Chinese smartphone maker Lenovo showcased a bendable mobile phone on June 9, which can be worn on the wrist.
During the Lenovo Tech World event in San Francisco, the company demonstrated the CPlus and Folio concept innovations, which are two-in-one devices that can be used as a smartphone as well as a wearable.
Mobile phone technology has improved significantly in the last two decades. Smartphones are not just used for making and receiving phone calls or texting. They are now used for infotainment purposes as well as for analyzing and monitoring certain health aspects of users.
Many manufacturers have also developed wearable technology, which can be paired with smartphones for enhanced user experience.
However, it seems users may not need two devices in the near term as Lenovo has introduced its CPlus concept device, a smartphone that can bend and be wrapped across the wrist as a wearable.
During the demo, a Lenovo executive bent the CPlus and the interface displayed a cracked or shattered glass look.
The CPlus has a 4.26-inch flexible display and is expected to come in 12 different colors once it becomes available. It is currently not in production, however, meaning there is no news yet of when the two-in-one smartphone will make its way to the shelves.
The Lenovo concept of bendable screens in mobile phones is not new to the smartphone industry. In January 2013, Samsung showcased the YOUM OLED displays during the CES event. The screens of some of the devices with YOUM displays were not only bendable but also foldable.
Now, rumors claim that Samsung may launch two mobile devices: a 5-inch mobile phone and a 7-inch tablet with bendable screens. A Bloomberg report also cites reliable sources in the industry and suggests the Korean company may launch smartphones with bendable screens in 2017.
"This product could be a game-changer if Samsung successfully comes up with a user interface suitable for bendable screens," said Lee Seung Woo, an analyst at IBK Securities Co. in Seoul. "Next year is a probable scenario. Their biggest obstacle was related to making transparent plastics and making them durable, which seems resolved by now."
Other mobile phone manufacturers such as LG and Nokia are also said to be working on bendable handsets.
Mobile devices with bendable screen may change the industry and the way people use smartphones and wearables. However, it remains to be seen how swiftly handset makers are able to launch mobile phones with screens that can successfully bend.
