design, the patent outlines a tri-folding phone with three independent screens that can shut together to make a sandwich of a phone. The device can be folded into numerous orientations for different functions because it includes two hinges to permit this form factor.
When fully opened, it functions as a huge tablet yet when closed it functions as a standard smartphone. The unique design however may face some difficulties, as it is difficult to maintain durability with so many moving parts and a folding screen.
The actual device will most certainly alter slightly from the patent but only if it is made a reality. However, it is normal for corporations to publish patents before finalizing them into a retail gadget, therefore it is advisable to treat this device with caution as it is going to be a very delicate.