What was the first consumer gadget to feature a foldable display?

The first consumer device to feature a foldable display was not made by Samsung. It was the Royole FlexPai, unveiled in Beijing on October 31, 2018. This phone, produced by a Silicon Valley and Shenzhen display manufacturer, marked the arrival of foldable technology in consumer hands. It boasted a 7.8-inch AMOLED display with a 4:3 ratio, folding down to a compact size of roughly 4 inches.

Powered by a Snapdragon 855 and equipped with dual 16MP and 20MP cameras, the FlexPai was priced between $1,300 and $1,870 at the time. Despite its impressive specs, the device was not without flaws. Its hinge, rated for 200,000 folds, was exposed to the elements, and the device frequently failed to properly reflow its Android 9 interface when transitioning between states.

The FlexPai's launch was marred by reliability issues, with review units failing shortly after delivery. This early attempt at foldable technology ultimately paved the way for more refined designs, such as Samsung's Galaxy Fold and Huawei's Mate X, both of which have since made their way to market.