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| TCL will not release a foldable smartphone this year |
The company has confirmed that TCL Electronics has temporarily suspended plans to launch low-cost foldable mobile phones this year.
When the company decided to leave it indefinitely, its clamshell foldable phone called Project Chicago was in development.
According to the company, part of the delay was due to high production costs and inefficiencies in the supply chain.
"Although the foldable market is growing every year," said Stephen Street, the company's director of marketing. But this market is still a category of premium products.
He added, "Along with the recent shortage of components, the coronavirus pandemic and the high cost of foldable production, the company has taken the difficult decision to put the first commercial foldable smartphone on hold until the company is able to produce and adapt well to use. .Sell to as many consumers as possible. ".
The company is paying close attention to the market to determine the best time to introduce a foldable smartphone.
TCL will not release a foldable smartphone this year
The company provided samples of the devices to the reviewers. But she said she doesn't have any additional material, nor does she have photos from the Chicago Project to share.
This news came weeks after Samsung launched its latest foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3.
TCL decided to put the Chicago project on hold ahead of Samsung's launch. But Samsung foldable phones are very expensive. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is priced at around $999 while the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is around $1,799.
TCL introduced foldable prototypes last year. Some models also appeared at CES 2021 earlier this year along with an expandable screen design.
In April of this year, the company launched the Fold'n Roll, which can transform from a 6.87-inch cell phone screen to an 8.85-inch tablet or 10-inch tablet.
The company announced that it will not abandon the foldable product category. However, there is no timeline for the availability of the first commercially available foldable device.