OPPO may be preparing to enter the foldable tablet arena, if a newly surfaced patent filing is anything to go by. The Chinese tech company has reportedly submitted a design patent to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) that hints at a book-style foldable tablet—something that blends the characteristics of both foldable smartphones and foldable laptops. While there’s no confirmation that such a device is headed to market, the patent gives us an early look at OPPO’s potential direction in the folding display category.
The patent, originally filed in June 2022 under application number 202230375288.6, was officially registered by WIPO on March 4, 2025. It includes a variety of design schematics that showcase the device from multiple angles, providing a glimpse into what OPPO may have in mind for its first folding tablet. The form factor is unmistakably large-screen, yet foldable at the center, similar in principle to devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. However, being a tablet, it also draws comparison to foldable laptops such as the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold or Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold.
Design-wise, the device appears to be thin and sleek, featuring a single circular camera on the rear. The left edge remains clean, while the right side houses a power button, USB-C port positioned at the fold, and volume rocker buttons near the bottom. At the center is a hinge mechanism that allows the screen to fold inward like a book—hence the term “book-style.”
As for use cases, the foldable form factor unlocks a number of potential advantages. One of the biggest is productivity. With a large, foldable screen, users could run multiple apps side by side in split-screen mode, improving multitasking. The ability to fold also brings an edge in portability, making it easier to slip the tablet into a small bag. Additionally, the device could double as a makeshift laptop: one half of the screen used for content viewing, the other as a virtual keyboard or input surface.
While OPPO hasn’t officially confirmed the existence of such a device, this marks the first concrete sign that the company is exploring foldables beyond phones. It also aligns with a broader industry trend—Apple is rumored to be developing a foldable iPad, and foldable laptops have already made their way to market. If OPPO joins the foldable tablet race, it could push the category into new territory. For now, though, it remains a concept on paper—albeit one with intriguing potential.
