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The majority of foldable phones you'll see today are made by Samsung. However, it is difficult to distinguish if the phone you see in the wild is the latest Z Fold4 or an older model. The form factor has remained largely the same over four generations of Samsung's phones, but there may be a major change. Samsung Display just unveiled a new OLED panel that folds with a 360-degree hinge. It looks a lot like the Microsoft Duo except that it has one large display and not two smaller ones.
The panel's Flex In & Out function allows you to fold it closed, just like the Samsung foldables. Or you can fold it in the opposite direction so that the screen is visible from a smaller area. The Samsung foldables of today have two screens: one flat, foldable OLED screen on the inside and one on the exterior. The Flex In & out screen can be used on a device that has only one OLED, but still does all the same things as other foldables.
The crease is one of the biggest drawbacks to current foldable screens. This prototype display could address it. Samsung's current foldable screen has a narrow radius fold when closed. This causes a noticeable crease in the middle. It's not something you might be aware of, but it is there. Flex In & out panel features a "waterdrop hinge", which has a wider fold radius and reduces the depth of the crease.
Samsung has demonstrated flexible OLEDs in many forms, but this one seems closer to being a product. This hardware is strikingly similar to the Z Fold. The Verge suggests that it may even be intended for the Z Fold5. This would be a significant departure for Samsung and could mean some compromises. Although foldable screens are more durable than ever, the top layer of plastic is still susceptible to scratches. The current Samsung foldables reduce this risk by covering the screen when it is closed. The flexible OLED can be seen on the back if you fold the Flex in & Out panel forward. This could cause scratches to the screen.
This screen may not make it into a Samsung foldable phone anytime soon. The launch of Samsung's next foldable phone won't occur until 2023. Samsung's next major release will be the Galaxy S23 family. The announcement will take place at the Unpacked event in February 1.
Read
- Microsoft Claims to Have Canceled Surface Duo 3 for True Foldable
- Motorola Displays a 'Rollable Smartphone and Laptop that Grows With the Press of a Button
- Samsung Demonstrates Flex Hybrid OLEDs That Slide and Fold at CES 2023
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By: Ryan Whitwam
Title: Samsung Demos Striking Foldable Phone With 360-Degree Hinge
Sourced From: www.extremetech.com/mobile/342454-samsung-demos-striking-foldable-phone-with-360-degree-hinge
Published Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 17:08:40 +0000
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