Samsung and Huawei are about to battle it out in one of the most interesting smartphone wars to date.
Both firms have just announced new foldable devices that magically transform from a smartphone into a tablet.
Samsung was the first to reveal this new technology when it unveiled the Galaxy Fold at its Unpacked keynote last week.
This new bendy phone features a small 4.6-inch screen on the front which then opens to reveal a giant 7.4-inch display – similar to a tablet.
Samsung wants to make the transition between small and big screen as smooth as possible with the Galaxy Fold instantly recognising what apps are being viewed on the smaller cover display and instantly opening the same content on the larger screen when the device is fully opened.
You can also launch up to three active apps simultaneously on the main display allowing the ability to surf the web, send a message and watch videos at the same time.
Other features coming to the Fold include six cameras, a Qualcomm 7nm 64-bit Octa-core processor, 12GB of RAM and a huge 4,380mAh battery.
Although the Galaxy Fold got plenty of attention it’s now about to be rivalled by a new device from Huawei.
The Chinese technology firm revealed its new Mate X at Mobile World Congress at the weekend and it includes some features you won’t find on the Galaxy Fold.
Firstly the viewing experience is bigger with the Mate X arriving with a 6.6-inch front screen that transforms into an 8-inch display once opened.
There’s also a bigger 4,500mAh battery which supports the world’s fastest 55W HUAWEI SuperCharge technology.
In fact, Huawei is boasting that just 30 minutes of charge will refill the battery back to 85 per cent.
One final bonus of the Mate X is the fact that it will launch ready to connect to the latest 5G data speeds.
5G is the future of smartphones with this new tech likely to offer downloads which will be four times faster than current 4G.
The Mate X and Galaxy Fold will both launch in the coming months with the Fold costing around €2,000 and Huawei’s X likely to set you back around €2,299.
Speaking about its foldable technology, Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei CBG, said, “The HUAWEI Mate X’s revolutionary form factor is achieved by Huawei’s relentless effort in R&D.
“It represents a voyage into the uncharted. As a new breed of smartphones, HUAWEI Mate X combines 5G, foldable screen, AI and an all-new mode of interfacing to provide consumers with an unprecedented user experience.
“The HUAWEI Mate X will be the first key for consumers to open the door to 5G smart living.”
We’ll have to wait and see how these two devices actually compare when they arrive in stores later this year but there’s sure to a huge amount of excitement around foldable phones.