Samsung Preps Luxury Foldable Phone Following Galaxy Fold Fiasco

Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that’s more portable and luxurious than the first Galaxy Fold. The new device is thinner and more affordable too, a report claims.

Korean tech giant Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that features a smaller body that “shrinks” to become a very portable “square,” Bloomberg reported. This device, according to people familiar with its development, will be thinner and more affordable compared to the Galaxy Fold, and is set to arrive next year.

The new foldable smartphone will reportedly feature a 6.7-inch inner display that folds inward like a clamshell phone. A hole punch will be found on the display, housing a selfie camera that’s only used when the device is unfolded.

Outside, the alleged foldable device will have two cameras facing the rear when the device is open, and facing in front when the device is closed.

More durable display

Samsung is looking at using bendable glass for the new device’s display. This glass, aptly called “Ultra Thin Glass,” measures “only 3% the thickness of the glass conventionally used to protect smartphone displays,” the report said. Whether the Korean tech giant succeeds in using glass this thin remains to be seen at the moment.

Foldable devices need to have durable displays that can sustain constant bending and a host of other issues that could possibly arise from having a bendable display. The use of Ultra Thin Glass simply indicates Samsung’s intent to never repeat the same mistakes it did with the Galaxy Fold.

It’s worth noting that the Galaxy Fold, which would’ve been the first mainstream foldable smartphone to be released if it had no problems, was pushed back due to display issues that rendered the device inoperable.

The Galaxy Fold is set to be released after being redesigned. Bloomberg reported that according to sources, the new device will only be released if the Galaxy Fold makes good sales.

Advantage

The new foldable smartphone is expected to have a few advantages over the Galaxy Fold. First, it will have the shape of a smartphone when opened, meaning that it will be able to run Android apps normally and without the need for them to be adapted to another display size and orientation.

Also, the new device will be smaller and thinner than the Galaxy Fold, making it more compact and portable. Lastly, it is said to be cheaper than the $1,980 Galaxy Fold.