Back in 2016, Lenovo showed off a bendable phone concept, which you can wrap around your wrist like you would a watch, called the Cplus. Now, seven years later, it looks like subsidiary Motorola is taking its turn to do the same. But while the idea is similar, it looks like the actual implementation is a little different.
To start, while it was difficult to tell what the Cplus had at the back, the new Motorola device has a fabric back. This is presumably there so that it is comfortable to wear around the wrist. Also, the previous concept could only bend at certain points as dictated by its chain link exoskeleton. This newer unnamed version, on the other hand, looks to be a lot more flexible, being able to adopt stand or tent modes similar to what you see with many convertible laptops.
But on the flip side, because this 6.9-inch Motorola concept device not as elongated when not wrapped around your wrist, it doesn’t form a complete cuff around it either. Instead, it appears to require a separate metal band that it snaps to instead, likely magnetically. But if you’re already wearing something on your wrist, why wouldn’t you just wear a more conventional smartwatch instead? Not to mention the risk of it flying off your wrist if you happen to move your arm a little too quickly.
All that being said, as this is a concept, it is unlikely that Motorola will be shipping a commercial device of this nature. It won’t be the first time that such a concept steals the spotlight, only to never appear again. And with the advancements in smartwatch tech, it likely wouldn’t unless it can evolve past its quirks like needing another accessory to work as a smartwatch surrogate.
(Source: Motorola)
