Samsung is expected to make foldable outside the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold lineups. Thanks for reproductions provided by LetsGoDigital in collaboration with Sarang Sheth, we have an idea of how a new type of Samsung can be unfolded. The patent was filed with both WIPO and USTPO within one day in a row. The patents are entitled “Method and device for providing user interface in electronic equipment with foldable screen”.
Named ‘Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Tab’, the foldable has two hinges with three screen sections. Once fully folded, the hole left by the two outer sections is enough to house an S-pen and the vertically stacked triple camera setup.
The device can be used in three possible configurations: fully open, one side folded or fully folded. The interface adapts as soon as the change is detected. Flex Mode is mentioned by LetsGoDigital so we expect the hinge hinges to look like this too.
Samsung has previously patented multifunction folders like this one. The Galaxy S foldable, which Samsung showed last month, shows that the company certainly entertains several different form factors before deciding which one to add to its Z lineups. That said, a device like this may never hit the market and the renderings you see are illustrated for reporting purposes.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold3 has reportedly gone into mass production, and the foldable one is still expected to arrive sometime in July along with the next Galaxy Z Flip smartphone. Samsung recently predicted that they expect to sell 7 million foldable devices by 2021 by the end of the year.
Samsung’s future lies heavily in flexible displays for both its own devices and other OEMs. We should see an increase in foldable devices, but that should follow an increase in the average cost of smartphones. It will be interesting to see if the market permanently accepts foldable form factors or if they ever disappear.
