Highlights
- Samsung’s new patent reveals a foldable phone concept capable of bending both inward and outward.
- The design incorporates ultra-thin glass supported by polymer substrates, adhesive layers, and custom support plates.
- A similar to Samsung’s 2023 “Flex In & Out” concept.
Caption – Samsung’s 360-degree foldable phone concept. (Image credit – Samsung)
It seems foldable phone design experiments are not going to end anytime soon. The latest report shows a completely new foldable phone concept that Samsung is apparently working on.
Most foldable smartphones today follow a single-direction folding design. These phones either fold inward while protecting the main screen inside or fold outward wrapping the display around the back. It has been widely believed that even though outward foldables look more futuristic, they have durability issues since part of the screen is always exposed.
But what if a phone could fold both inward and outward?
Well, Samsung’s latest patent reveals a 360-degree foldable device that does just that as brought to light by @xleaks7.
Caption – Samsung’s new foldable phone concept will bend in both directions. (Image credit – Samsung)
The patent shows a device with 360-degree folding areas, allowing it to bend in both directions. This means it doesn’t need a separate cover display, you can use the same screen whether it’s folded or unfolded. Even when folded, a small display strip remains visible beneath the camera modules.
Samsung’s patent describes a supportive layer structure beneath its ultra-thin glass (UTG) flexible screen. This includes:
- Flexible polymer substrates
- A flexible adhesive layer
- Custom support plates with a lattice and stripe pattern, allowing bending in both directions.
Caption – Samsung’s 360-degree patent shows the design. (Image credit – Samsung)
This isn’t the first time we are hearing about something like this from Samsung. In fact, the brand actually demoed a similar concept called “Flex In & Out” back in 2023, but there haven’t been updates on when (or if) it will become a commercial product.
With this new patent, it looks like Samsung is still working toward making 360-degree foldables a reality.
FAQs
Q1. What is unique about Samsung’s 360-degree foldable phone concept?
Answer. Samsung’s patent reveals a phone design that folds both inward and outward, eliminating the need for a separate cover display and offering versatile usability.
Q2. What supports the 360-degree folding mechanism in the design?
Answer. The mechanism is supported by ultra-thin glass layers, flexible polymer substrates, adhesive layers, and custom support plates with lattice and stripe patterns.
Q3. Has Samsung showcased a 360-degree foldable concept before?
Answer. Yes, Samsung demoed a similar concept called “Flex In & Out” in 2023, but there have been no updates on its commercialisation so far.
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