The idea of a mobile device that is too flexible is usually linked to poor manufacturing quality, but this prototype could be revolutionary, as long as it wins over the right consumers. It’s the Lenovo CPlus, a smartphone that can basically be transformed into a bracelet and worn on the wrist like a wearable accessory. Is it technical madness, or the format of the future?
A Stagnant Wearable Market
I’m personally convinced that wearable devices are stuck. Presenting them as companions to smartphones and tablets isn’t generating enough buzz among users, and the reason is quite clear: what we want are replacements, not complements. Sooner or later, formats that fail to maintain a relevant level of popularity will have to leave the market, and that kind of movement is already happening. For instance, more and more studies point to a notable decline in the tablet market. IDC reports a 15% drop in the first quarter of 2016. Gartner said 2015 closed with 100 million fewer units than had been anticipated. The causes? The advance of the phablet format (smartphones with screens of 5 inches or more), and hybrid systems that can function as tablets or laptops depending on what the user wants. So what’s next? Lenovo offers a humble suggestion...
The CPlus Prototype
What you just watched is the flexible CPlus smartphone. The phone’s technical specifications remain under wraps, but Lenovo explained that the folding mechanical system in the CPlus is not an in-house development; it was created in partnership with another company. The flexible screen also isn’t theirs (Samsung, LG, Toshiba and Sharp are the names being floated). In other words, Lenovo simply assembled a prototype, and for now, that’s all it is. The casing combines metal and plastic, and there are no major changes in weight, but what you do notice is that the smartphone is longer.
Probably the most interesting aspect is that the CPlus interface varies depending on its state, and to be honest, that will be a critical aspect for the Chinese giant to polish if it decides to put this smartphone on store shelves.
