Samsung first teased its foldable phone back in November, and at the company’s Galaxy Unpacked event today, it’s further detailing its foldable plans. Samsung’s foldable now has a name, the Samsung Galaxy Fold, and the company is revealing more about what this unique smartphone can do. Samsung is planning to launch the Galaxy Fold on April 26th, starting at $1,980, through AT&T and T-Mobile in the US, with a free pair of Samsung’s new wireless earbuds. There will be both an LTE and 5G version of the Galaxy Fold, and Samsung is even planning on launching the device in Europe on May 3rd, starting at 2,000 euros.
Samsung is using a new 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display that allows the phone itself to have a tablet-sized screen that can be folded to fit into a pocket. The main display is QXGA+ resolution (4.2:3), and when it’s folded, a smaller 4.6-inch HD+ (12:9) display is used for the phone mode. Samsung is using 512GB of Universal Flash Storage 3.0 (eUFS) for fast speeds, alongside a Qualcomm 7nm octa-core processor and 12GB of RAM. Samsung has even built two batteries for its Galaxy Fold, that are separated by the fold but combined in the Android operating system to represent a total of 4,380 mAh.
Samsung has built a sturdy backbone to the device, with a hinge system that has multiple interlocking gears. All of these gears are hidden at the rear of the device, and allow the Galaxy Fold to transform from tablet to phone modes. Samsung says it’s able to fold at least 200,000 times, which works out to over 5 years if you fold it 100 times a day. At the rear of the device there’s also a triple-camera system that will be used for both tablet and phone modes. There’s a 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera, alongside 12-megapixel wide-angle and telephoto cameras at the rear, and a 10-megapixel cover camera for selfies. Samsung is also creating four different colors for the Galaxy Fold, but it’s the main tablet display that’s key here.
Samsung is allowing the Galaxy Fold to run three apps at once on this Android device, and it’s using an app continuity system to adjust these apps when you move between tablet and phone modes. Apps like WhatsApp, Microsoft Office, and YouTube have all been optimized for the new display and modes, and Samsung has been working with Google to ensure Android 9 Pie fully supports this display.
Samsung demonstrated a variety of apps running in this mode, and the switching from phone to tablet and vice versa. It looks rather smooth in the software right now, but it’s fair to say that the Galaxy Fold looks far better when it’s folded out than being used as a traditional phone. The phone display is clearly designed to be used with one hand, but it’s flanked by large bezels that aren’t found on the tablet mode. We’ll need to get a closer look at the Galaxy Fold to find out exactly how this impacts the device usability, though.
Samsung isn’t the only smartphone maker creating a foldable device, but it’s certainly one of the first to make it widely available. Xiaomi teased its own folding phone recently, that looked like the best concept we’ve seen so far. Huawei is also reportedly planning to release a foldable handset this year, and Lenovo has started to tease its own prototype. LG has also been developing flexible OLED displays and TVs that roll up into a box. If all these manufacturers progress toward shipping a device like Samsung, then expect to see a lot of foldable phones in 2019 and beyond. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Buehler445:
My understanding is you fold it in half to use as a phone. Open it up to use it as a tablet.
Hah, yep.
Would love to see dude holding the tablet-size up to his ear as a phone though. Be like the guy with the 3 foot long boom box on his shoulder back in the day. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Fish:
Silly gimmick at this point. 3-5 years from now, it will be common and actually structurally solid enough to be capable of lasting over time.
Have you used one? Or even held one? You have no clue how structurally solid it is or how long it will last. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Buehler445:
I read Apple is going to have a similar product.
Huawei has one if you don't mind a little chinese spyware peaking into your life.
Lenovo, Xiaomi, and Motorola are said to be developing their own along with Apple(they got a patent for a folding device in 2014).
A few years from now the tech and hardware will be refined and the price will be where it needs to be IF this style catches on and doesn't become just another fad.
Originally Posted by MTG#10:
Have you used one? Or even held one? You have no clue how structurally solid it is or how long it will last.
It's a known issue with the technology, dumbass. There's already foldable devices out there, and they're pretty flawed. The tech just isn't quite there yet. I mean, they even state there's a limit to how many times it can be folded.
Originally Posted by Fish:
It's a known issue with the technology, dumbass. There's already foldable devices out there, and they're pretty flawed. The tech just isn't quite there yet. I mean, they even state there's a limit to how many times it can be folded.
The phone pictured is nothing like the Samsung phone.
"Samsung says it’s able to fold at least 200,000 times, which works out to over 5 years if you fold it 100 times a day."
I'd say that's unlike anything out, and 5 years is more than adequate usage.
You've never seen nor handled one, you're just talking out of your ass about something you have no clue about. Par for the course for you though. [Reply]
Considering the specs of this phone and the fact the S10 is already $1000 I dont see this as that bad of a deal. I use my cel phone more than any other device I own. It makes sense Id pay a premium for it [Reply]
Originally Posted by 007:
I'm curious how many people really need a screen that big for a phone.
I don't know how many need a screen that big. But I would sure like it. What's left of my hair is grey and my eyes are bad. I have to make everything bigger which means I don't get much text/map on the screen.
I don't use the phone walking around much. Usually I'm sitting at a table/desk so I would mostly use it folded out.
I would like a phone that when folded just comfortably fits in the front pocket of standard pants for guys. So I would like it even bigger than the Galaxy Fold.
But I don't use my phone enough to justify blowing 2 grand on it. [Reply]
I'd say that's unlike anything out, and 5 years is more than adequate usage.
I buy cell phones for about $100 and use them for 5+ years. Buying a phablet for $2k that the manufacturer says should last for 5 years is fucking stupid. [Reply]
Originally Posted by listopencil:
I buy cell phones for about $100 and use them for 5+ years. Buying a phablet for $2k that the manufacturer says should last for 5 years is ****ing stupid.
You use your car every day - you wouldn't expect to pay $100 for it would you?
Originally Posted by listopencil:
I use my socks every day. I wouldn't pay $2,000 for them.
Yeah socks have alot of complex uses like a phone. I'm pretty amazed cell phones have stayed as affordable as they have. There is a huge market for high end cell phones. Affluent people with money to spend, why wouldn't they want to spend a ton of money on the best of the best devices? They don't have to be adopted by the masses to be profitable and useful. [Reply]
Originally Posted by listopencil:
I buy cell phones for about $100 and use them for 5+ years. Buying a phablet for $2k that the manufacturer says should last for 5 years is fucking stupid.
Nobody in this site should be calling me cheap ever again. Even I don't settle for a $100 phone. [Reply]
