Forget foldable phones: Leaked TCL images reveal slide-out screen

We're still trying to figure out how durable the Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola Razr are but TCL is possibly working on a new style of phone that slides.

The report comes from CNET, which published photos of the phone. It initially looks like a regular-sized smartphone but has a second screen that slides out to make it tablet-sized.

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According to CNET's source, TCL would have shown off the phone to reporters covering Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, except the event was canceled due to fears over the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The big unknown is whether the two halves of the big screen would be flush or if there would be a ridge given the mechanics of the sliding screen. That said, the advantage of such a system, as CNET's Jessica Dolcourt notes, is that this system means no worries about creases in a bendable screen or deteriorating hinges.

TCL declined to comment to Mashable on the report.

We got a great look at one of TCL's foldable phone prototypes at CES back in January that folds book-style.

And TCL made waves in October 2019 with another prototype, this one a tri-fold phone that would unfold into a device with a 10-inch screen.