Foldables as a category have been growing, and we’re seeing innovations from companies aiming to make them more user-friendly and accessible to the general audience. It seems like Vivo might be experimenting in this space and could be working on one of the most futuristic foldables yet. According to a newly published patent, the company is exploring a foldable phone with a detachable screen. The patent hints at a device that goes beyond conventional foldables by introducing modular detachments, allowing the second screen to function independently even when separated.

Vivo’s Mechanism For This Innovative Display

The patent outlines a foldable device with two display units, a primary screen and a secondary screen that’s detachable and comes with its own hardware.

The two parts are magnetically connected and communicate through electrical contact points on their borders. This mechanism could be inspired by the Nintendo Switch 2’s Joy-Con controllers. Plus, there’s no limit to how many of these detachable displays the device could support.

The fun part is that even when the second screen is detached, it can still operate independently thanks to its built-in hardware module. It can receive instructions from a controller device (either the main display or another electronic gadget) and can display images, play music, or even function as a standalone unit. When attached both displays might share power or grant the first device direct control of the second screen’s hardware.

The most wild part could be the real-world applications of this if it’s executed the right way. It could be used for presentations and even gaming. It might actually resemble an Android version of the Nintendo 3DS with dual displays. Or even better, you could use one screen as a controller and enjoy OG retro games straight on your device. The detachable display could also have its own audio output, offering a more immersive video viewing experience. The possibilities are endless, and if this concept becomes reality, we might just get a dream foldable device with multiple use cases.