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OPPO is reportedly working on a phone with a detachable second screen. The revelation comes from a patent originally filed in December 2019 with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). This patent was only published today, offering details on the Chinese OEM’s plans for this concept.
First discovered by 91mobiles, the patent filing shows a screen attached to the primary device, thus functioning as a secondary display when required. LG has played around with this concept for a while. However, this OPPO secondary screen can work even after it is detached from the primary device. The company likely uses Bluetooth to achieve this.
Moreover, the secondary screen comes with a wireless transceiver and a keyboard, allowing it to function independently. The patent notes that this secondary screen does not possess cameras. So the idea is to allow users to perform regular tasks like making or receiving phone calls, sending texts, etc., on the second screen.
The secondary screen could also have its own battery
OPPO’s implementation includes a bracket on the primary device to connect the secondary screen. As for the phone itself, the patent listing reveals a USB Type-C port at the bottom, along with the speaker grill. The left side of the phone has volume buttons, while the back panel has dual cameras. The second screen also has a battery of its own, complementing the battery of the primary device.
It’s still early days for this concept, so we can’t say for sure if OPPO will release this phone. But considering the technology it offers, it would be disappointing if this phone didn’t hit the markets sometime in the future.
A recent leak from a tipster spoke about OPPO launching a foldable smartphone in November. However, this would likely feature a familiar form factor, like the ones we see on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series. The tipster added that this phone would be of the “in-folding” types, meaning it would be similar to Samsung’s foldable lineup.
It was further said that this OPPO foldable would feature an 8-inch LTPO screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Lastly, the phone could run on the octa-core Snapdragon 888 chipset. We’re unsure if this rumor will materialize, but it’s clear from the patent filing that OPPO has big ambitions for this segment. Separately, we have come across reports of OPPO wanting to release foldable and even rollable smartphones.