Samsung Display has showed off a new prototype folding display that could alter the direction of its folding phones – it can fold both ways with a 360 degree hinge. Samsung Display is the R&D arm where Samsung creates new display tech for its phones and televisions. The “Flex In & Out” display can rotate 360 degrees, meaning it can be folded inward and outward.
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The hinge has also been significantly redesigned, not only allowing the folding of the display in both directions, but it also creates a significantly less visible crease in the display. That’s because the “water-drop hinge” could allow the display to form a looser shape — like a waterdrop — when folded inward. This subtler hinge would also put less stress on the display.
While the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has recently launched, there’s no reason to believe that the new display could be used in the successor Z Fold 5. While the phone will most likely not be able to fold in both directions, the improved hinge and display could still be used just to improve the durability and decrease the crease on the new device.
The new design also allows the phone to fold fully flat instead of having to retain an opening on the hinge’s side when the device is closed. It means less dust and other particles come into the phone, which further improves durability.
While we don’t yet know when the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be released, we expect it to probably be released alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 5 like it was in 2022. This will most likely take place in August of this year. For the time being, though, all eyes are going to be on the new flagship Galaxy S23 range that will be released on February 1st.
