Google might be working on its own folding phone

Samsung and Huawei made waves in February when they launched the Galaxy Fold and Mate X, and it looks like Google’s thinking about getting in on the foldable action too.

Patently Mobile has just discovered a patent application that was submitted by the search giant last year, which shows what appears to be a Motorola Razr 2019-like folding mobile device.

Read more: Folding phones

“Modern computing devices often attempt to achieve a balance between portability and functionality,” the filing reads.

“A tension can exist between having a display that provides for a rich display of information on a single surface, which suggests a relatively large form factor of the device to accommodate a relatively large display, and a device that is small enough to be easily carried and accessed by a user, which suggests a relatively small form factor of the device.

“A potential solution to address this dilemma is to use a foldable flexible display in the computing device, so that in the display’s folded configuration, the computing device has a relatively small form factor, and in the display’s unfolded configuration, the computing device can have a relatively large display.”

It goes on to explain how Google might go about creating a folding display that’s both thin and durable.

This isn’t confirmation that Google is actually working on its own folding phone − companies submit patent applications they have no intention of acting on all the time − but it does indicate that the company has at least considered it as a possibility.

Read more: Best smartphone

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold is yet to hit the market, but it’s already been the subject of widespread ridicule. However, the South Korean firm is reportedly determined to take an early lead in the fledgling folding phone segment, and apparently has two more folding handsets on the way.

Do you think folding phones are going to catch on? Let us know on Twitter @TrustedReviews.