The next Samsung Galaxy Fold might be foldable in two ways.
Samsung Display recently showcased a new foldable display that allows foldable phones to be folded 360 degrees, according to The Verge.
Samsung may use this new display in its upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5, which is probable to feature the company's new waterdrop-style hinge.
Samsung 'Flex In & Out' Display Details
Samsung Display, the subsidiary that makes Samsung's screens, mentioned that its "Flex In & Out" display could be folded inward and outward much like the prototype it showcased during CES 2023.
Android Authority saw an image of the display's prototype held next to a Galaxy Z Fold 4, which looked much thinner when folded compared to the Z Fold 4.
According to Samsung spokesperson John Lucas, the display comes with a different hinge design that allegedly creates a significantly less visible crease. This hinge is probably Samsung's waterdrop hinge style that allows a foldable phone's display to roll inside its main display in a waterdrop shape, forming a gentler curve that leaves less of a crease.
A showcase of the waterdrop style hinge (top) and the U-shapred hinge (bottom) Samsung currentlly uses for its Galaxy Z Fold phones.
Although the hinge's capabilities are mostly covered, Samsung hid the fact that the hinge could go both ways and not just produce less of a crease when folded.
From the photos Lucas provided The Verge, the phone can indeed be folded inwards and upwards, though they didn't feature how the new screen would work when placed horizontally.
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Nevertheless, the screen shows a lot of promise as it uses the foldable display like a normal smartphone, with people engaging in video calls while the phone is folded outwards.
Aside from CES 2023, Samsung Display also showed off its new Flex In & Out display prototype at South Korea's International meeting for Information Displays, per Tom's Guide. However, instead of using the display as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 does, Samsung instead showcased it being folded like an "S" with multiple segments.
Will It Be Used For The Galaxy Z Fold 5?
It's possible that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 would have the Flex In & Out display installed since it would probably use the rumored water drop style hinge that not only leaves less of a crease but also allows the phone to fold inwards and outwards.
However, it remains to be seen how Samsung will adjust its foldable phone software to accommodate the new feature. Since the phone can be folded outwards, half of the screen will be in constant contact with the user's hand or palm.
Fortunately, Samsung may have all the time it needs to figure this issue out as the company has yet to disclose the Galaxy Z Fold 5's launch. Phone Arena previously reported that Samsung would announce and release the phone sometime in mid-and late August 2022, though those dates came and went a long time ago.
The phone's release date is the first time Samsung broke its trend of annually releasing its Galaxy Z Fold in August every year, with the company releasing its Galaxy Z Fold 3 on Aug. 17, 2021.
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