Amidst the high-stakes innovation races of tech giants, a 17-year-old student in China has remarkably engineered a foldable smartphone on his own by leveraging a 3D printer, discarded parts, and a lot of ingenuity.
A Teenager’s Workshop Turns Into a High-Tech Lab
Lan Bowen, currently a freshman at Yiling High School in Yichang, Hubei Province, embarked on an ambitious project that many seasoned engineers might find challenging.
Using a 3D printer purchased for حوالي 2000 yuan (roughly US$275) and components reclaimed from older family phones, Lan engineered a fully operational foldable smartphone all by himself.
Although thicker than conventional models at 16mm, the device stands out because it folds vertically with the display facing outward—contrasting with typical commercial foldables that fold inward to shield the screen.
Frustration Drives Innovation in Design
Lan’s motivation arose from dissatisfaction with existing foldable smartphones that mainly incorporated horizontal or inward-folding vertical designs.
“I came across various horizontal foldables and some vertical ones folding inward,” he revealed in a video shared on February 16 that quickly amassed nearly 5 million views. “Yet, I saw no vertical foldables that fold outward with the screen exposed.”
Determined to fill this gap, he crafted a custom frame via 3D printing and painstakingly assembled the phone, utilizing spare components from outdated household phones mixed with parts sourced online.
He affectionately nicknamed his device the “meal card machine,” likening its folded size to a canteen card, though it’s significantly bulkier.
Obstacles Overcome Through Persistence
Constructing the foldable phone presented several technical difficulties, especially with touchscreen responsiveness after unfolding.
“I found that the screen’s alignment shifted outward when unfolded, causing malfunction,” Lan explained in his video. Following multiple trials and broken screens, he managed to fix the issue.
Despite these challenges, Lan’s innovation resulted in a device capable of running standard smartphone functions effectively.
“My smartphone is at a very primitive stage, with plenty of shortcomings,” he acknowledged. “But the good thing is that it is able to implement all the functions of a normal mobile phone.”
Wide Recognition and Industry Interest
Lan’s creativity and technical prowess quickly resonated with online technology enthusiasts. One admirer remarked, “I spot the young incarnation of Lei Jun, founder of Xiaomi, a top Chinese electronics company.”
Others praised his skillful workmanship and communication abilities: “Not only is he talented at crafting, but he also articulates his work clearly and produces engaging videos.”
Even major smartphone manufacturer Vivo acknowledged his achievement, commenting via South China Morning Post: “Impressive! Vivo hopes to see more outstanding projects from you.”
An Early Passion Blossoms into Innovation
Lan’s creative talent was nurtured from an early age; as a primary school student, he enjoyed assembling model military vehicles, a pastime encouraged by his parents—his father drives a taxi, and his mother works in insurance sales. This early support helped forge his self-driven technical skills and inventive approach.
Despite excelling in engineering, Lan remains humble and admits to challenges with most academic subjects, except English and geography. Yet, his dedication to hands-on projects has only intensified.
His journey highlights a broader trend: as technologies like 3D printing become more accessible, an increasing number of young innovators are entering the maker community, reshaping the landscape of technological invention.
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