Samsung Developing Additional Folding Smartphones, May Offer Free Display Replacements for Alleged Crease Defect in Current Model

[MacRumors]

Samsung is working on two additional folding smartphone models to succeed the Galaxy Fold that's coming out this April, reports Bloomberg.

The new folding smartphones include a clamshell-like device that folds from top to bottom and another that folds outwards like Huawei's Mate X, another high-end folding smartphone coming this year.

Samsung's current Galaxy Fold, which will be priced at $1,980 when it launches, folds inwards rather than outwards, much like a book.

Samsung is experimenting with multiple folding designs to figure out what kind of fold works best with a smartphone/tablet hybrid.

"No one knows what the ideal design is yet," said Bryan Ma, vice president of devices research at IDC. "The time is ripe for experimentation. Many of these designs won't be successful, but industry players will learn valuable lessons along the way."

Samsung's vertically folding smartphone is set to be released in late 2019 or early 2020, with the company currently working on mockups to finalize the device's design. Right now, the smartphone has an extra screen on the outside, but it may be removed.

Samsung already has a prototype of a smartphone that folds outward like the Huawei Mate X and this device will come out last. It will be thinner than the other two because there is no extra screen.

According to Bloomberg, future foldable devices may incorporate the in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that Samsung has built into the Galaxy S10. Reviews have been mixed on the sensor, with some reviewers suggesting it is sluggish and not always accurate.

Samsung is also hoping to make the Galaxy Fold more durable, eliminating a crease that appears on the current panel once it's been folded approximately 10,000 times. To combat this issue, Samsung is considering offering Galaxy Fold buyers free screen replacements after the smartphone launches. From Bloomberg:

The Galaxy Fold's screen imperfection develops on a protective film covering the touch sensor bonded with the display underneath, the person said. That's one reason why Samsung kept the phone inside a glass case at MWC in Barcelona last month, the person said. Samsung's spokeswoman said the Galaxy Fold was displayed that way because it wanted more attention on the soon-to-be-launched Galaxy S10, not because there was a problem with the quality of the foldable device.

Right now, folding smartphone technology is imperfect and expensive, and it is not clear if foldable tablet/smartphone hybrids are a fad or something that will catch on and dictate the future of the smartphone industry.

There are no rumors suggesting that Apple has plans to release a foldable smartphone in the near future, but Apple is undoubtedly looking into foldable devices given that its major competitors are coming out with folding smartphones. In the past, Apple has patented some foldable display technology, and just recently, a rumor suggested Samsung has provided folding display samples to Apple.

Article Link: Samsung Developing Additional Folding Smartphones, May Offer Free Display Replacements for Alleged Crease Defect in Current Model

 

[chris975d]

Is this a typo:

Samsung's vertically folding iPhone...

Samsung is working on two additional folding smartphone models to succeed the Galaxy Fold that's coming out this April, reports Bloomberg.

The new folding smartphones include a clamshell-like device that folds from top to bottom and another that folds outwards like Huawei's Mate X, another high-end folding smartphone coming this year.

Samsung's current Galaxy Fold, which will be priced at $1,980 when it launches, folds inwards rather than outwards, much like a book.

Samsung is experimenting with multiple folding designs to figure out what kind of fold works best with a smartphone/tablet hybrid.Samsung's vertically folding smartphone is set to be released in late 2019 or early 2020, with the company currently working on mockups to finalize the device's design. Right now, the smartphone has an extra screen on the outside, but it may be removed.

Samsung already has a prototype of a smartphone that folds outward like the Huawei Mate X and this device will come out last. It will be thinner than the other two because there is no extra screen.

According to Bloomberg, future foldable devices may incorporate the in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that Samsung has built into the Galaxy S10. Reviews have been mixed on the sensor, with some reviewers suggesting it is sluggish and not always accurate.

Samsung is also hoping to make the Galaxy Fold more durable, eliminating a crease that appears on the current panel once it's been folded approximately 10,000 times. To combat this issue, Samsung is considering offering Galaxy Fold buyers free screen replacements after the smartphone launches. From Bloomberg:Right now, folding smartphone technology is imperfect and expensive, and it is not clear if foldable tablet/smartphone hybrids are a fad or something that will catch on and dictate the future of the smartphone industry.

There are no rumors suggesting that Apple has plans to release a foldable smartphone in the near future, but Apple is undoubtedly looking into foldable devices given that its major competitors are coming out with folding smartphones. In the past, Apple has patented some foldable display technology, and just recently, a rumor suggested Samsung has provided folding display samples to Apple.

Article Link: Samsung Developing Additional Folding Smartphones, May Offer Free Display Replacements for Alleged Crease Defect in Current Model

 

[cpnotebook80]

omg i'm first!
with regards to the above - its a good start - but if your going to do something innovative and want ppl to buy, do it right the first time. (apple?)... we do not need folding phones costing similar to laptops...who would profit? however, having long last battery life and fixing current issues with phone and refining them should be key priorities.

 

[Brandhouse]

"Samsung is experimenting with multiple folding designs to figure out what kind of fold works best with a smartphone/tablet hybrid."

This to me, screams that Samsung didn't engage in exhaustive usability testing and rushed to get first to market.

 

[calzon65]

A folding display is certainly impressive but I don't think it's going to be popular enough to replace current smartphone formats.

 

[Wanted797]

"Samsung is experimenting with multiple folding designs to figure out what kind of fold works best with a smartphone/tablet hybrid."

This to me, screams that Samsung didn't engage in exhaustive usability testing and rushed to get first to market.

Yep. There’s a warning in the box this time “careful may explode”.

 

[Amplelink]

A folding display is certainly impressive but I don't think it's going to be popular enough to replace current smartphone formats.

I’m sure manufacturers will release foldable and non-foldable phones. It will be some time before foldable devices really become a thing, if that ever even happens.

 

[JPack]

Not too surprising. I think Samsung executives realized the Fold was obsolete the moment Huawei let journalists touch and use the Mate X.

 

[dona83]

"No one knows what the ideal design is yet," said Bryan Ma, vice president of devices research at IDC. "The time is ripe for experimentation. Many of these designs won't be successful, but industry players will learn valuable lessons along the way."

"Thanks for giving us $1,980 to be a beta tester."

 

[Baymowe335]

omg i'm first!
with regards to the above - its a good start - but if your going to do something innovative and want ppl to buy, do it right the first time. (apple?)... we do not need folding phones costing similar to laptops...who would profit? however, having long last battery life and fixing current issues with phone and refining them should be key priorities.

Features aren’t innovation. Innovations are things that change our lives.

 

[vipergts2207]

A folding display is certainly impressive but I don't think it's going to be popular enough to replace current smartphone formats.

At $2k a pop? It certainly won’t.

 

[69Mustang]

Features aren’t innovation. Innovations are things that change our lives.

Is that your mantra? "Innovations change lives". That's not what innovation is. It can change lives but that's not a quality of innovation.

On topic: Bending a plastic screen will leave a crease. Who didn't realize that? Samsung should just position the Fold as a proof of concept device, because that's what it is. So are the other fold designs they're going to offer. I see folding phones in the same light as 3D and curved TV's. Flashes in the pan.

 

[magicschoolbus]

And just like that.... the tablet market died.

 

[69Mustang]

And just like that.... the tablet market died.

Not at those price points... and not with creasing plastic screens. It's going to take a lot better product than what Sammy and Huawei introduced.

 

[kdarling]

Is this a typo:

Samsung's vertically folding iPhone...

Nope, Samsung is also working on a flip phone style folding model.



Plus one that has outer screens like the Huawei.

Instead of deciding on a single style, like Apple would do, Samsung is willing to offer multiple models and let customers decide for themselves.

 

[Ramchi]

Samsung is at least forthcoming when they foresee debacles...instead of screwing the customers. They already mentioned this is NOT for mass market. Price is in line with that. Normal people like us can wait for an iteration or two... Huawei Mate X looks tempting indeed but the price is obviously prohibitive....and unlike Samsung Fold, we don't know when it may hit the market.

This statement from Samsung is reassuring for those who plan to put their heavy bucks!
[doublepost=1551842305][/doublepost]Samsung is at least forthcoming when they foresee debacles...instead of screwing the customers. They already mentioned this is NOT for mass market. Price is in line with that. Normal people like us can wait for an iteration or two... Huawei Mate X looks tempting indeed but the price is obviously prohibitive....and unlike Samsung Fold, we don't know when it may hit the market.

This statement from Samsung is reassuring for those who plan to put their heavy bucks!

 

[darksithpro]

Best option IMO would be to let the tech mature and wait for the price go down to sub 1k levels. No way I'm going to pay upwards of 2k for something that can break if I drop it, or get stolen if I forget it, or misplace.

 

[Analog Kid]

Not too surprising. I think Samsung executives realized the Fold was obsolete the moment Huawei let journalists touch and use the Mate X.

Yeah, it's been a long time since I've seen a major announcement undercut this drastically and this quickly. Samsung just plain got it wrong. Maybe they thought being first would make up for lousy design, and maybe it would have if they had a year of sales before the competition eclipsed them, but they had days...

 

[0947347]

And just like that.... the tablet market died.

Once you have something (mobile phone) that unfolds to 12.9 inches, let me know, magiccschoolbus

 

[TComm]

Apple must be very upset. How dare they charge $2000 for the cheapest model before Apple?!! That was iPhone's next 'one more thing'. Unbelievable these people.

 

[Analog Kid]

Features aren’t innovation. Innovations are things that change our lives.

Innovate just means to change something that already exists. Invent means to create something that didn't exist. Neither implies events of great magnitude-- just about every innovation and every invention is a small incremental step on a long path toward excellence.

 

[darksithpro]

Innovate just means to change something that already exists. Invent means to create something that didn't exist. Neither implies events of great magnitude-- just about every innovation and every invention is a small incremental step on a long path toward excellence.

I remember pre-2008, when the Japanese domestic market had a huge lead in terms of smartphone hardware technology. Steve Jobs talked about it. They had the hardware that was superior to US offerings and they even had the ability to pay with their phones like Apple pay today, granted it was quaint and cumbersome by today's standards. Steve said what they lacked is the vision and understanding to couple the software and hardware together with a standardized Operating System and a universal app store. That changed the market forever.

 

[Laserducky]

Apple must be very upset. How dare they charge $2000 for the cheapest model before Apple?!! That was iPhone's next 'one more thing'. Unbelievable these people.

Yes, Apple's 'one more thing' will probably cost an arm and a leg ...... just like Sammy's

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Not too surprising. I think Samsung executives realized the Fold was obsolete the moment Huawei let journalists touch and use the Mate X.

The Mate X has the same display crease issue. Both phones are Fisher-Price quality at Tiffany prices.

 

[oldmacs]

Features aren’t innovation. Innovations are things that change our lives.

A folding phone would change my life.