Flashy Flip Phone Will Collapse in Your Pocket, Hold Your Flowers

Kristian Ulrich Larsen’s “Flip” phone is deceptively named. With its three-sided construction it’s a shape-shifter for sure, but it’s definitely no Razr clamshell.

Gadget Lab favorites Yanko Design have brought us yet another piece of industrial design porn with Larsen’s tripartite concept smartphone, the Flip.

In its triangular position (seen above), the phone rests on flat surfaces elegantly, reminiscent of a bedside alarm clock at some futuristic Motel 6. But if you don’t have plans to dream of electric sheep any time soon, the Flip can shift into a slimmer version of itself, collapsing and tucking away one of its three super AMOLED screens between the outer two.

Each of the Flip’s three sides are connected by steel mesh links, so snapping it apart comes as no easy feat. And if you absentmindedly happen to sit on the phone, the Gorilla Glass screen covers can withstand a good ass whupping.

Aside from the novelty of your phone being able to double as a flower vase — seriously, watch the embedded video below — the Flip’s design addresses enough practical smartphone user issues to make it an intriguing product concept. For one thing, the Flip’s ability to morph from one shape to another could come in handy, say, when you feel like reading an e-book on an actual dual-sided, open-faced surface.

Or if you have the sudden desire to work on a teeny-looking laptop, you can flip one screen up to a 90 degree resting position and type away on the LED-backed keyboard. And with the front facing video camera, shifting the Flip back into the triangular shape means hands-free video chatting.