Samsung's foldable smartphone concept known as "the Galaxy X" remains as elusive as ever.
null (Samsung)
For years, it's been rumored that Samsung has been working on a foldable smartphone called the Galaxy X. It remains elusive as ever, but it might just make its market debut in 2018.
Samsung discussed its plans to produce flexible displays amid reporting its end-of-2017 financial progress on Wednesday, which made many tech enthusiasts wonder if Samsung will finally release its foldable Galaxy X.
Here's what we know about the Galaxy X:
More screen real-estate
Many windows open on a Samsung ultra widescreen display (Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider)
Many speculate that a foldable smartphone would give users an option to have a much bigger display. Many Samsung patents and prototypes suggest a device that opens and closes inward like a book, or closes down horizontally like a notepad.
Most Galaxy X concepts suggest a foldable phone would have a maximum screen size comparable to a tablet, where the display could be split into two panels that display different things or one big picture.
Samsung has demostrated this on other products, such as its 48-inch ultra wide computer monitor (pictured above). In contrast, a foldable display smartphone could also serve to make a device more compact, similar to a clamshell phone.
A built-in screen protector, so to speak
Cracked iPhone screen (Jeff Turner/Flickr (CC))
A smartphone that folds inward would essentially be its own screen protector, depending on the material of the outside layer.
It would, however, be a totally different story, and likely more painful for a user, if the device falls face-down while open.
It might be a bulkier device than most modern smartphones
ZTE Axon M (Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider)
Most smartphone manufacturers have spent years making devices thinner and lighter, but a foldable smartphone is more likely to heavier and bulkier to handle.
A prime example is the ZTE Axon M, which is marketed as the first foldable smartphone. The device is made of two displays attached together by a mechanical hinge, and it's considerably thicker than Samsung's Galaxy S8.
Currently, there is no indication of how a device with an actual foldable display would fare in terms of thickness. In terms of weight, such a device might be closer to a tablet rather than a smartphone.
It will likely be expensive
Samsung Galaxy S8 price (Screecap/Samsung)
New display technologies tend to make smartphones more expensive.
In the last year, consumers saw the starting price of the iPhone go from $650 to $1,000, simply because Apple switched from an LCD display to an OLED display. Samsung's curved display smartphones have also steadily increased in price over the last several years.
There is no indication of what Samsung's foldable phone might cost, but for reference, Samsung's most expensive phone, the Galaxy Note 8, sells for about $950.
Still, there are many other factors that could factor into the Galaxy X's price, including memory, storage capacity, and external build materials.
A host of issues we can't predict
Samsung Galaxy S8 with Bixby home screen (Hollis Johnson)
New technologies almost always have a host of issues that don't become apparent until the product is on the market, and millions of people get a chance to try it.
With regards to the Galaxy X, there is no telling what could go wrong with a device that has a display that can fold in the middle — but what is certain is that if there are issues, people will have no problem voicing their opinions.
Should we coin the term "screengate" now or later?
Samsung's edge panel could become obsolete
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge (Business Insider)
For the Galaxy X, Samsung would likely ditch its signature curved display design and its corresponding edge panel software features. It is unlikely the device would not have a foldable screen and curved edges.
Samsung's edge panel essentially serves as a second screen, hosting app shortcuts and other easy access functions; however, it is limited in that users can't access the main screen at the same time.
A foldable phone could have a benefit of being able to host more apps on the home screen as well as improved multitasking between apps.
Expect extremely limited availability to start
Samsung Galaxy Round smartphone (Samsung)
Samsung's foldable smartphone could release as a market prototype with very limited availability. The device could be used as a testbed for future products that have a better chance of wowing consumers.
Samsung has done such tests in the past, like when it released the Samsung Galaxy Round in 2013. The device was Samsung's first attempt at a curved display smartphone, but it was exclusive to select Asian markets. Samsung then released the Galaxy Note Edge in 2014 as a follow up to the Galaxy Round. That smartphone featured a single curved edge on its right side and was the blueprint for every subsequent curved display device on the market.
If Samsung takes a similar route with its foldable Galaxy X smartphone, its availability may also be limited to certain Asian markets, such as Korea or China. If the device isn't well received, it may very well be as easily forgotten as the Galaxy Round.
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