While Samsung is arguably leading the way for foldable flip phones with the Galaxy Z Flip3, a report from CNET reveals that TCL actually had a flip phone to compete against the Moto RAZR 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 called Project Chicago.
Project Chicago was supposed to launch this fourth quarter of 2021, but TCL decided to scrap the project.
“We could finish this product and bring it to the market, but this felt somehow … not right,” TCL Chief Marketing Officer Stephan Streit said. “For us, this category is really, really important. We will bring products. We will bring a number of products.”
Several commercial factors that include weakness of the brand and expensive components pushed TCL to not launch its first foldable device for “at least 12 to 18 months.”
While Project Chicago was scrapped, CNET received one of the nearly finished prototypes that TCL could have launched. Streit said that Project Chicago could have been priced at $800, but they felt it is priced too close to the $1000 starting price tag of the Galaxy Z Flip3.
Comparing Project Chicago to the Galaxy Z Flip3, there may be a good reason why TCL shelved it for the time being. Despite having a similar form factor, Project Chicago has a smaller 1.1-inch front display (vs. 1.9-inches on the Galaxy Z Flip3), but has roughly the same side for the foldable inner display at 6.67-inches (the Galaxy Z Flip3 has a 6.7-inch foldable inner display).
Project Chicago has more weak points compared to the Galaxy Z Flip3 beyond the outer display: it does not have water resistance, uses a weaker Snapdragon 765G processor, and uses an older version of 5G. Unlike the Galaxy Z Flip3, Project Chicago will only be available in “Pastel Gold”.
The only advantage Project Chicago had over the Galaxy Z Flip3 was that the crease on the inner display is less pronounced.
Streit also revealed that they decided to cancel Project Chicago before Samsung’s August Unpacked Event.
While TCL is not yet closing its doors, it said that its first official foldable will be thinner and sturdier, and hopes for a late 2022 or early 2023 launch.
