Close

nendo designs collapsable smartphone for OPPO

nendo's 'slide phone' explores new possibilities for smartphones

Japanese design studio nendo is exploring new possibilities for smartphones with the ‘slide-phone’, a concept developed for smart device manufacturer OPPO. The device is composed of seven hinges that allow the phone to be folded down three times in the same direction to roughly the size of a credit card: just 54 millimetres by 86 millimetres.

slidephone by nendo for OPPO

‘Slide-phone’ is designed to offer increased functionality and flexibility in response to the growing trend for larger mobile devices. nendo’s design will allow users to change the form of the phone to suit various occasions and tasks. An additional stylus that is inserted in the phone also allows users to expand their productivity by using the phone for more complex tasks.

“Among foldable smartphones with OLED panel monitors developed in recent years, most follow the trend of folding to the size of a standard smartphone and unfolding to a screen two or three times as big,” nendo states. “By using the folding technology, portability is enhanced and the compactness can be exploited for a new sense of functionality – instead of the screen being enlarged.

Read more: Nendo creates a collection of handbags made from single sheets of leather

 

“Like an inchworm, the phone makes use of its multiple joints to, in effect, slide sideways and can be transformed only by the user’s one-thumb operation.”

Sliding one-fold up opens up 40 millimetres of the screen, allowing users to access their call history, view the time or play music. The second fold reveals 80 millimetres of the screen, opening the phone up to the camera which will now have moved to the top of the device. Unfolding the rest of the screen reveals a thin, seven-inch touchscreen that turns into an operating panel with touchscreen buttons when turned horizontally.

The controls set on the side of the phone are shaped like ellipses that function as two buttons, becoming smaller, semicircular buttons when folded out, and eventually combining into a single large button as the phone slides up and down.

Suede leather covers each of the hinges, while the exterior encompasses a variety of colour options such as black, silver, sage green and brick red. The phone also comes with a cuboid-shaped wireless charger with a cut-out in its centre in which to insert the device. 

“The design opens up new possibilities for smartphones and for their use, not only while fully folded or opened but while partially unfolded or while bent,” nendo says.

Photography by Akihiro Yoshida

The Latest

Otherworldly

The new Alémais Sydney headquarters reflects the brand’s flair for colourful prints and embellishments

Between Sky and Steel

We step into a sculptural apartment in Istanbul, Turkey

identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist: All Categories

Shortlist revealed for all the categories for identity Design Awards 2025

Brimming with Warmth

Atlas Concorde’s porcelain tiles enhance the contemporary design of this villa in Bodrum, Turkey

The Lighthouse

Carrie Das has completed a beachfront home that bridges Asia-inspired minimalism and touches of British heritage

Frieze Abu Dhabi

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Frieze announce launch of Frieze Abu Dhabi

The move marks a new chapter in the emirate’s role on the global art calendar.

For Those Who Know

Gaggenau’s new Expressive series draws inspiration from Bauhaus principles and the minimalism of modernist architecture

Eternal Flow

Inspired by the open seas and its five-star location on the Palm Jumeirah, this nature-inspired home by Katrin & Muse Design brims with inspiration

Where Faith, Knowledge and Community Converge

Conceived by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women in Qatar is the first purpose-built contemporary women’s mosque in the Muslim world

An Ethereal Stay

A bespoke, cultural and spiritual adventure awaits in the remote, magical Kingdom of Mustang with the all-inclusive Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection hotel

Celebrating artistry, heritage, and community

Casamia & Mustard & Linen host a cultural exchange celebrating Emirati Women’s Day

Skyline Serenity

A family home in Almaty, Kazakhstan blends modern architecture, bespoke craftsmanship and global design icons