You could criticise Nokia for flooding the mobile phone market with dozens of barely memorable devices, but you can’t deny that the Finnish giant also launched bold new designs that were way ahead of their time, from the gaming-focused N-Gage to the cinematic N93 and the fashion-forward 7380 “Lipstick”. In contrast, today’s smartphones tend to play it safe for the sake of usability and selling points, but that doesn’t mean an unusual design won’t sell. There’s definitely room for novelty and plenty of room for creative ideas. This oddly shaped phone, for example, changes the design formula considerably, and while it looks like a futuristic device, it also raises some important questions about usability.

Designer: AndroidLeo

The candy bar form factor has emerged as the one true smartphone shape due to its handy and compact design. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not the only possible shape, especially considering that the top and bottom of these devices don’t have to be perfectly flat. It’s not like you’re going to stand it up or squeeze it next to other flat and rectangular objects. This Nokia Infinity Pro concept challenges that status quo with a thin, pill-shaped design that looks like a cross between a foldable clamshell and a smartwatch rolled into one.

The curvier shape of this concept phone is said to be more comfortable to hold, as there are no corners to cut into the skin. There may be doubts as to whether this would also make it too slippery to hold, but that’s not always the same experience. This Nokia Infinity Pro wouldn’t be the first to try this design either, as short-lived “open source” phones like OpenMoko and Neo Freerunner featured similar shapes.

What makes this idea different, however, is that the screen covers the entire surface of the front of the phone, rather than just a rectangular section. Such a screen is now easier to achieve, even if it’s still not as easy. The back of the phone also features two circular mounds facing each other. One is a dual-camera system, and the other is a circular display not unlike those found on smartwatches or the “cover screen” of some foldable phones. The idea is that you can lay the phone face down on a table, but still have access to important notifications and controls without distraction.

As interesting as it may look, there are some practical issues with such a design. For one, there is always the risk of scratching the screen when laying the phone face down. At the same time, the round outer screen will be covered by your palm and smudged if you have to hold the phone up. And then there is the question of what UI elements can be used at the top and bottom of the display, since most platforms and content are built for rectangular screens. Perhaps one day we will have more adaptable software, and then the Nokia Infinity Pro will really shine.