As Samsung prepares to sell another foldable smartphone, rival LG has a different idea in mind: a phone that swivels.
The idea may sound pretty weird, but LG wants to test the waters. On Tuesday, it released a teaser video for the upcoming device, which features two touch screens, one on top of the other. When the displays are aligned, it looks like a standard smartphone. But to unlock more screen space, you can swivel the front screen, causing it to rotate by at least 180 degrees.
The result creates a cross-shaped smartphone. That might scare off a vampire, but we're not so sure about other use cases. LG’s video seems to imply you can enjoy a wider viewing angle when you swivel the two screens apart. However, there’s not much content that fits that strange aspect ratio.
It’s also possible the phone will let you take some unique photos and video when switching into the cross-shaped “wing” mode. But again, other users won’t be able to easily enjoy the media.
Whatever the case, LG apparently cooked up a real device around the concept, which it’s set to unveil on Sept. 14. In a press release, the company said the upcoming device is part of LG’s new “Explorer Project,” which will delve into “unexplored usability experiences.”
“Explorer Project also marks a new direction in the alignment strategy of LG’s smartphones. The Explorer Project will focus solely on new usability that is discovered with innovative designs,” the company added.
It’s not the first time LG has come up with a dual-screen device. A year ago, the company began selling a product that lets you connect two LG phones together to create a foldable, clamshell device. You can also buy the LG G8X ThinQ with two phones bundled together for $949, making it more affordable than the $2,000+ Galaxy Fold models from Samsung.
Apparently, LG thinks there's still lots of untapped potential in the dual-screen phone market. If you're curious, its Sept. 14 announcement will be live streamed at 10 a.m. EST on LG's YouTube and Facebook channels.
Further Reading
- T-Mobile Boosts Mid-Band 5G Coverage
- Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 2 Brings a Big Screen for Big Bucks
- Watch Live: Samsung's Unpacked Part 2 Galaxy Z Fold2 Launch Event
- 3 Reasons T-Mobile Isn't (Yet) Dominating 5G
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