Hinge Archives - Gizmochina

Samsung may launch a foldable laptop with waterdrop hinge in the second half of 2024

Soumyakanti — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 23:19:14 +0000

Samsung is reportedly developing a slim foldable laptop incorporating a unique waterdrop hinge mechanism, with a launch expected in the latter half of the next year, as per sources from Korean outlet The Elec. This waterdrop design as Samsung calls Flex Hinge was previously introduced in Samsung’s recent foldable smartphones, Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5.

Samsung’s Flex Hinge To Venture into Laptops

The waterdrop hinge (know more about waterdrop hinge here) allows the axis to move when folded, resulting in a tighter fit between screens and reduced creases at the fold. The new hinge might make the laptop slimmer, although durability concerns could potentially lead to a thicker final product.

Despite the intriguing design, industry insiders question the necessity of a waterdrop hinge for foldable laptops. Unlike smartphones, which are held close to the eyes, foldable laptops’ usage is different. Given the laptops’ heavier nature, a U-shaped hinge might offer a more practical alternative. An expert weighed in, stating that the benefits of a waterdrop hinge in a laptop might not be significant for users.

Moreover, while LG has already launched a foldable laptop called Gram Fold, Samsung’s decision to wait is perceived as strategic due to the IT industry’s current challenges. Some argue that Samsung’s foray into the foldable laptop market may not bring substantial differentiation or profitability, given their relatively weaker position in the laptop sector.

As for the laptop’s OLED panels, potential suppliers are anticipated to be Samsung Display or BOE Technology Group. Meanwhile, Apple is also rumored to be working on a foldable MacBook which may launch in 2026.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 crease persists, skipping waterdrop hinge?

Soumyakanti — Tue, 30 May 2023 14:13:56 +0000

The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, according to tipster Ice Universe (the tweet is deleted though), seems to have a similar display crease as its predecessor, raising questions about the rumored waterdrop hinge technology. Previous reports suggested that the new foldable phone would feature a droplet hinge design to minimize the visibility of the crease.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 is likely to get the same old hinge?

However, the latest leak indicates that the crease is unlikely to see any significant changes this year. Samsung is reportedly conducting durability tests on the device, possibly to assess the effectiveness of the new hinge design alongside the existing U-shaped hinge. Chinese phone manufacturers have embraced the waterdrop hinge technology, with Oppo’s Find N2 receiving positive reviews for having the least visible crease in the industry. Nevertheless, durability remains a crucial concern as the foldable form factor continues to evolve.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 specifications (rumored)

In terms of specifications, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to feature a tall 7.6-inch primary inner display and a 6.2-inch outer cover screen, both utilizing AMOLED panels with a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the device will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The rear camera setup is rumored to include a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 10-megapixel periscope lens offering 3x optical zoom and optical image stabilization (OIS). On the front, a 12-megapixel selfie camera is expected.

Additional features of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 include Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for enhanced durability and an IPX8 rating for water resistance. The device is likely to run on Android 13 OS with Samsung’s One UI on top. It will support 25W fast charging and is rumored to have an under-display camera for selfies. According to a recent report, Galaxy Z Fold 5 along with Galaxy Z Flip 5 will launch on July 26.

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Huawei’s upcoming foldable smartphone to have next-gen hinge with less complexity and more reliability

Jeet — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 04:40:29 +0000

Huawei was among the first companies to launch a foldable smartphone in the market when it debuted two such devices in the market — Huawei Mate X and Mate Xs. This year, in February, the company launched the Mate X2 smartphone with an inward folding design, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series.

Now, the company is working on another foldable smartphone which is supposedly featuring a clamshell design, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip lineup. But this time, the company is charging the hinge design for the smartphone.

As per the report coming from Weibo, Huawei will be using a next-generation hinge from Zhaoli Technology which is being developed for quite some time now. The company has said that a smartphone manufacturer will be using this new hinge and it seems that Huawei is the only brand that makes sense for this development.

The new hinge is said to be less complicated when compared to the ones already used by Huawei. But the hinge is also more reliable than the ones used in the past and the added bonus is that because of fewer parts, it is also less expensive.

Some reports indicate that the upcoming clamshell foldable smartphone could be named Huawei Mate V but the name has not been confirmed yet. It is expected to get launched soon and could come powered by the Kirin 9000 chipset. Just like recent Huawei phones, it is likely to be a 4G-only model because of the US-imposed sanctions on the company.