Mobile phone form factors

For the musical time structure, see Bar form.

The Bar (or Slab, or Candybar) is a popular electronics form, where the device is a rigid cuboid.^[1][2] It is so-named because it resembles a candy bar or slab in size and shape. This form factor is widely used by manufacturers such as Nokia and Sony Ericsson. Bar mobile phones often have the screen and keypad all on one face. Some phones, such as the iPhone, do away with the keys, in favor of a touchscreen.

Although this term usually refers to mobile phones, but can be applied to the whole portable electronics industry. For instance, the PlayStation Portable game console is a slab console, while the Nintendo DS is a flip console.

The Nokia E51, a typical "Candybar" phone.

The Nokia 8890, another "Candybar" phone with slide cover.

[edit] Brick

The Brick design is a type of electronics form factor, that refers to a device as being typically bulky.

The term is most often used in reference to brick phones.^[3][4][5]

Brick phone designs have largely become unpopular and seen as outdated, since newer technologies have allowed for decreased battery size, and therefore, a slimmer and more portable phone.

Since most brick phones were created at a time when only the Bar phones existed, brick phones are often seen as being almost exclusively a type of Bar phone, but Flip phones, Slide phones, and Swivel phones, can all be brick phones too.

[edit] Flip

Main article: Flip (form)

The flip or clamshell is an electronics form factor which is in two or more sections that fold via a hinge. Motorola used to have a trademark on the term "flip phone",^[6] but the term "flip phone" has become genericized to be used more frequently than "Clamshell" in colloquial speech.

[edit] Slide

For any other meanings of "slide", see Slide.

Sony Ericsson W580 a slider phone.

The Slide is a popular electronics form, where the device is in multiple segments (usually two) that slide past each other.

The form usually refers to mobile phones, as in "slide phones", but is applicable to any such portable electronics device.

Siemens SL55 is the one of first sliding mobile phones in history. Not, Nokia 8800 and 8810 are Soft slide phones, but 8910/i are automatic slide phone.

[edit] Swivel

For any other meanings of "swivel", see Swivel.

The Swivel is a type of electronics form, where the device is in multiple segments (usually two) that swivel past each other around a point.

The Nokia 7370, an example of a Swivel phone.

The form usually refers to mobile phones, as in "swivel phones", but is applicable to any such portable electronics device. Its use is uncommon in most electrical devices. Swivel phones usually place the keyboard on one section, and the screen on another, allowing the keys to swivel under the screen section when not in use.