Trade shows offer a perfect opportunity for manufacturers to gauge
user opinion on future products. According to some anonymous industry
insider info, Samsung took advantage of this practice at CES 2018 to
showcase its progress on the eagerly-anticipated foldable mobile
displays concept.
There were already quite a few hints at the show floor for major
developments on foldable panel tech, which is how we managed to learn
about the delay in product delivery estimates to 2019.
It appears that was only part of the story, as sources claim they have
actually seen a pair of Samsung foldable panel demo devices in the
flesh.
Foldable phone designs
One of these is likely to become the thus-far dubbed Galaxy X.
Apparently the demoed unit featured a 7.3-inch display, with something
close to a 21:9 aspect ration, that folds in half. This aligns perfectly
with all the previous leaks and patent info we have on the elusive
device. The same goes for the folding mechanism. It is essentially a
take on the classic clamshell design, but likely due to some technical
limitations, the two halves of the handset don't fold perfectly flat on
each other. Think something along the lines of the Microsoft Surface Book
hinge, though on a much smaller scale and hopefully with a smaller air
gap. There are some potentially relevant schematics in a recent patent
filing at the second source link.
As for the other demo unit - the same source describes it as being
outward folding, with a significantly gentler curve than the other
model. Apparently, Samsung representatives explained this design still
suffers from some durability issues and will likely be perfected over
time and offered as a second or later generation foldable product.
Speaking of timing, our original leaked info is reiterated once again
- the company is going to develop foldable displays by March, and
manufacture panels in September. Mass production of the final product
(the Galaxy X inward folding one) should start in November. We can only
assume that means Samsung's earlier admission of big obstacle regarding
UX design still stands as well.
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