Samsung is developing a foldable smartphone with a pull-out display. Design bears many similarities to recently introduced Galaxy Z Fold 3.
This Friday will be the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 on Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable smartphones. Both new folding phones are significantly improved and also a lot cheaper than their predecessors. In the background, Samsung is already busy developing new foldable and rollable smartphone models.
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A newly published patent shows that Samsung is considering developing a device that can be both folded and extended – a fold & roll principle. For convenience, we have given this device the appropriate name ‘Galaxy Z Fold & Roll’.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold & Roll with pull-out screen
On February 1, 2021, Samsung Display filed a design patent for a foldable, extendable smartphone. The documentation was released on August 24, 2021 and includes no fewer than 40 product sketches showing two different smartphone models.
The design is clearly derived from the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Samsung’s trademark hide-away hinge is visible, the triple camera on the back also has the same design as the new Fold. The device also features a similar inward folding screen. This time, however, no front display is visible.
Instead, Samsung has equipped this rollable smartphone with a sliding system. When folded, you can extend the smartphone screen, after which a narrow, elongated display is created to the right of the camera system. Thanks to this piece of screen surface, you can take selfies with the main camera.
In the unfolded position, no camera is visible around the display, Samsung will probably want to use an under-display camera. The recently introduced Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the first Samsung smartphone where the camera is placed under the screen.
The two models differ from each other solely in the way they extend – to the left or to the right. This does make for an important difference, because in the second model, the extra camera surface is beneficial to the front, instead of the rear.
In May this year, Samsung Display demonstrated another promising Slideable device, however, that model was not foldable. In any case, the South Korean manufacturer has already had the necessary trademarks registered for its future roll-up models, in May this year the names were Galaxy Z Roll on Galaxy Z Slide fixed.
Samsung Electronics is expected to introduce its first rollable smartphone in 2022. However, the design remains unknown. For example, LetsGoDigital reported earlier this month about a special Galaxy Z Slide where the flexible screen extended to the rear.
The idea of a combined foldable / rollable smartphone is not entirely new, by the way. In April this year, the TCL Fold ’n Roll concept smartphone introduced. However, that extendable model was all about increasing the screen area when unfolded. Samsung, on the other hand, wants to use the extendable screen part to use as a cover screen when folded.
View the documentation of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold & Roll.
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