It seems that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was not the only flip smartphone slated to hit the market in the second half of 2021. TCL had plans to launch a cell phone with the same format — and cheaper. However, he gave up on the idea and only gives us a demonstration of what we could see on the shelves.
Dubbed Chicago, the smartphone also folds out to present a full screen, and features an external display. What sets it apart visually from the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the extra camera and screen vertical alignment. Inside, the hardware would not be that of a flagship, which would help put it at a more attractive price point for the general public.
The folding shown has a Snapdragon 765G — even used by the Motorola no Class 5G —, 6 GB of memory RAM, 18W charging for the 3.545 mAh battery and internal flexible 6.67 inch AMOLED display and Full HD+ resolution. Their cameras would be 48 MP (main), 16 MP (ultrawide) and 44 MP (front). The external display measures 1.1 inch, same size used by the Xiaomi on the back screen of the Mi 11 Ultra.
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By way of comparison, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has the Snapdragon 888, 8 GB of RAM, 15 W loading, 6.7-inch screen also Full HD+ and maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz. Their cameras have 12 megapixels (main and ultrawide), with a 10 MP front. The external screen measures 1.9 inches.
Something that would prove an advantage for the TCL Chicago would be its price: estimates put it as a cell phone priced at US$800. It would be US$200 less than the price. Samsung asks for your new flip smartphone, in the most basic version. The company, however, withdrew from the commercial launch for a number of factors.
Unable to compete
One problem for TCL Chicago’s survival, in a market where the Galaxy Z Flip 3 had just been released, would be a lack of marketing strength. In addition, the company’s history is shorter than that of the South Korean, and for prices not so far away, there would be a clear preference on the part of the public.
TCL also cites the lack of partnerships with operators. In some crucial markets, such as the US, it is essential to the manufacturer’s strategy to sell through telecom companies. Add to the reasons, also, the scarcity in the semiconductor market, forcing the company to choose to play it safe using cellphone chip inventories with less market challenges.
TCL doesn’t give up on the idea — for the future
The company, however, should not give up on the idea: TCL features folding prototypes years ago, and Chicago would be its first commercial release. Now, the manufacturer intends to improve processes, promote hardware improvements, and make it all cheaper to face more established rivals.
By avoiding this risky launch, TCL may be holding back from repeating what happened to Motorola. You Razr 2019 e Galaxy Z Flip arrived on the market at the same time, and at the same price point. Samsung delivered a product with more performance and better construction, which led to the brand of Lenovo to do huge price cuts and even sell two cell phones for the price of one to recover sales.
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