Roger Fingas
Samsung on Monday released a video to drum up attention for its first foldable phone, slated to be revealed at a Feb. 20 press event.
The teaser contains the words "the future unfolds" wrapping around a book-like invisible surface, and a reference to Feb. 20's "Unpacked" event, where Samsung will also showcase the Galaxy S10. The S10 is likely to come in three different versions — none of them foldable.
Samsung hinted at a foldable commercial product last November, when it demonstrated what it called an "Infinity Flex Display" on a 7.3-inch device that could be shrunk down to smartphone size. That may not represent plans for a shipping device.
Developing a foldable phone has long been a goal of tech companies. With major hurdles cleared, the question is now about bringing down cost and finding practical implementations. Hybrid phone/tablet devices are currently the most popular idea — another possibility is the revival of flip phones for the post-iPhone era. Many devices, like the iPhone XS Max, are so large that it can be tough to fit in them in all but the biggest pockets.
Apple has been quietly researching foldable displays, but to date there's been no evidence that a real-world product is coming.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
Andrew O'Hara
William Gallagher
24 Comments
"Samsung teases next failure."
*Throws crap at the wall*
"Look I did it first!!!"
I'm interested to see what they present. I real deal-breaker for me on a fordable screen is that the screen can't be glass. Plastic screens like on the Switch feel very cheap and scratch very easily. Also, on a fordable screen you can't even use a screen protector.
I am trying to think what does folding your phone bring to its usability. I don’t know how thick the folded phone would be but it’s obvious that you reduce the height but increase the thickness. A previous post had it right that for Samsung this is a race to say they were first.
I mentioned it in the S10 thread but the apparent phone was slipped into a long Samsung branding ad on Spanish TV.
You see a lot of people using Samsung phones for different things and at one point you see a person open a folding phone. It was pretty quick and could miss it but it is in there. Looks like the one they teased in November.