Samsung Shows Off Prototype Smartphone With Foldable Display

[dilbert99]

It just looks awkward and uncomfortable.

They stated this was not the final form, they weren't showing that off.

Unless they can somehow make it as thin as current phones, while folded... which doesn’t seem very likely any time soon. I certainly don’t want to carry around a brick.

Thats what I first thought when someone at work told me there were people doing folding phones. I couldn't think that it could work because of the stresses on plastic would break over time. In my mind the phone would be folding with the screen on the inside and I thought that you couldn't possibly have a crease that sharp that would unfold.
But I wasn't thinking that the bend would be on the outside which makes it a lot easier since the radius on the outside is much larger.
Then I did some reading and saw that currently available radius seems to be 5mm which is thinner than current iPhones

I'm old enough to remember carrying around both thick and thin phones including flip phones. People use to drool over the motorola v3, which I think is way cooler than any smart phone.

 

[Shanghaichica]

You clearly do not understand the meaning of "implode". Perhaps you are more familiar with the meaning of "gross, over exaggeration".

Can’t see how this is a move of desperation. This is innovation and development. Also it’s something they have been working on for about 7-8 years.

 

[dilbert99]

Their smartphone sales is imploding

Care to share some stats? I can see their sales have fallen a bit but hardly imploding - https://www.statista.com/statistics/299144/samsung-smartphone-shipments-worldwide/
Apples graph has a similar shape to Samsungs - https://www.statista.com/statistics/276306/global-apple-iphone-sales-since-fiscal-year-2007/
https://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://infographic.statista.com/normal/chartoftheday_7941_apple_vs_samsung_smartphone_shipments_n.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.statista.com/chart/7941/apple-vs-samsung-smartphone-shipments/&docid=Vb2uMD_xZNShqM&tbnid=2PUnskMMdVjIEM:&vet=10ahUKEwjzv6i1uMfeAhWKXisKHQfoDoUQMwhDKAMwAw..i&w=960&h=684&bih=763&biw=1536&q=samsung phone sales quarter&ved=0ahUKEwjzv6i1uMfeAhWKXisKHQfoDoUQMwhDKAMwAw&iact=mrc&uact=8
Is gloating fun? Apple clearly is the market leader but no point being a smart arse about it.

 

[Shanghaichica]

They stated this was not the final form, they weren't showing that off.

Thats what I first thought when someone at work told me there were people doing folding phones. I couldn't think that it could work because of the stresses on plastic would break over time. In my mind the phone would be folding with the screen on the inside and I thought that you couldn't possibly have a crease that sharp that would unfold.
But I wasn't thinking that the bend would be on the outside which makes it a lot easier since the radius on the outside is much larger.
Then I did some reading and saw that currently available radius seems to be 5mm which is thinner than current iPhones

I'm old enough to remember carrying around both thick and thin phones including flip phones. People use to drool over the motorola v3, which I think is way cooler than any smart phone.

Never really saw the fascination with the flip phones myself but I did have a Samsung one circa 2001 then later in 2005 and 2007, Motorola flip phones but admittedly I only got the latter two because they were hot pink.

But I remember having the big thick phones with the antennas sticking out of the top and we thought nothing of it.

 

[dilbert99]

Judging by some of the comments in here, progression is only acceptable when Apple implements new technology/ideas on their phones. When competitors try to progress, it’s always a race to be the first and therefore not perfect nor influential. What kind of logic is this.

The purpose of progression is to advance. Of course there will always be room for improvement, therefore it becomes a learning experience and foundation for further progression. Attempts to progress in smartphone tech should always be applauded, regardless of company, because if successful will be widely implemented across all brands.

A very good example of this is how Apple was influenced in adopting larger screens because other brands progressed to the larger sizes and were successful. RIP <5’ screens.

That cannot possibly be correct, Samsung copied larger screen sizes from Apple, Samesung only copies Apple

 

[Abazigal]

Care to share some stats? I can see their sales have fallen a bit but hardly imploding - https://www.statista.com/statistics/299144/samsung-smartphone-shipments-worldwide/
Apples graph has a similar shape to Samsungs - https://www.statista.com/statistics/276306/global-apple-iphone-sales-since-fiscal-year-2007/
https://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://infographic.statista.com/normal/chartoftheday_7941_apple_vs_samsung_smartphone_shipments_n.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.statista.com/chart/7941/apple-vs-samsung-smartphone-shipments/&docid=Vb2uMD_xZNShqM&tbnid=2PUnskMMdVjIEM:&vet=10ahUKEwjzv6i1uMfeAhWKXisKHQfoDoUQMwhDKAMwAw..i&w=960&h=684&bih=763&biw=1536&q=samsung phone sales quarter&ved=0ahUKEwjzv6i1uMfeAhWKXisKHQfoDoUQMwhDKAMwAw&iact=mrc&uact=8
Is gloating fun? Apple clearly is the market leader but no point being a smart arse about it.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/samsun...ofit-growth-at-5-in-second-quarter-1530835406

The gist of the article (hidden behind a paywall, but can be circumvented via websites like outline.com) is that sales of their flagship devices have fallen 40% in two years. And that is where the bulk of their profits come from.

Can you imagine the uproar if iPhone sales were to drop by even 5%, much less 40%?

Even sales of the note 9 appear tepid.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewansp...e9-update-new-white-pearl-color/#75416b52659b

SEOUL—Samsung Electronics Co. forecasts second-quarter operating profit will grow 5%, though the result missed analyst estimates and would halt what had been four straight quarters of record earnings.

The world’s largest smartphone and semiconductor maker said Friday that it expected an operating profit of 14.8 trillion South Korean won ($13.2 billion) for the quarter that ended June 30, up 5% from 14.07 trillion won a year earlier. Samsung expects revenue will decline to 58 trillion won from 61 trillion won.

Analysts polled by S&P Global Market Intelligence had expected the company to post operating profit of 15.1 trillion won and revenue of 60.3 trillion won for the quarter. Samsung will report final results later this month.

Samsung had delivered a string of record operating profits, peaking at the 15.64 trillion won during the first three months of 2018.

But the company’s recent hot streak, fueled by memory-chip sales, will be difficult to top—or even maintain—in future quarters, industry analysts say. Samsung shares have fallen about 10% this year compared with a 9% decline for South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index.

Sales of the company’s latest flagship device, the Galaxy S9, have been weak, as consumers hold on to their phones longer and remain unimpressed with the newest options. Lee Seung-woo, a Seoul-based analyst at Eugene Investment and Securities, expects Samsung will ship about 31 million Galaxy S9 devices in 2018.

That would mark a dramatic decline from just two years ago, when the Galaxy S7 became Samsung’s best-selling phone ever, with roughly 50 million shipments.

Even the thriving components business is facing challenges. Prices of so-called NAND memory, used to store photos and music on devices, has fallen more than expected in recent months, Susquehanna analyst Mehdi Hosseini said in a recent report. The other major type of in-demand memory chip, called DRAM, is likely to face 10% to 15% price declines after this year, he said.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Apple Inc. expects cheaper liquid-crystal displays to make up a greater proportion of new iPhones than analysts had previously expected. The shift, expected both for this fall’s lineup and next year’s, would hurt Samsung, the main supplier of a newer type of display used in the iPhone X that is called organic light-emitting diode, or OLED.

The OLED screens, which cost about $100 each, were expected to be a major profit driver for Samsung this year.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

I never said I'd do most of my texting in tablet mode. Jeez, you need to calm down.

Lol, yes you did!
You said the inside screen is the only one “that matters” & the outside one is only for “quick replies”.
Wow, you have terrible memory.

 

[dilbert99]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/samsun...ofit-growth-at-5-in-second-quarter-1530835406

The gist of the article (hidden behind a paywall, but can be circumvented via websites like outline.com) is that sales of their flagship devices have fallen 40% in two years. And that is where the bulk of their profits come from.

Can you imagine the uproar if iPhone sales were to drop by even 5%, much less 40%?

Even sales of the note 9 appear tepid.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewansp...e9-update-new-white-pearl-color/#75416b52659b

Why do people feel the need to take Samsung sales and cherrypick the stats to include only their top tier phones?

Looking the last quarter financial report from Samsung, I see the following stats - https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-electronics-announces-second-quarter-2018-results

IM division (mobile)
Q1 2018 - 28.45
Q2 2018 - 24

Q2 2017 - 30.01

So from Q1 to Q2 revenue dropped 15.6%
and from Q2 2017 to Q2 2018 dripped 20%
So if the flagship has fallen 40% that doesn't seem to add up...

 

[Kabeyun]

The iPhone, for one example. Shown off six months before it was ready for sale. Still had a plastic screen. Still missing important apps. Barely worked for more than a few minutes without crashing.

No, no, and again no. When we were shown iPhone, we saw the entire product as they had it! Steve did not give us a coy little glimpse in a dark room so he could keep hiding everything but one feature. I am not talking about how well it worked. I’m not talking about software that was installed later. I’m not talking about the lag time between the reveal and sales. How are people not understanding this? Maybe I’m mumble typing without realizing it... lol

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

It can have a bezel but it doesn’t mean it’s as thick as the case.
[doublepost=1541751669][/doublepost]
Interesting that you talk about monstrous bezels when it was only last year that Apple ditched their own massive bezels.

It’s interesting that you consider the space that was necessary for TouchID & was ditched the moment TouchID was replaced, identical to this space, which is over double the size, to my eyes... and we don’t even know what the purpose is!
Wait, not interesting... wrong word. More like silly & disingenuous.

 

[Shanghaichica]

That's true.

So are you supposed to unfold the phone for anything that requires more than a quick glance? That will surely get annoying quickly.

Right now I can use my traditional slab phone for everything... without constantly opening and closing it.

The big concern is that the outside screen is 4.6" but with 21:9 aspect ratio. It's SKINNY. It's even narrower than an iPhone SE.

That would make the keyboard very narrow with very tiny keys.

But the alternative is to open it up into something TWICE the width of a Galaxy S9.

I understand the idea, though. You've got a screen on the outside for quick stuff... and then a bigger screen on the inside for everything else.

I'm just afraid that the "everything else" will end up being 95% of your daily use. You'll really be testing the durability of that bendy screen... open, close, open, close...

The small screen will for good enough for calls, texting, quick web browsing,quickly checking information, taking pictures etc.

The larger screen will be needed for things like navigation, looking at pictures, watching videos, extended web browsing.
[doublepost=1541774204][/doublepost]

It’s interesting that you consider the space that was necessary for TouchID & was ditched the moment TouchID was replaced, identical to this space, which is over double the size, to my eyes... and we don’t even know what the purpose is!
Wait, not interesting... wrong word. More like silly & disingenuous.

The top bezel also went on the X and that didn’t have Touch ID. It was just there for the sake of it.

 

[Abazigal]

Why do people feel the need to take Samsung sales and cherrypick the stats to include only their top tier phones?

Because that’s where the money is.

And then there’s this article.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/03/samsung-switches-mid-tier-smartphone-strategy-to-boost-growth.html

Simply put, Samsung’s premium flagship phones aren’t resonating in the marketplace. Not to mention that the upcoming foldable phone will likely not be cheap. If fewer people are willing to pay for Samsung’s high end devices (even with all the various discounts, promotions and giveaways), what makes you think they will pay more for a first-gen foldable phone?

Like I said, Samsung is now caught in the middle where Apple is dominating the high end (and the profits in the smartphone market) while the low and medium end faces brutal competition that will serve to only squeeze profits further.

 

[I7guy]

Apple hasn't outdesigned Samsung yet, they simply have been copying their work for the past several years.

They’ve been exceeding Samsung’s design for the last several years. I for one done find Samsung’s design to be particularly stand-outish in a crowd.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Because that’s where the money is.

And then there’s this article.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/03/samsung-switches-mid-tier-smartphone-strategy-to-boost-growth.html

Simply put, Samsung’s premium flagship phones aren’t resonating in the marketplace. Not to mention that the upcoming foldable phone will likely not be cheap. If fewer people are willing to pay for Samsung’s high end devices (even with all the various discounts, promotions and giveaways), what makes you think they will pay more for a first-gen foldable phone?

Like I said, Samsung is now caught in the middle where Apple is dominating the high end (and the profits in the smartphone market) while the low and medium end faces brutal competition that will serve to only squeeze profits further.

The reason Samsung’s flagships aren’t selling as much has nothing to do with Apple. It’s the Chinese mid range phones that are eating into Samsung’s sales. People are choosing to buy the one plus or the latest huwawei phones because they are cheaper and they offer about 80% of the same features and for many that is good enough. Samsung also find it difficult to compete at the low end because their devices are not as compelling as their Chinese competition at the same price points.

Apple’s iPhone sales have been flat for the past few years. They aren’t taking sales from anyone. They are maintaining their own sales in established markets but haven’t been able to penetrate markets like China and India.

 

[ftaok]

Why do people feel the need to take Samsung sales and cherrypick the stats to include only their top tier phones?

Looking the last quarter financial report from Samsung, I see the following stats - https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-electronics-announces-second-quarter-2018-results

IM division (mobile)
Q1 2018 - 28.45
Q2 2018 - 24

Q2 2017 - 30.01

So from Q1 to Q2 revenue dropped 15.6%
and from Q2 2017 to Q2 2018 dripped 20%
So if the flagship has fallen 40% that doesn't seem to add up...

The reason for looking at Samsung's high-end phones is because that's where most of the profits are. If you're only interested in Revenue, then sell the suckers at cost and you'll have more revenue than you'll know what to do with.

As for the performance of Samsung's phone division, if you dig a little further into Samsung's results, you'll see something interesting. Sales over the last two years have been relatively flat, however, profit vs. revenue has been going in the wrong direction. Even without factoring out 3Q-2016, it looks like the profitability of the division is dropping. Looking at 2Q over the years, the ratio has dropped from 16% to 14% down to 11%. 1Q was a little better, but still a drop from 1Q-2016.

Not really sure what's going on with their flagship unit sales, but the "analysts" are all indicating that they are going down. Sales of Galaxy S-class have been going downwards since the S4. The S9 is selling worse than the S8 which was worse than the S7.

 

[DDustiNN]

True, for people who are used to abusing / putting phones in their slim back pockets, this is the wrong product. I'm lucky to be a man with actual pockets, though, and would love this.

I have never put my phone in my back pockets. Thanks for playing, though.

Please, tell us more about your manliness and how a brick in your pocket will accentuate your stature.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

Can’t see how this is a move of desperation. This is innovation and development. Also it’s something they have been working on for about 7-8 years.

Think you replied to the wrong post

 

[Shanghaichica]

The reason for looking at Samsung's high-end phones is because that's where most of the profits are. If you're only interested in Revenue, then sell the suckers at cost and you'll have more revenue than you'll know what to do with.

As for the performance of Samsung's phone division, if you dig a little further into Samsung's results, you'll see something interesting. Sales over the last two years have been relatively flat, however, profit vs. revenue has been going in the wrong direction. Even without factoring out 3Q-2016, it looks like the profitability of the division is dropping. Looking at 2Q over the years, the ratio has dropped from 16% to 14% down to 11%. 1Q was a little better, but still a drop from 1Q-2016.

Not really sure what's going on with their flagship unit sales, but the "analysts" are all indicating that they are going down. Sales of Galaxy S-class have been going downwards since the S4. The S9 is selling worse than the S8 which was worse than the S7.

They have been going down since the S4 but I think that the S4 was their peak and the was something they were never going to sustain. Prior to thr S3 their S series sold moderately well but they were not even the biggest sellers in the android space. The S3 was a breakout hit and the S4 was wildly successful but they’ve never been able to sustain their sales since that time.
[doublepost=1541775307][/doublepost]

Think you replied to the wrong post

I was agreeing with you.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

The larger screen will be needed for things like navigation, looking at pictures, watching videos, extended web browsing.
[doublepost=1541774204][/doublepost]
The top bezel also went on the X and that didn’t have Touch ID. It was just there for the sake of it.

Cool, bro.
You OBVIOUSLY have zero interest in having an actual conversation & are instead (for some very weird reason) obsessed with pretending like the crazy size top & bottom bezels shown aren’t fairly odd and the exact opposite of where the industry is headed (Samsung included! Minus this device, of course).
I’m here because I love tech. It interests me immensely. So I’m wildly curious “why this design decision??”. There must be some engineering or technology limitations, currently making that necessary.
Anyways, that’s the conversation I’m willing to have. Musing about the “why?”... NOT whatever it is that you’re doing.

 

[The Game 161]

Certainly interesting to see if it will ever kick off...can’t imagine the prices for one though

 

[Shanghaichica]

Cool, bro.
You OBVIOUSLY have zero interest in having an actual conversation & are instead (for some very weird reason) obsessed with pretending like the crazy size top & bottom bezels shown aren’t fairly odd and the exact opposite of where the industry is headed (Samsung included! Minus this device, of course).
I’m here because I love tech. It interests me immensely. So I’m wildly curious “why this design decision??”. There must be some engineering or technology limitations, currently making that necessary.
Anyways, that’s the conversation I’m willing to have. Musing about the “why?”... NOT whatever it is that you’re doing.

Firstly we haven’t really seen the device yet this say if it looks odd or not.

Secondly this is new, cutting edge technology and just as you said even if it does have a big bezel at the bottom it will be because of limitations not because Samsung are pathetic or don’t know what they are doing design wise which is the narrative that most are trying to push here.

You’ve done nothing but ridicule the device in this thread, there has been no musing of any sort. You’ve pretty much said that it’s an ugly piece of junk, not ready for prime time.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

Firstly we haven’t really seen the device yet this say if it looks odd or not.

Secondly this is new, cutting edge technology and just as you said even if it does have a big bezel at the bottom it will be because of limitations not because Samsung are pathetic or don’t know what they are doing design wise which is the narrative that most are trying to push here.

You’ve done nothing but ridicule the device in this thread, there has been no musing of any sort. You’ve pretty much said that it’s an ugly piece of junk, not ready for prime time.

I am sure if the front screen had gone all the way to the bottom they would have criticized it for being to tall and narrow.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

Firstly we haven’t really seen the device yet this say if it looks odd or not.

Secondly this is new, cutting edge technology and just as you said even if it does have a big bezel at the bottom it will be because of limitations not because Samsung are pathetic or don’t know what they are doing design wise which is the narrative that most are trying to push here.

You’ve done nothing but ridicule the device in this thread, there has been no musing of any sort. You’ve pretty much said that it’s an ugly piece of junk, not ready for prime time.

Who on earth do you think you’re responding to???

I posted a screenshot musing that I had always imagined in a folding phone that you’d use half the screen as a phone, or the whole screen, as a tablet. Was intrigued that they instead, add a 2nd smaller screen.
In my picture... I circled the big top gap and made the query “any idea the purpose of this unusable area?”.
Literally did NONE of the things you said.

Please don’t project your issues on me. Thanks.

 

[Shanghaichica]

WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO???

I posted a screenshot musing that I had always imagined in a folding phone that you’d use half the screen as a phone, or the whole screen, as a tablet. Was intrigued that they instead, add a 2nd smaller screen.
In my picture... I circled the big top gap and made the query “any idea the purpose of this unusable area?”.
Literally did NONE of the things you said.

Please don’t project your issues on me. Thanks.

Not the person shouting on an Internet forum.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

Not the person shouting on an Internet forum.

Lol. Reaching.
Nice try though! =)

Go find someone in your personal life to fight with. I’m not in the least bit interested in your bizarre accusations, seemingly pathological desire to argue with me for no reason, etc.

I came here to talk tech!!