Samsung has been rumored to have a Galaxy X lineup of smartphones in the pipeline, which will boast foldable and flexible smartphones.
In a new development, a patent application granted to Samsung reveals plans of a foldable smartphone.
The folks at Patently Mobile spotted the new patents that were filed by Samsung and have shared them online.
The Samsung Patents
There are three patents that have been filed by the South Korean company, and the sketch belonging to one of the patents depicts a foldable smartphone. This smartphone design as illustrated in Fig. 1, which is the front perspective, shows that a hinge has been placed between the displays.
It is this mechanism that will possibly aid the Samsung smartphones using the new technology to be foldable.
Earlier in May 2016, Tech Times reported that at least five new smartphones from the Samsung Galaxy X series were slated to launch by early 2017. The Galaxy X series is not only said to be foldable but also boast 4K displays.
Rumors that Samsung had a foldable device in the works have been swirling online since 2015. It was fueled by Samsung being awarded a new patent for a dual-display folding device.
Rumors have also hinted that the Samsung foldable smartphone in the works will be a 5-inch phone but later became a 7-inch tablet upon opening. Speculations that the Galaxy S7 would be a foldable smartphone were rife before the handset launched in 2016.
In November 2016, Tech Times also reported that Samsung had been granted a new patent for flexible and foldable smartphones. This patent had been applied for by the company in May 2014, but only received approval on Nov. 22, 2016.
A foldable smartphone would not be perfect for those on the move but its portability would earn brownie points from consumers. It would also safeguard the device's display from getting damaged. Moreover, typing on the onscreen keyboard and folding the device subsequently to bend between the keyboard and the screen would potentially make it easier for the user as it would resemble a tiny laptop.
Samsung The Only One With Foldable Smartphones In The Works?
It is in all likelihood, Samsung is looking to compete with rivals such as Apple, which has also applied for a foldable iPhone. In December 2016, reports suggested that five tech companies were testing foldable smartphones namely Lenovo, Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Samsung.
Foldable Samsung Smartphone: Release?
Rumors and leaks suggest that the foldable Samsung smartphones from the Galaxy X series would make their debut in Q1 2017, possibly the MWC 2017 in February.
