

Samsung Shows New Foldable Phone Concept Designs

One of the designs involves a standard, candy-bar shaped smartphone that can either fold half way or completely down like a wallet.

October 29, 2019

Despite durability problems with the Galaxy Fold, Samsung isn't giving up the foldable smartphone concept, teasing other foldable devices today at its developer conference in San Francisco.


Samsung foldable

"The amazing thing with foldable technology is that it can become more compact," said Samsung engineer Sally Hyesoon Jeong during the conference's keynote. The new form factor, which uses the company's flexible OLED display, easily fits into your pocket and changes the way you take photos and videos, she added.

The other concept design is similar to the Galaxy Fold; it takes a square-ish tablet device and folds it like a book.

Foldable Designs

The concepts were shown while Jeong talked up the second version of One UI, the company's customized interface for Android smartphones and devices. One UI was also designed to work on the Galaxy Fold, which can switch between a slim smartphone when folded and a full tablet when opened up.

Samsung first teased the Galaxy Fold at last year's developer conference. However, the company was forced to delay its arrival due to review units sent to journalists breaking. When the foldable phone finally did launch last month in the US, it arrived with a thud, due to the device's obscenely high $1,980 price and mediocre reviews.

Nevertheless, Samsung is using its developer conference in San Jose, California, to encourage third-party companies to continue making apps for foldable hardware. "That's why we need your creativity to bring this next-generation technology to life," Jeong added.

As for the second version of One UI, expect it to arrive to Samsung devices in the coming months with some tweaks to make it easier to use.


Thanks for signing up!


Sign up for other newsletters

About Michael Kan

Michael Kan

Read the latest from Michael Kan