GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

888k

156k
74k
1.1m

RSS

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • DealsNew
  • Tools
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENTS

Another Samsung patent gives a clearer picture of the upcoming foldable phone

  • Post your comment
  • Comments (29)

Victor 07 December 2016

Samsung Android Mobile hardware Rumors

It appears the Samsung foldable phone plot is thickening yet again. Another interesting patent has surfaced online, showing a brand new design concept for a foldable handset, with bendable displays and what appears to be a detachable camera module.

Samsung foldable phone Samsung foldable phone Samsung foldable phone
Samsung foldable phone

This comes as yet another piece in a puzzle that has coming together for over three years now. The Korean giant appeared to be close to a market-ready design back in 2014, but it was during the last few months that we really saw an influx of patents and concept renders. All things considered, Samsung might very well make good on its promise to bring such futuristic devices to the market in 2017 and this newly unearthed design seems to be the most extravagant one yet.

Samsung foldable phone Samsung foldable phone Samsung foldable phone
Samsung foldable phone

From what we can gather, it looks like the handset is made out of two distinct pieces, sandwiched together back to back. One appears to be completely covered in a display. The other part likely houses the actual internals of the device and is complete with an identical foldable segment. The latter holds what the drawings clearly mark as a home button.

When the device is not bent in any way, the front panel is all display, from edge to edge. The home button is left on the back side, where there is also a fixed camera in the upper left corner and a socket for attaching the external camera module. The other state of the handset entails the two parts to be slightly slided apart and then folded over. That places the home button underneath the display, where it typically resides, while the top portion of the panel ends up on the back side.

Samsung foldable phone Samsung foldable phone Samsung foldable phone
Samsung foldable phone

We can't really say what use cases Samsung is envisioning for said "transformer", nor can we speculate on its feasibility, as is typically the case with patents. However, the unearthed document also features what looks to be a black and white, low-res shot of a prototype of the design. That could count for a lot or at least that's what we are hoping for.

Prototype
Prototype

In any case, if the hardware does become reality at some point, we can't also help but wonder if another recent Samsung patent for a flexible display assembly will be part of it as well. This could, theoretically allow the device to shift between the two states all on its own, without requiring force form the user. That would be seriously cool indeed.

Source

Related articles
  • Samsung Project Valley: first foldable phone coming in January? Samsung Project Valley: first foldable phone coming in January?
  • Report says Samsung will start selling foldable smartphones in 2017 Report says Samsung will start selling foldable smartphones in 2017
  • Here's what Samsung's first foldable smartphone will look like Here's what Samsung's first foldable smartphone will look like
  • Samsung was granted yet another patent for flexible display technology Samsung was granted yet another patent for flexible display technology

Reader comments

D
  • AnonD-612904
  • gxK
  • 20 Dec 2016

Great my friend

  • Reply
D
  • AnonD-70078
  • 9xb
  • 15 Dec 2016

This one just looks shit

  • Reply
H
  • Hermes1
  • HjB
  • 08 Dec 2016

The prototype always ugly. I remember back then in 2013 they showcase Note Edge prototype version with super thick bezel. Then the commercial version turns out looking veey nice. And look at what we have now. S7 Edge, the most beautiful curved screen...

  • Reply
  • Read all comments
  • Post your comment
Total reader comments: 29

ADVERTISEMENTS

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • BlackBerry
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Vodafone
  • Energizer
  • Cat
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • BLU
  • Acer
  • Wiko
  • Panasonic
  • verykool
  • Plum

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENTS

Top 10 by daily interest

  Device Daily hits  
1.Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G108,090
2.Xiaomi Mi 1147,892
3.Samsung Galaxy S21 5G41,392
4.Samsung Galaxy A1233,960
5.Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G29,420
6.Samsung Galaxy A5127,702
7.Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro27,652
8.Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max25,897
9.Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G25,256
10.Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC24,769
ADVERTISEMENTS

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS feed Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2000-2021 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Contact us Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data