Benq Siemens SL98

Year: 2007
Prototype level: Cancelled
Codename: Diamond

Overview

The BenQ-Siemens SL98 was an unusual slider prototype developed shortly before the collapse of BenQ Mobile. Instead of hiding the keypad beneath the display, the SL98 did the opposite: the main QVGA display was concealed inside the body and slid upwards when needed, while a small secondary display remained visible above the keypad. The camera was integrated into the moving display section, adding another unusual element to the design. 

The project had progressed to working prototypes, some of which appeared on eBay after BenQ Mobile’s European operations were liquidated. The SL98 was ultimately cancelled and never reached commercial release. Its unconventional mechanism makes it one of the more distinctive surviving examples of the final generation of BenQ-Siemens development hardware.