Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 arrived as the successor to the company’s original Galaxy Fold with numerous improvements in design and functionality. Now, a new patent from the South Korean tech giant reveals that the next gen Galaxy Z Fold 3 may go even further and add a sliding keyboard as well.
In 2018, Samsung Display had filed a display patent with the KIPO (Korean Intellectual Property Office). This documentation was published back in July 2020 and arrives with eight product sketches alongside a brief description. According to a LetsGoDigital report, the design patent in question is for a double foldable smartphone, which is impressively thin even when it is folded. 3D product renders of the sketches from LetsGoDigital also allows us to better analyze the device.
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Looking at these renders, it is clear that the Samsung device folds in two different places through two hinges. This essentially makes 3 different parts of the device, which can act as a tablet when completely unfurled and would be narrow when folded. These different display might have an additional functionality as well when folded, like displaying notifications from messaging apps or other social media applications. Since the device will have the display face outward even when folded, Samsung would likely use its UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) layer for added protection.
Arriving at the most interesting aspect regarding the device, a unique sliding keyboard mechanism is also present under the display. This keyboard slides right within one of the displays that are at the corner and features a full QWERT format. The inclusion of the keyboard may serve various purposes like a mini laptop mode for typing, and could even be useful for other productive endeavors. And since it is housed on a sliding mechanism, it can be used when folded or unfolded as well. Unfortunately, finer details regarding this device are currently unknown, and we only have a design patent to go on. So stay tuned for more updates of what might just be the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
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