Foldables are thought to be the future of smartphones and Samsung is the leading company in this tech with two products already available worldwide. Samsung Electronics has been working to be self-reliant for the display covers used on its foldable devices. Last month, it was reported that the company is planning to make its own foldable glass. Now, the firm has been confirmed to have patented three different screen covers.
The two primary aspects of any foldable are its hinge design and display cover. The former differs by the form factor and use-case of the devices. Whereas, the latter has remained the same on almost all foldable devices released so far except Galaxy Z Flip.
Most foldable available in the market such as Galaxy Fold, Huawei Mate X, Huawei Mate Xs, and Motorola Razr use a plastic cover for their flexible OLED panels. Whereas, the Z Flip, on the other hand, is the only device to feature UTG (Ultra Thin Glass), which is more durable.
But Samsung Electronics outsources both the plastic cover and UTG for its foldables from Samsung Display, which itself buys them from companies like DOWOO INSYS. Hence, it costs around $40 for Samsung Electronics to make UTG used in Galaxy Z Flip compared to $2 for normal flat glass.
Note: Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display are two different companies operating independently.
This is why Samsung Electronics has patented its own screen covers made of polyimide. It has patented for three different types of cover and they are as follow.
- Polyimide film
- Polyimide film + UTG
- UTG
The company seems to have passed the first hurdle but the next one is difficult as it now needs to find manufacturers. If it succeeds in that regard as well, then the price of Samsung foldables may gradually come down in the coming years.
Samsung is expected to release two more foldables including a cheaper Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Fold 2 in the second half of this year.
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(Via)
