Samsung Patents Galaxy Phone With 180-Degree, Fully Curved Display

Samsung has been experimenting with flexible AMOLED displays for some time now and it looks like the South Korean smartphone maker is still doing so. A recently discovered Samsung patent shows a device with a 180-degree curved display.

The Samsung patent was first spotted by Dutch website LetsGoDigital in the WIPO (World International Property Office) database. The device described by Samsung’s patent comes with a curved display on both sides. But unlike Samsung’s current lineup of Galaxy Android smartphones, the display on this device curves all the way to the back of the handset.

In the patent, Samsung says this type of display on this device will offer a “completely new user experience” and an “improved grip,” according to the XDA Developers website. Samsung also included a bunch of sketches to properly show the manufacturing process of this device, while also comparing it other smartphones with a traditional curved-edge display. The display curves on both sides of the handset, and the display also extends to the back of the device making it a true 180-degree curved display.

Since Samsung clearly took the time to explain the manufacturing process, it seems as though the company is planning on turning this concept into a real product. However, there really is no way of telling if Samsung is planning to move forward with this type of design, or is simply covering all its bases. Big companies typically file patent applications for a lot of experimental products that actually don’t end up becoming consumer-ready products.

Regardless of whatever Samsung is planning, it appears as though the company is continuing to find ways deliver a revolutionary design for its smartphones. All the way back to 2013, Samsung released the Galaxy Round, its first smartphone that comes with a flexible AMOLED display and a curved body. The following year, the company introduced the Galaxy Note Edge, the first Galaxy smartphone to have a display that curves on one side of the phone. In 2015, the Galaxy S6 made curved displays a lot more popular and Samsung hasn’t looked back since then.

Jumping to this year, Samsung released the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy Note 8, both of which featured dual curved displays and extremely thin bezels. With this new patent, it’s clear that Samsung isn’t done experimenting flexible AMOLED displays and is even pushing it to its limit.

Samsung is also rumored to be making a foldable smartphone that’s currently dubbed as the Galaxy X. The device is believed to feature a flexible AMOLED display which will allow users to fold the handset like a traditional clamshell phone. When the device is folded out, it will have a form factor that’s similar to the Galaxy S8. Samsung’s Galaxy X foldable smartphone is rumored to be announced in 2018 alongside the Galaxy S9, which might make an early appearance in January during the annual CES. As for the Galaxy S9, it’s rumored to have a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio.