Samsung Display’s prototype screen folds both ways and even has a better hinge. This may be a hint at the future of the Galaxy Z Fold lineup.
Samsung Display has shown off a new foldable display that can fold both inwards and outwards. Most foldable smartphones have the same design — a cover display and an inner flexible display that unfolds into a larger screen. However, there are a few manufacturers that have taken a different approach. An example is Huawei’s Mate Xs 2, which has a single display that folds outward to serve as the cover screen and unfolds into a larger display.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line falls under the first category of devices with two displays, but new technology presented by screen maker Samsung Display at CES 2023 may hint at a future where there is only one display on the device. Called the “Flex In & Out” according to The Verge, the prototype device sporting the new display technology can fold in both directions. When folded outwards, one-half of the display serves as the cover screen, and when unfolded, users get a large tablet-like screen.
The Display Has A Less Visible Crease
The display can also be folded inwards as a way to protect it from scratches and damage if it falls. In addition to eliminating the need for a secondary cover screen, the display also uses a new type of hinge system that greatly reduces the crease and reduces stress on the display. Furthermore, there isn’t a visible gap when the device is folded inwards. It has been reported that this water-drop hinge system is what Samsung intends to use for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5, but it is not known if this is the same type of display that will show up on the device.
Quite a handful of manufacturers have shown working prototypes of foldable smartphones with a single display, but only a few have been able to launch a commercially-available device. Back in 2019, Xiaomi’s co-founder, Lin Bin, showed a foldable smartphone with a screen that folds twice. In its unfolded state, the device works like a regular tablet, but when the left and right sides are folded backward, only a small functional middle portion is left. When folded, the device looks like an extra-thick smartphone.
For fans of the smaller Galaxy Z Flip series, there are some exciting changes in the pipeline too. While the cover display + inner foldable display combo will still be in use for the foreseeable future, it has been reported that the cover display will be significantly larger this year and the hinge will be improved, too. Samsung is not expected to launch its next-generation foldables until the second half of the year, so there are still several months of waiting.
Source: The Verge
