ZTE and AT&T rumored to give the dual-screened life a chance with the Axon Multy

From Samsung to Lenovo, companies have promised a future that will include devices with foldable screens. Even though that future has been constantly delayed, ZTE and AT&T are rumored to try and deliver with the Axon Multy.

Reported by VentureBeat to be a horizontal clamshell with a vertical axis, the Axon Multy will reportedly feature individual 1,920 x 1,080 resolution displays that can come together to form a 6.8-inch, 1,920 x 2,160 resolution display. In other words, the device, slated to be less than 10 millimeters thick when closed, can go from a smartphone to a tablet and vice-versa at will.

If this concept sounds familiar, it is because that is what Samsung’s Project Valley and Lenovo’s Folio are still gunning for. It is also a concept that the likes of Kyocera and Sony have attempted in the past to little with no fanfare or success, and with larger displays now fitting in smaller form factors than before, it does question whether a device like the Axon Multy has a reason to exist apart from looking cool.

Doubts aside, at least the Axon Multy looks to feature modern hardware – Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820, 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage, and a 3,120 mAh battery are reportedly under the hood. Meanwhile, the 20 MP camera can potentially serve multiple roles given the Axon Multy’s design, but we will have to wait and see what those functions could be.

Finally, ZTE will reportedly launch the Axon Multy exclusively through AT&T sometime in mid-October for $650.

Personally, I am not extremely optimistic about how the Axon Multy might fare in today’s smartphone market. The device guns for those who carry around a smartphone and tablet, and ZTE can certainly make it more interesting with software tailor-made for the form factor, but the price tag, exclusivity on AT&T, and ZTE’s track record with software have me concerned.