There are more uses for flexible displays than just folding from a smartphone into a tablet. Some of the earliest concepts for the tech included wrap-around screens that would offer open up more design possibilities for wearable devices.
With the announcements of the Huawei Mate X and the Galaxy Fold stealing the limelight, today’s announcement from Nubia brings us a little closer to what many saw as the original vision.
The Nubia Alpha wearable phone is a smartphone/smartwatch hybrid that has emerged from its announcement as a concept at IFA last year, and is now a lot closer to reality.
The device runs on a new custom-made OS, which enables complete freedom from a smartphone, and has a thin, four-inch 960×192 OLED display.
Unfortunately, it runs on the now-ancient Snapdragon Wear 2100 platform, rather than the newer Wear 3100 device, which may make it a non-starter for some. However, the 500mAh battery brings between 1-2 days of battery life, while also offering Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a 4G eSIM.
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Of course, the wearable form factor means you’ll only get 1GB of RAM, while the 8GB of storage should be enough for a few apps and playlists. If you’re to inclined to snap a few selfies, there’s also a 5-megapixel camera on board.
Naturally, as a wearable device, there’s a fitness tracker on board with the ability to chart the heart rate, as well as sleep and movement. There is a certain degree of water resistance too, but it isn’t clear where the wearable is suitable for swimming. With the screen being a little finicky, the Nubia Alpha also benefits from voice commands, air gestures and multi-touch.
The company says it is planning to release the device at some point in 2019. The basic Bluetooth and Wi-Fi model will be priced at €549 (around £476), while a 4G enabled version will have an 18-karat gold coating and will cost €649 (about £562).
Does this seem like an interesting use for a flexible display to you? Or just another gimmick? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
