
We always expect smartphones to get better every year, but if the latest rumors about Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 are to be believed, the foldable phone will feature a major design improvement.
According to Korean media reports Navo (opens in a new tab) (pass Sam Mobile (opens in a new tab)), Samsung will use a teardrop-shaped hinge in the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which means the device will be able to fold completely flat with no gap between the two halves of the display.
Several phones from the Chinese manufacturer already use this design approach in their foldable phones, but at the cost of complete waterproofing. However, Samsung apparently intends to add a new hinge shape while maintaining the IPX8 rating of the phone.
more durable
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is an excellent foldable phone and we wouldn’t say it has any durability issues, but the waterdrop hinge means the display folds with less stress, which should mean the reliability of the device will improve again .
As the years have passed, we’ve seen a steady improvement in foldable phone technology, and the devices are now well beyond their original roots — making them even more appealing to consumers.
Samsung has actually held the patent for this hinge since 2016, the report said. It’s unclear why it wasn’t implemented before, but it could have something to do with perfecting the technology or making it cheap enough to use. implement.
Analysis: Improved Durability Means More Competitors
The first Galaxy Fold debuted in 2019, and folding phone technology has come a long way since then. We’ll get the fifth generation of the device (likely) later in 2023, along with the successor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.
As reliability and manufacturing processes improve, this will encourage more handset makers to enter the market. It’s basically just Samsung and Chinese tech companies making foldable devices for consumers right now.
The next major foldable phone launch we see could be the Google Pixel Fold: it could arrive as early as May 2023. There are also rumors of a foldable iPhone, but we probably won’t see that particular device until 2024 or 2025.
No matter what other manufacturers do, Samsung is always going to be one step ahead, and it hopes that’s enough to give the Z Fold and Z Flip series an edge in an increasingly competitive market.