2023 has proven to be the year of foldable phones and for all the right reasons. Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and even Motorola have released their foldable phones in the market, and this shows that saturation has started to take place. This also means that Google, now that the company has its own foldable, will need to do something about the situation to ensure that the market isn't flooded with phones that are just average, at best.
Google wants foldable phones to be more durable and offer longer software support
After all, buying a foldable is not something that comes for cheap because these phones are expensive. Still, based on some newly surfaced information, it appears that Google is going to put in some strict regulations for manufacturers if they are bringing a foldable phone. Honestly, this is the right step.
So, how will it work? Well, there is reason to believe that Android manufacturers will of through a questionnaire by Google and will then send the sample devices to the platform holder for scrutiny. If the devices are passed, they will be allowed to hit the shelves with Google Apps installed on them. The requirements might look strict, but considering the fragility and cost of these phones, they do make sense.
Starting with durability, Google will require all the foldable phones in the market to survive the minimum of 200,000 folds and unfolds. This should not be an issue for companies, but we have seen phones failing a lot sooner than they should. The source reveals that devices that come with the "torque hinge" will need to have friction torque that will be equal to at least 80% of the original torque after the device goes through 200,000 folds and unfolds. Google simply wants to ensure that the hinges are still rigid instead of losing how they open and close. The good news is that you are not looking at any other hardware requirements, so manufacturers still have the option to make their devices the way they want.
In addition to that, Google also wants Android manufacturers to offer two major OS updates and three years of security patches for these foldable devices. However, this is not something that one should be worried about because companies like Samsung, Google, and OPPO are already offering up to five years of security patches. However, I am more concerned about the major OS updates because those are more important.
Do you think Google should be putting such restrictions on foldable phones, or should it let companies have complete control of how they want to develop these devices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
News Source: Mashaal Rahman
About the author: I have been tinkering with Android devices ever since the early days of the HTC Desire. Over time, I have grown a fondness for the ecosystem and now I cannot live without it. Although some might believe that I have sold my soul to Android, but I believe it is not the case. You can find me writing tutorials and posting guides on a number of different smartphones. When I am not writing here, I am wasting myself away in books, journals, or on Steam.
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