When you picture a multi-fold phone, you probably imagine a big screen, right? That's definitely the trend, with the Huawei Mate XT boasting a 10.2-inch display and the rumored Samsung’s Multi-Fold expected to be in that range as well. It's easy to see the appeal – a phone that can fit in your pocket and also turn into a full-sized tablet makes a lot of sense.

A Novel Design

Infinix is exploring a reverse approach to multi-fold phones, with their Zero Series Mini Tri-Fold concept aiming to compress a standard phone into a tiny package. While the concept is interesting, the name itself could definitely benefit from some of that same miniaturization.

What can you do with this flip-flip phone? In one image they show the compact device mounted to a strap on a backpack to be used as an action camera. In another image it’s mounted to a bike handlebar operating the dual purpose of navigating a trail while also serving once again as that action camera.

While I have mounted a folding phone to a bike in the past, it certainly wasn’t a folding phone whose fragile folding screen was exposed to the outside world. T

My Biggest Concerns

That sort of underscores my biggest issue with devices that use an “in-and-out” folding style like this. You always end up with a bit of that folding UTG exposed. Even just living in your pocket, it’ll be at risk to receive scratches.

You also have to contend with the fact that there’s just no way to fit a physically large battery in a device like this which is both small and full of hinges. Silicon-carbon batteries might be the only way to go if Infinix ever intends to ship such a device.

Still, I love seeing novel designs like this and I applaud Infinix for pushing boundaries and trying something new. As a weekend phone or a device for someone on the go, this could make a lot of sense. A folding phone for people who don’t stare at their screens all day..