Right between CES 2023 and MWC 2023 Samsung Display decided to showcase a new prototype display, which is different from the ones we have on the market. It’s able to fold both inwards and outwards. It’s dubbed “Flex In & Out” and it allows the hinge to fold in 360 degrees.
It also makes the crease much less visible. The prototype was demoed for the folks of The Verge, that’s how we stumbled upon these pics. The display arrives with a new hinge design, that lets the device fold completely, sans the small gap that appears, the waterdrop shaped hole in the crease. We also have comparison shots between the prototype and the Galaxy Z Fold.
It’s as thick as the current model, but it gets extra mechanisms that let it bend sans stretching. This could mean we’re about to get rid of cover displays, making room for bigger batteries and also larger camera sensors, plus a room for stylus. The only problem I have here is the fact that a panel that bends both ways tends to seem fragile. It also makes it very hard to implement a proper screen protection.
It’s unlikely we’ll see this technology on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, but rather on a 2024 product.
via The Verge