Introduction: Hitting the Wall
Since the rise of touch screen smartphones the race to eliminate bezels has been highly competitive. The demand for larger screens in a pocket friendly form factor has reduced bezels to a thin frame around the display, and now that a larger screen necessitates a larger device we have officially hit the wall.
Enter flexible displays:
Since the early 2010s flexible display technology has been a tantalizing prospect for smartphone makers.
The promise of a tablet sized screen that can fit in a pocket rapidly drove research and development, and now flexible displays are finally hitting the consumer market.
What can we learn?
As flexible display technology has started to appear in the consumer space smartphone manufacturers have implemented it in a few different ways.
This project was done in the spring of 2020, products released later were not taken into consideration.
Galaxy Fold - Poor use of space
The major failure of the Fold's design is its poor use of space. In order to open into a portrait mode tablet the device has to be incredibly tall and narrow, leaving large bezels above and below the external display. The Fold's phone experience and pocketability suffers because of this compromise.
Razr - Ingenious hinge design
While other folding phones have settled for exposed plastic displays or creased internal ones, the Razr can fold flat while leaving a space for the screen to curve around inside the hinge. No crease necessary. ..............................................................................................................................................
Mate X - Impractical application
The Mate X's wrap around display is an incredibly efficient use of available space, but it keeps the phone's most valuable and delicate asset fully exposed at all times, which is completely impractical. .................................................................................................................................................................................
Galaxy Z Flip - Innovative ultra thin glass
The best innovation of the Z Flip is the use of an ultra thin glass substrate in its flexible display. It doesn't protect against scratches, but it does give the screen a smooth, solid, more premium feeling that no other foldable has. .......................................................................................................
Synthesizing the best aspects of existing products would give us a device that provides uncompromising phone and tablet experiences with smart use of available space and premium displays inside and out.
DESIGNING FOR RAZER
Irvine/Singapore based company Razer makes a number of gaming focused consumer tech products ranging from computer peripherals to laptops and smartphones. Among gaming focused tech brands, Razer has a refreshingly sleek visual language that still manages to stay true to the somewhat edgy gamer aesthetic.
Matte Black
Clean Surfaces
Unapologetically Rectilinear
Sharp Angles
Green Details
Illuminated Logo
Soft Geometry
RGB Flair
Embossed Wordmark
Chamfered Edges
Isometric Dot Grill
Colorways
RAZER'S ETHOS
With a focus on premium build quality, high specs, fast screens, and excellent audio, Razer makes high performance products primarily dedicated to gaming and media consumption. Razer has also shown several concepts which experiment with form factor and blur the lines between desktops, laptops, and smartphones.
PROJECT LINDA
An ultraportable laptop powered by a Razer Phone that docks
to become the touchpad or an additional display.
PROJECT VALERIE
Worlds first triple display laptop, blurring the lines between laptop
and desktop.
Past Razer phones have focused on being gaming, entertainment, and productivity powerhouses, prioritizing bright 120hz screens, powerful front facing speakers, and cutting edge specs.
Implementing flexible display technology to put a tablet in your pocket is the next logical step.
DEVELOPMENT
Opening into a landscape orientation tablet means you don't have to compromise the phone experience for the tablet. Both displays are familiar in their dimensions and aspect ratios.
2:1
5.5"
4 : 3
7 "
Figuring out dimensions, aspect ratios, and element layouts
Final hinge design
exposed synchronous gear hinge,
embracing the mechanism
space for screen to curve
embossed wordmark
high gloss finish
Matte Glass
Cameras enclosed in square or capsule shaped modules are common to the point of genericism. An island style design is more distinctive for 2020.
CHROMA triple-headed snake logo
too generic
isometric dot speaker grill
anodized aluminum frame
gloss black spine/hinge
matte glass
with gloss rim
subtle chamfer
colored USB detail
INDUSTRY LEADING PERFORMANCE
Razer has always been on the cutting edge when it comes to performance, and Sidewinder is no exception. Built for speed, Sidewinder packs a Snapdragon 865+5G, 16GB of RAM, and Razer's signature Vapor Chamber Cooling.
Snapdragon 865+ 5G
16GB RAM
Vapor Chamber Cooling
From blazing fast gameplay to buttery smooth UI performance, Razer's Ultramotion™ display is as fast as it gets. Sidewinder's 120hz refresh rate and 240hz sampling rate is the gold standard in responsiveness, and at 585 ppi the 5.5" OLED display is pin sharp.
ULTRAMOTION:
FAST JUST GOT FASTER
120HZ
Ultramotion™
Display
812Nits
HDR
Bright even in direct sunlight
Support for
HDR content
™
A SUPERIOR AUDIO EXPERIENCE
Continuing the Razer Phone 2's legacy, Sidewinder's sound bar produces loud, clear, true stereo sound unrivaled in the smartphone space. The resonance chamber enhanced bass and support for Dolby 5.1 surround sound content heightens immersion. With such good audio built right in you might start leaving the Bluetooth speaker at home.
Dual Front
Facing Speakers
Dolby 5.1 Digital Surround Sound
Resonance Chamber Audio
ALWAYS READY TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT
RAZER CHROMA IS BACK
Our RGB illuminated rear logo is back by popular demand. Use the Razer CHROMA™ app to choose from preset lighting effects or customize your own. Sync with your notifications and choose colors and lighting patterns for specific apps.
Choose from 16.8 million colors
Sync with notifications and color code apps
Preset and custom lighting effects
™
2.3X Telephoto Lens
16 Megapixel Sensor
120° Ultrawide Lens
16 Megapixel Sensor
Night Mode, 960fps Slow-mo, Hyperlapse and more.
We paired identical 16MP sensors with our primary, telephoto, and wide angle lenses, providing consistent quality no matter how you choose to shoot. Record 4k video at up to 240fps, or go ultra slow-mo at 960fps in HD. With features like night mode, hyperlapse, and full manual mode built in, you'll always be ready to capture the moment.
OPEN AND EMBRACE THE FUTURE
INTRODUCING ULTRAMOTION FLEX
™
Sidewinder's 7" tablet display elevates the experience of enjoying media on your phone to a new level. With the same 120hz refresh rate and 240hz sampling rate as the external display, Ultramotion™ Flex is the fastest and most responsive flexible display on the market.
120HZ
Ultramotion™
Display
644Nits
HDR
The brightest flexible display
Support for
HDR content
ADAPTIVE STEREO SOUND
Sidewinder's quad speaker set up produces stereo sound regardless of the tablet's orientation. Immerse yourself in the resonance chamber enhanced bass and Dolby 5.1 surround sound.
L R
A DIFFERENCE YOU CAN FEEL
An ultra thin glass substrate gives the screen a smooth, solid, more premium feel than plastic based flexible displays.
IN PERFECT SYNC
Sidewinder's synchronous gear hinge gives the screen space to curve inside the body of the phone when closed, eliminating unsightly creases.
On smaller displays split screen apps are often unusably small. Sidewinder's tablet display can show two full sized apps side by side, enhancing productivity.
SPLIT SCREEN APPS
WORTH USING
LESS IS MORE
SideWinder's flexible display gives you more screen real estate in a smaller footprint, so how does it stack up to other large phones?
Galaxy S20 Ultra
30% smaller
screen
23% larger
footprint
iPhone 11 Pro Max
50% smaller
screen
18% larger
footprint
Galaxy Note 10+
29% smaller
screen
22% larger
footprint
Sidewinder is already compatible with mobile controllers like the Razer Raiju Mobile and Junglecat, but even these excellent controllers aren't truly pocketable, and if you forget to charge them you're out of luck.
DRAWBACKS OF OTHER MOBILE GAMEPADS
TOUCHSCREEN CONTROLLERS
Aftermarket gaming accessories that interact directly with the touchscreen provide a tactile alternative to on screen controls.
An ultra slim yet fully featured controller that fills the gap between on screen controls and bulkier mobile gamepads can be realized using this technique.
DEVELOPMENT
more of a typical handheld form factor
snaps on magnetically
controller layouts
fold down trigger buttons
fold down triggers are a better option
top mounted trigger buttons are less ergonomic
too small
split configuration
trace board enables button presses and stick movements to be sensed by the touch screen
translucent rubber dome switch
buttons back lit by screen
analog sticks with capacitive stylus tip
KARAMBIT: CREATED FOR SIDEWINDER
Karambit turns Sidewinder into a powerful handheld gaming system in a snap. No charging, no pairing. Slim enough to take anywhere, capable enough to dominate any battle.
TAKE FULL CONTROL
With all the essential controls of a full sized gamepad, Karambit lets you take command regardless of how you play.
Conveniently stows away on the back of the phone when not in use.
AN ELECTRONICS FREE DESIGN
Karambit is compatible with Razer Gamepad.
Use the Razer Gamepad app to remap buttons, adjust stick sensitivity, and customize backlight colors. Save custom profiles for your favorite games.
CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE
PART
PHONE
PART
TABLET
PART
HANDHELD
ALL SIDEWINDER
BLACK
QUARTZ
MERCURY