Samsung Galaxy X Is A Tablet That Folds Into A Phone

Samsung Galaxy X Is A Tablet That Folds Into A Phone

Samsung hasn’t exactly been shy about acknowledging that it has a foldable smartphone in the works. Just last month the head of Samsung’s mobile division, DJ Koh, said that the company might debut the new device at its Developer Conference in November.

Now he’s revealed a little more at Samsung’s A9 launch in Malaysia, stating that the device will actually be a tablet that folds down into a phone that can fit in your pocket. That’s definitely one way to spice up and guarantee coverage on a mid-range phone launch.

Speaking to Cnet at the launch, Koh said, “When we deliver a foldable phone, it has to be really meaningful to our customer… If the user experience is not up to my standard, I don’t want to deliver those kind of products.”

He even addressed the idea that a foldable phone seems like a gimmick that may not actually take off. “Possibly when we start selling the foldable phone, it may be a niche market, but definitely, it will expand… I’m positive that we do need a foldable phone.”

We still don’t know what the name of this world-first device would be – but different rumours have suggested either the Samsung Galaxy X or Samsung Galaxy F. And while we now know that it will be a tablet and phone in one, we still don’t have much clarity on how the technology will actually work.

[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2018/09/samsung-galaxy-x-all-the-facts-and-rumours-so-far/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/samsungfoldablephone-410×231.jpg” title=”Samsung Galaxy X: All The Facts And Rumours So Far” excerpt=”DJ Koh has been at it again. After letting slip about the Note 9 before it launched, he has now also revealed some details about Samsung’s highly anticipated foldable phone — which is on track for being a world-first.

It doesn’t have an official name, but it is generally referred to as the Samsung Galaxy X. These are the details we have so far.”]

But there are a few theories.

Let’s Go Digital discovered a Samsung Patent from July 2016 called ‘foldable electronic device, hidden display and information display method thereof’. It was published in March of 2017 and then republished in July 2018.

Images from the patent show a hidden display that is activated when the phone is folded – it can show key info such as texts, the date and time and app icons without having to unfold the phone. Similar to the Oppo Find X, some of the images also look like they have a pop-up display functionality.

Other rumours include a flexible display with an electrically activated locking mechanism, a two-pane system that is reminiscent of a book, an unbreakable OLED screen and a 7.3-inch screen.

Fortunately we probably only have to wait a few more weeks to see exactly how this thing will work. And if what Koh has said in the past is correct, it will ship this year too.

And while it looks like Samsung will win the foldable phone race, I still wonder if maybe, just maybe, Huawei will still pull a fast one on us at the Mate 20 launch in London on October 16.

Yeah I know, despite what Huawei has said in the past about having the first foldable phone, the Mate 20 leaks tell a different story.

But because I worship chaos, I would love it if Huawei somehow managed to keep a secret device under wraps. I guess we’ll see!


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