After four years of updates, Samsung has officially discontinued software support for its first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold. The company’s decision comes as no surprise, given that the Fold is now four years old and has been superseded by several newer models.

Despite its age, the Galaxy Fold still remains a functional device, and many users may still choose to keep using it. However, with the end of software support, users will no longer receive any security updates or new features for the phone. This could potentially leave the phone vulnerable to security exploits and make it incompatible with newer apps and services.

The Galaxy Fold’s initial launch in 2019 was plagued by design issues that forced Samsung to delay its release. Despite these setbacks, the device eventually made it to market, but its high price tag and limited availability hindered its widespread adoption.

Samsung provided software updates for the Galaxy Fold until recently. However, with the release of the November 2023 security patch, the Galaxy Fold has been removed from Samsung’s list of supported devices.

For those who still have a Galaxy Fold, it’s time to start thinking about upgrading to a newer model. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 are both excellent options, and they offer a significantly better user experience than the original Fold.

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(Via)

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Earlier, we reported that Samsung will stop offering major OS updates for the Galaxy Fold. The company’s first foldable smartphone, which was released back in 2019, reached the end of its 3-year update cycle in 2022. However, this does not mean the company would end all software support for this device. According to recent reports, the Galaxy Fold has just received a new update.

The South Korean tech giant recently rolled out its August security patch for the Galaxy Z Fold series, and the Galaxy Fold owners have also received the update. The update is intended to fix the various security vulnerabilities in the device, so no significant performance improvements were noticed with the update. To check if you have received the patch, users can go to Settings > Software update and tap Download and Install.

Samsung Galaxy Fold specs overview:

Samsung Galaxy Fold has a 7.3-inch AMOLED panel with a 1536 x 2152 pixel resolution. Under the hood, the device runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 with 12GB RAM. It is equipped with a 4380mAh battery having a storage of 512GB. Lastly, the device has a 12.19MP rear camera with Dual LED flash and 10.15MP front camera.

In related news, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Fold 5/Flip 5, and Galaxy Watch 5 have received the August Security patch. The full detailed information about the update can be found by clicking on this link.

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(Via)

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Samsung is aiming to sustain its position at the summit of the foldable smartphone segment. The South Korean tech giant is developing cheaper alternatives to the Galaxy Z Fold/ Flip models. The Galaxy A Fold and Galaxy A Flip model are reportedly under development.

Samsung currently accounts for about 80% of the foldable smartphones market but could be facing a stiff challenge from its competitors. There are rumors that Apple could be developing a foldable device, coupled with a raft of cheaper foldables already on the market. The Galaxy A Fold and Flip models will help sustain, and possibly expand Samsung’s stranglehold on the market.

Apart from the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Z Fold3 foldable phones, Samsung also has the OG Fold model, but these smartphones do not come cheap. The OG Fold from 2019 is selling at $1,800 while the Z Flip3 retails at around $1,000. There had been feelers that Samsung could release a less-expensive version of the Z Fold3 when it was released. Up till now, however, Samsung has not unveiled a cheaper foldable. But it would seem that the likelihood is quite high that indeed a foldable could be in the works.

A tipster has hinted that the affordable Galaxy A lineup will include foldable models. This is further corroborated by news from a Korean news outlet ET News. The ET News article stated that Samsung is working on a foldable smartphone priced around 1 million won ($767).

Samsung will likely provide less powerful components like chipsets and cameras to achieve a cheaper device. Samsung will also exclude premium features from the Galaxy A Fold/ Flip models with only core foldable functionalities present. A 2024 release is projected for the release of the Galaxy A Fold and Flip models. Samsung remains mum at this time on its foldable plans.

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(via)

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When foldable phones made their entrance, there was skepticism if the phones will enjoy a seamless run considering their fragility and expensive prices. The issues with the first-gen Galaxy Z Fold from Samsung didn’t help matters as it further heightened doubts about the ability of foldable phones to make a mark in the market. The steep pricing and fragility contributed to TCL’s decision to shelve its own foldable phone project.

Well, turns out the foldable models are doing incredibly well in the market, exceeding expectations. A research report published by the screen agency DSCC pointed out that in the third quarter of this year, the total shipments of foldable display-packing mobile phones increased by 215% month-on-month and 480% year-on-year.

In terms of brands, Samsung’s shipment accounted for a staggering 93% share of the market while Huawei’s shipment accounted for the remaining 6%. The market is presently almost controlled by the two companies of which Huawei’s run in the market is limited to China due to the US embargo.

DSCC projects that the shipment of foldable display-packing mobile phones will increase from 2.6 million units to 4 million units in the fourth quarter of this year. The firm also projects that shipments will increase to 20 million units by next year even though the market is expected to record less than 10 million units in shipments this year.

In terms of models, the most popular foldable phone is the Galaxy Z Flip 3 followed by the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, while the Huawei Mate X2 4G version, and 5G version ranked fourth or fifth.

It is worth mentioning that Huawei is rumored to have got a Mate series flip foldable display mobile phone in the works. The model which will utilize a flip design just like that of the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Motorola Razr 5G is expected to be unveiled in December. The model will be cheaper and should increase Huawei’s share of the market when it goes on sale.

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(via)

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Samsung has been excelling in the foldable smartphone market right from the start. Despite the sluggish demand, the company is reportedly selling its Z and Fold smartphones well even to the present day. Its Galaxy Z Flip has already sold well enough to keep the company’s hopes alive. All these has probably made Samsung to expand the lineup as it plans to bring four foldables next year.

As per a Korean media report, Samsung plans to launch two Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip2 models in 2021. Going by the tentative naming scheme, the Fold3 and Flip2 should succeed Fold2 and Flip of 2020 respectively. The report mentions that all the models will have support for 5G network connectivity.

Back in 2019, Samsung ventured into the Foldable smartphone segment with the Galaxy Fold. However, the company didn’t have enough fortunes to succeed on the first attempt. Early adopters faced a lot of issues which meant the company had to literally relaunch it later that year. Rising like a phoenix, the company then entered the clamshell smartphone segment earlier this year with the Galaxy Z Flip and successfully brought the second Fold(Z Fold2) recently.

The Galaxy Z Flip had checked almost all the boxes left out by the earlier foldable version. Although both the devices are in different segments altogether, Samsung proved to the world that it can finally make a better product that’s commercially viable as well. Reports already predict that the Z Flip will be the best-selling foldable in 2020. And if the latest report is true, Samsung will take it deep next year.

Accordingly, the report says that the Z Flip2 will be coming in a General, and high-end model. In fact, it states that both the devices, despite having 5G support will differ in specs, features. Now, it’s too early to comment if one of them would be a Z Flip Lite of some kind, and hence, let’s playing the waiting game.

Anyway, it looks like Samsung wants to widen the scope of foldables and reign the already captured Global market(incl. China) once again in 2021. However, as per the report, Samsung Electronics will start producing the next foldables only by August 2021 and launch it in H2(second half). This not only negates the earlier June 2021 launch report but suggests that Samsung is revamping its strategy by positioning S-series for H1, and foldable for the next half.

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The second generation of the Galaxy Fold lineup is official: alongside the Galaxy Note 20 lineup, Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Fold 2. The new revolutionary phone gets rid of all the issues and imperfections of the previous model: is it the definitive foldable phone? In order to answer this question, we decided to compare it with the original Galaxy Fold, so that you can know what changed, what has been improved, and which are the main upgrades of the new foldable phone which can turn into a tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Design

The form factor of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 remains exactly the same as its predecessor. We are not talking about a phone that folds to become extremely compact like the recently-unveiled Galaxy Z Flip 5G. The new Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a foldable phone which turns into a tablet. Just like the original Galaxy Fold, it has a foldable display placed internally, while a standard smartphone panel is placed externally. The foldable display of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has improved resistance compared to the Galaxy Fold, thanks to the Ultra Thin Glass technology (UTG aka the same found on the Galaxy Z Flip). Both the handsets come with a glass back and an aluminum frame like most of the flagships.

Display

Samsung put a lot of effort into the displays of the new Galaxy Z Fold 2 which are a lot better than the ones found on the vanilla Galaxy Fold. The external display is bigger: while Galaxy Fold had a very compact 4.6-inch panel including thick bezels, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a borderless 6.23-inch external display with better quality and resolution. Even the resolution of the internal display increased. Further, Samsung added the 120 Hz refresh rate, which is amazing and unexpected for a foldable panel.

Specs & Software

The original Galaxy Fold is powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset and it does not support 5G connectivity, but there is a 5G variant with 5G connectivity thanks to an external modem. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 brings 5G connectivity as well, but it has a more powerful chipset: the Snapdragon 865+ which is currently the best Qualcomm’s chipset. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 also comes with a faster UFS 3.1 internal storage (Galaxy Fold is UFS 3.0) and Android 10 out of the box (Galaxy Fold ships with Android Pie). But you should note that while Galaxy Fold has a 512 GB native storage, Galaxy Z Fold 2 offers just 256 GB and its storage can not be expanded through a micro SD.

Camera

On the paper, the original Galaxy Fold seems to sport better cameras. It has a main sensor with a variable focal aperture, as well as an additional 8 MP depth sensor for the front camera. The rest of the camera specifications are more or less the same: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 lacks a variable focal aperture (so it may shoot worse photos in low light conditions) and the 8 MP additional sensor for the front camera.

• Read More: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 features ‘Anti-Erosion Waterproof Coating’ to protect internal components: Report

Battery

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a bigger battery, but this does not mean that it will last more on a single charge. The Samsung Galaxy Fold has more efficient components and it should last more in several scenarios. It has a smaller external display with lower energy consumption, it lacks the 120 Hz refresh rate and it even lacks 5G connectivity. These three things should make it last longer. But if you avoid using 120 Hz and 5G on the Galaxy Z Fold 2, then it will naturally be the opposite in the same usage scenarios. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a faster charging technology, while Galaxy Fold has faster wireless charging. Both support reverse charging.

Price

You can actually find the Samsung Galaxy Fold for less than $1500/€1700 thanks to online street prices, while Samsung is yet to unveil the price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 (it is expected to cost €2,000 or more). At the end of the day, the original Galaxy Fold is able to provide similar camera performances and battery life to its new sibling, but the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has improved displays, hardware and build quality. These features make it a valid upgrade you should opt for.

Samsung Galaxy Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: PRO and CONS

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

PRO

• Bigger displays
• Better 5G connectivity
• Bigger battery
• Higher build quality
• 120 Hz display

CONS

• Costlier

Samsung Galaxy Fold

PRO

• More compact
• More affordable price
• More internal storage
• Potentially better cameras

CONS

• Inferior hardware

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Samsung launched its first foldable smartphone –  the Galaxy Fold last year and the smartphone was an instant success despite its huge price tag. The tech giant is already prepping to launch a successor which would be known as Galaxy Fold 2.

There have been several leaks and rumours surrounding the Galaxy Fold 2 for a while now. The latest is that the Fold 2 will come in two storage variants. Last year’s Galaxy Fold only had a 512GB storage option but this year, Samsung will reportedly include a second 256GB storage version.

The report carried by Sammobile claims the Fold 2 with 256GB storage has the model number SM-F916 while the higher 512GB variant has the model number SM-F91x. The lower storage will enable Samsung to lower the price of the Galaxy Fold by some significant margin. The Galaxy Fold came with a mammoth $1,980 price tag. The Fold 2 may be priced at a similar price but the lower storage will definitely lower the price tag. Samsung may had got some idea from the Galaxy Z Flip which is sold for $1,400 but saw huge patronage despite the heavy price. Thus, lowering the Fold 2’s price could also help garner patrons.

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(source)

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Samsung first plunged into the manufacture of foldable smartphones last year but the initial release was marred by some design flaws which the Korean company promptly fixed. The Galaxy Fold was the result and it was a commercial success. The company recently launched the Galaxy Z Flip as its second-generation model.

After this, the question that has popped up and demanded an answer was when the company will venture into a tri-fold model whose schematics have been spotted in Samsung patent applications.

Roh Tae-moon, president and head of Samsung’s mobile divisions spoke to the Korea Herald where he revealed the brand’s plan in that regard. “Technologically, we are capable of designing phones that fold even more times, but what’s more important than the folding technology itself is the kind of value to be offered for consumers,” he said.

EDITOR’S PICK: First Samples from the 108MP Mi Mix Alpha is here & we are not impressed!

However, Roh also expressed pessimism as to the preparedness of the industry for such a device.

“It’s also important to have an ecosystem for sufficient content and services before releasing more foldable variants,” he said. “We can release new foldable phones at an opportune time when there are enough services available on those phones and provide needed values for consumers.”

“I envision a future of foldable devices in which people will easily carry around large-size screens in accordance with their needs and the screens are folded (no matter how many times) in any sizes that they want,” Roh said.

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(source)

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Chinese e-commerce company Jingdong (JD.com) recently held its Luxury Goods Festival-Autumn and Winter Mobile Phone Fashion Festival. The company unwittingly listed the top 10 “unaffordable” mobile phones and a look at the list would leave you speechless. The most expensive of the lot cost as much as 2.47 million yuan (about $353,000)! That model is the Vertu Signature Cobra Limited Edition. The phone was launched back in May 2017 and even came with an offer of delivery by Helicopter. We doubt if the device will ever get sold out since it is still listed over 2 years after.

EDITOR’S PICK: First Samples from the 108MP Mi Mix Alpha is here & we are not impressed!

Vertu is known for its premium phone designs with gold or platinum accents as the case may be. So, it is no surprise that the second-most-expensive model on the list is also a Vertu model. Next on the line is the Vertu Aster P which was launched in October 2018. The gold plated version is listed on JD.com for 221,800 yuan ($31K).

The third phone is Huawei Mate X 5G foldable smartphone which holds the record as the industry’s first 5G foldable display mobile phone. The Mate X has a recommended retail price of 16,999 yuan (~$2400)but Jingdong’s spot price for the device was 69999 yuan(~$10K). It is presently sold out.

The Vertuu Aster P made it again into the list with a price tag of 46800 yuan which should be for the Ink Black and White variants. Swiss watchmaker 8848 released the M5 luxury smartphone and it is ranked at number 5. The rest of the top 10 is made up of the Huawei Mate 30 RS Porsche design, a light business phone priced at 15999 yuan (~$2286). It is followed by the Samsung Galaxy Fold, the world’s first mass-produced foldable phone with a price tag of 15,999 yuan (~$2286). A number 8 is the iPhone 11 Pro Max, priced at 12,699 yuan (~$1800). OPPO Find X Lamborghini model, which costs 9999 yuan ($1400) claims the ninth spot. Finally, the Royole Flexpai completes the top 10 with a 9,998 yuan price tag (~$1400).

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(source)

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Samsung’s first foldable smartphone — Galaxy Fold, went official earlier this year after months of delays because of build quality. However, the smartphone seems to be quite popular in the market.

Samsung Electronic’s president Young Sohn revealed during an event in Berlin that “there’s a million people that want to use this product at $2,000 each.” He then followed up to clarify that the company claims to have sold 1 million units of the Galaxy Fold.

While the numbers are not much compared to the tens of millions of phones that Samsung and Apple move each quarter, but this is quite surprising given the phone’s pricing of around $2,000 as many small manufacturers struggle to achieve the same feat.

For those who are unaware, the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone went on sale in September this year, months later than originally planned. Samsung canceled its original launch plans and went back to the drawing board, strengthening the phone’s design and revising parts of it to make it less prone to breakage.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone presents a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display with a 1536 x 2152 pixels screen resolution where can use three apps at the same time which Samsung calls Three-app Multitasking.

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When the device is folded into phone mode, it offers a 4.6-inch display with 840 x 1960 pixels screen resolution. It comes with a feature called App Continuity which automatically adjust an app when you switch screens. It is powered by a 7nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor paired with 12GB of RAM and packs 512GB of internal storage using UFS 3.0 technology.

Connectivity options on the phone include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, NFC, and USB Type-C port. The smartphone also comes with stereo speakers that are equipped with Dolby Atmos surround sound technology.

It comes with camera module that’s made up of a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and another 12MP wide-angle camera. On the front side, it comes with a 10MP sensor. It runs Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box and is powered by a 4,380mAh battery which is split into two units and supports Wireless Charging as well as Wireless PowerShare for reverse charging.

Yesterday, the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone was launched in the Indian market, which comes packed with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. In India, the phone has been priced at ₹1,64,999 (~$2,323) and will go on sale from 20th October.

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Foldable smartphones are the biggest innovation of 2019 alongside 5G. Several companies tried to develop a foldable phone, but only three of them were able to launch a finished product in the market. And just two of them are mainstream brands: Samsung and Huawei which came up with the Galaxy Fold and the Mate X. A few hours ago, even Motorola announced a new foldable phone: it is the new Motorola Razr 2019 and it is a revisited version of the iconic clamshell phone Motorola Razr which made the success of the company during the age of feature phones. Here, we compared the new Motorola Razr 2019 with the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X since they are currently the only smartphones with foldable displays released by mainstream companies.

Motorola Razr vs Samsung Galaxy Fold vs Huawei Mate X

Design

In terms of compactness, Motorola Razr 2019 has the most interesting form factor. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X, it is not a smartphone that becomes a tablet. It is a clamshell phone with a foldable display and the panel we are talking about has a similar size as classic smartphone displays. This means that when you fold it, you get a really small device. Motorola Razr 2019 also comes with an external display you can use to do the important tasks such as checking notifications, answering calls, sending messages and change the settings. Samsung Galaxy Fold has a design that folds internally, with a smaller smartphone-like external display and a big internal display transforming it into a tablet. Huawei Mate X has the foldable display externally so that when it is folded there are two external displays belonging to the same panel.

Display

The most stunning panel is the foldable internal display of the Samsung Galaxy Fold since it shows better colors and it delivers a richer image quality thanks to the HDR10+ technology. However, there is to note that Huawei Mate X has a bigger 8-inch display which splits into two external displays above 6 inches while it is folded. When the Samsung Galaxy Fold is folded you can not use its internal display but you can only use a small 4.6-inch external one with an HD+ resolution. Both the displays of the Motorola Razr 2019 are OLED but their quality is inferior to the Samsung Galaxy Fold. Further, it does not turn into a table but it goes from being a small clamshell phone to a classic smartphone.

Hardware/Software

The Samsung Galaxy Fold wins the hardware comparison since it has both a better chipset and the best memory configuration. Both Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X feature 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage, but the Samsung Galaxy Fold has a more powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset, while Huawei Mate X mounts a Kirin 980 SoC which is still a flagship-class chipset but less powerful. Motorola Razr 2019 is just a midrange device since it mounts a Snapdragon 710 chipset, as well as an inferior 6/128 GB memory configuration. Note that Motorola Razr does not support a SIM Card but it relies on eSIM. On the other hand, both Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X have a 5G variant.

Camera

Even when it comes to cameras, Motorola Razr 2019 is a bit disappointing, it just has one rear camera, the sensor is nice, but nothing special. The most interesting is the Samsung Galaxy Fold as it features several sensors on both the front and rear sides, and it clicks amazing photos. If we only consider normal photos, Huawei Mate X is more or less at the same level with a 40 MP quad camera which can also be used to click selfies.

Battery

The battery life mostly depends on the usage with foldable smartphones. Both Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X have a huge battery with more than 4000 mAh. Huawei Mate X’s battery is slightly bigger, but if you only use the external display of the Samsung Galaxy Fold it lasts more since it is a more efficient panel. Huawei Mate X features a very fast charging technology: it goes from 0 to 85 percent in just 30 minutes. Motorola Razr 2019 has a pretty small 2510 mAh battery, so it loses this comparison.

Price

The real best foldable phone battle is between the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X and there is not a clear winner: the former has better performance but a form factor that is not for everyone, while the second may be more comfortable for a lot of users, as polls proved. Overall, Motorola Razr 2019 is better for people who want to save for money and get the most compact phones, but not for advanced users. Samsung Galaxy Fold costs about €2086/$2300 globally, Huawei Mate X has a €2150/$2370 price tag, and Motorola Razr 2019 will debut in the U.S. with a €1360/$1500 price.

• Read More: Samsung Galaxy Fold sold out once again in China

Motorola Razr vs Samsung Galaxy Fold vs Huawei Mate X: PRO and CONS

Huawei Mate X

PROS

• External foldable display
• Great connectivity
• Big battery
• Good cameras

CONS

• Expensive

Motorola Razr

PROS

• Compact clamshell design
• More affordable
• Splashproof
• Useful external display

CONS

• Midrange specifications

Samsung Galaxy Fold

PROS

• Very nice display
• Compact external display
• Stereo speakers
• Reverse wireless charging
• High performance

CONS

• Price

The post Motorola Razr vs Samsung Galaxy Fold vs Huawei Mate X: Specs Comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.

After months of delay, Samsung’s ambitious foldable smartphone — Samsung Galaxy Fold — was finally made available for purchase, soon after the company fixed few issues related to its design and display.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone went on sale in China today at 10:00 AM local time for a price of 15,999 Yuan which roughly converts to $2,293. Samsung has now announced that all the units were sold out in just five minutes.

However, its noteworthy that the South Korean giant has not revealed how many units it sold during those five minutes. There’s a high possibility that the units were quite limited for the first sale in China but the exact number is not yet known.

Earlier, it was reported that the company has reportedly sold around 500,000 units of Galaxy Fold smartphones globally. On the other hand, its rival Huawei has launched Huawei Mate X foldable smartphone for a price of 16,999 Yuan (~$2,414) which went on sale last month in China.

EDITOR’S PICK: Samsung W20 5G to launch on November 19th as a 5G version of the Galaxy Fold

The Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone presents a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display with a 1536 x 2152 pixels screen resolution. In this mode, you can use three apps at the same time which Samsung calls Three-app Multitasking.

When folded into phone mode, it offers a 4.6-inch display with 840 x 1960 pixels screen resolution. It comes with a feature called App Continuity which automatically adjust an app when you switch screens. It is powered by a 7nm processor paired with 12GB of RAM and packs 512GB of internal storage using UFS 3.0 technology.

The phone comes equipped with a camera module that is made up of a 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera, and another 12-megapixel wide-angle camera. On the front side, it comes with a 10-megapixel sensor for taking selfies and video calling. It runs the latest Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box. The phone packs a 4,380mAh battery which is split into two units.

UP NEXT: Samsung to significantly increase foldable smartphone production next year

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Despite the major fiasco with the Samsung Galaxy Fold at the beginning of 2019, the device is rumored to be faring quite well in most markets. A few media outlets have reported that the Galaxy Fold went out-of-stock soon after being released. Samsung is yet to meet its shipment target of a million units. However, it aims to sell plenty more foldable devices in 2020.

According to Samsung’s CEO DJ Koh, “We plan to significantly increase sales of the Galaxy Fold next year.” Samsung has been testing the market with its different iterations of a foldable smartphone, the latest being the clamshell form factor. Speaking at the annual Samsung AI forum in Seoul, Koh said, “Consumers will witness a large number of foldable smartphones next year”. This statement hints at Samsung’s plans to launch more than one foldable smartphone in 2020.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy Fold 4G is finally up for grabs in China, Priced slightly higher than the U.S.

According to a rumor from a few weeks ago, Samsung plans to sell upwards of 6 million foldable smartphones globally by the end of 2020. DJ Koh did not comment on the statement. Hence, its authenticity is currently unconfirmed. Samsung allegedly was aiming for 10 million units in 2020, but the figure was later corrected to be more realistic. The demand for foldable smartphones is fluctuating at the moment. Nonetheless, Samsung believes foldable display technology is the future of smartphones.

As for when Samsung plans to introduce the next foldable smartphone, Koh said more details will be unveiled shortly, without committing to a tentative deadline. Samsung is not the only company to be working on foldable display technology. But, with its latest innovation, the company is ahead of major competitors like Apple. Whether customers adopt foldable smartphones remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Samsung needs to iron out the creases with the Galaxy Fold. Certain users have reported the formation of tiny specs on the display within a few hours of use, while another user claims the letters on the Samsung branding began falling out. These are major quality concerns for a smartphone that is priced upwards of $1980. Hopefully, Samsung comes up with a solution soon.

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(source|via)

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In the Q1 of 2019, Samsung took covers off its first foldable smartphone which is called the Galaxy Fold. Soon after its launch, the device was surrounded by controversy, as units received by some of the early reviewers started failing within just hours of usage. Nonetheless, Samsung has reiterated its design slightly which seems to have fixed the problem.

While the updated Galaxy Fold has already been available for purchase in several countries which include South Korea, the USA and India, according to internal sources, the company has decided to launch the distinctive device in the Chinese market on November 8 at a price of 14,999 yuan ($ 2,120). Samsung has reportedly sold 500,000 units of this smartphone so far and it is expected to run out of stock soon after its launch in China.

To recall, the Samsung Galaxy Fold features two displays, out of which, the main cover display measures 4.6 inch while the second 7.3 inch Dynamic AMOLED foldable panel is present on the inside.

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The Galaxy Fold features the Snapdragon 855 SoC which consists of an Octa-core CPU and Andreno 640 GPU. In terms of storage, it has 12GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage. The device is powered by 2 batteries with a total rated capacity of 4,380mAh. In addition to fast wired charging, it also supports wireless charging.

The Galaxy Fold has a total of six cameras. The triple rear camera setup consists of a 16MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor with a 12MP, f/1.5-2.4 sensor and a 12MP, f/2.4 telephoto sensor. The selfie camera present on the front has a resolution of 10 MP. The two remaining sensors are placed above the foldable display and have a resolution of 10 MP and 8 MP.

(via)

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There are reports that Samsung may launch another foldable phone this year. After a couple of mishaps, the Galaxy Fold was finally released a few months back. Despite the improvements in the construction, the Polyimide screen still remains one of the most delicate parts of the Galaxy Fold.

There are indications that next year’s Galaxy Fold may come with a permanent fix for the fragile display screen. According to sources cited by Korean website ETNews, the company will abandon its transparent polyimide solution in favour of flexible ultra-thin glass (UTG).

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The source hinted that the Samsung Display is already manufacturing the foldable displays for its next foldable smartphone mode and that a third-party firm named DOWOO INSYS has also begun manufacturing the first batch of UTG panels for Samsung. A recent report had revealed that DOWOO INSYS and SCHOTT AG are the two best ultra-thin glass manufacturers in the industry. Industry sources however disclosed that DOWWO INSYS has the upper edge and “the best technical skills when it comes to UTG” with technical skills 4-5 years ahead of its competitors.

Ultra-thin glass (UTG) may not totally eliminate the fragility of the flexible display but it is said to eliminate the crease that forms on the flexible panel along the hinge. UTG looks aesthetically more appealing but it is even more fragile than transparent polyimide. It is also costlier to produce while having a lower yield rate on the manufacturing line. A source even hinted at the UTG material being used on Samsung’s next clamshell foldable phone codenamed “Bloom,” but a second unnamed industry insider isn’t so positive about that.  However, with the challenges posed by the new technology, we doubt if Samsung will use it anytime soon. Next year’s Galaxy Fold model is said to bring along a cheaper price tag. We’ll have to wait and see how this pans out.

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(source)

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Since Samsung first relaunched the Galaxy Fold in South Korea and then the US, the company has been unveiling the device in several markets across the world. The device has also been launched in India and is on pre-registration in Australia and the UAE. The company will soon launch the flagship foldable phone in Japan. Domestic carrier au has confirmed the 4G version of the device will be released in Japan. The device is listed on au’s website to go on sale on October 25 with a list of partner stores that would sell the foldable phone. Other details such as the pricing are yet to be disclosed.

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The Galaxy Fold only went on sale in South Korea on October 2. That is because available quantities are limited.  Despite the over $2000 price tag, demand for the foldable device has been pretty high. We expect the price in Japan to revolve around the $2k mark.

As a reminder, the Galaxy Fold features a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display on the inside and a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED panel on the outside. The design saw some improvements to ensure it is pretty durable.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold packs a total of six cameras and is powered by a Snapdragon 855, coupled with 12 GB RAM and 512GB of storage. Keeping the lights on is a 4,380 mAh battery but the 5G model has a slightly lesser 4,235mAh battery due to the internal architecture.

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(source)

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Earlier this year, Samsung unveiled its first foldable smartphone which is called the Galaxy Fold. Unfortunately, the company had to delay its original date of commercial availability due to display issues but that has now been fixed and the unique handset is available for purchase in several countries.

Even though Samsung has reiterated the design of Galaxy Fold to prolong its life, the fact cannot be denied that its display is made out of soft plastic and is still susceptible to going bad if poked by a sharp object intentionally or accidentally.

Samsung has revealed that the display replacement cost of the Galaxy Fold costs a whopping $599. While not every device owner would require to get the display on their handset replaced, this steep cost might drive away potential buyers.

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To lure in customers, Samsung has announced that it will replace the display of the Galaxy Fold for just $149 for the units that are purchased before the 31st of December, 2019. Not only is this cost a lot more affordable, but it is also significantly less in comparison to some of the other flagships from Samsung, Apple or even OnePlus which is known for aggressively priced smartphones and their replacement parts.

For reference, a comparison chart has been shared below that draws a difference between the cost of replacing the display on various high-end smartphones:

To wrap things up, either pick a unit of the Galaxy Fold before 31st of December or use it with extreme care even when it feels like a chunky brick in your pocket when in its bent/folded state.

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Samsung has tried to fix the two most glaring design defects of the Galaxy Fold but, as iFixit has discovered its thorough teardown, it still is a fragile device. According to iFixit, some improvements have been made, but like they found with the first Galaxy Fold teardown (that Samsung tried to get rid off), it’s not a sturdy device by any means.

The Korean company has taried to address the two problems brought up by reviewers earlier this year. First: that people removed the outer screen layer thinking it was just a regular protective plastic. Second, the hinge gape that allowed dirt particles to come in and damage the display.

Dust and lint was also an enemy of the Galaxy Fold, but iFixit noted that there are now T-shaped plastic protectors to plug the gaps between the top and bottom of the display that appears when it’s folded. There are still gaps that flank the spine of the foldable phone, where dust could creep in, but this time it’s less likely to make a mess up in the display.

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A whole lot of adhesive has been used to stick the phone together as well, and the ‘Advanced Polymer Protective Layer’ – read built-in screen protector – is still present and correct only it’s been better integrated into the Galaxy Fold to prevent people from thinking it’s a removable protector and thus wrecking the phone’s folding display.

Perhaps the most noticeable change is the added layer of metal to make the display more robust. According to iFixit, the extra layer is “like chainmail armor” placed between the backing plates and the screen. This addition should make the display more reinforced, even when it’s separated from the chassis.

There are plenty of warnings that you won’t expect in any flagship device nowadays, from touching the screen too hard to putting objects like credit cards inside to exposing it to dusty environments. But, as iFixIt has discovered, there is a good reason for all this. According to iFixit:-

“That said, this thing is still pretty fragile. We’ll have to see how it holds up in the real world, but for now, we can’t help but wonder: why weren’t these revisions a part of the first Fold? It took reviewers (and us) less than a week to figure out the phone’s weak points. Why ship something they must have known to be so easily breakable?”

That’s a reasonable question, especially as iFixit gave the Galaxy Fold a ‘repairability’ score of two out of ten, thanks to its glued-down parts and fragile main display. So while the Galaxy Fold has been greatly improved and it seems durable enough in certain aspects — like its folding capacity — some may want to wait for version 2.0.

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(Source)

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Guess we are all familiar with the drama that engulfed the initial plans by Samsung to release the innovative Galaxy Fold foldable smartphone earlier this year. As a reminder, the Galaxy Fold was first unveiled in February this year with the release set for April. However, the release was put off by Samsung following a number of issues that were encountered by early users.

The foldable smartphone was officially relaunched last month and is presently available in several markets across the world. Samsung effected some improvements in its design and construction even though the design remained the same as the first model. Samsung says the flexible display can withstand up to 200,000 folds. This was put to test recently by the guys at CNET who deployed a Foldbot that folds and opens the device severally times at an unusual speed. The machine known as FoldBot was built by SquareTrade and it automatically opens and closes the Galaxy Fold several times per second. The test lasted for over 4 hours and even though the device didn’t last up to 200k times, it stood its ground up to 119,380 times before the screen got broken. Watch the video from below.

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Of course, there is no chance you’ll bend the screen up to 120,000 times all through its life cycle. The FoldBot also seems to move at a speed which is unusually faster than how we all will open the phone. So, the flexible display can be said to be relatively durable. Of course, this test isn’t a guarantee that if the phone falls down or gets in contact with hard objects like a bunch of keys in the pocket the display won’t get damaged.

Samsung says it has fixed the hinge and the protective layer of the flexible screen. The foldable mechanism is now hidden behind a rubbery protective layer in order to protect it from dust and other particles getting in the mechanism through the foldable part. Samsung also extended the layer on top that protects the digitizer from scratches beyond the edges, so that it can’t be peeled accidentally.

The Galaxy Fold may be a good buy after all. We await feedback from users who’ll subject it to the rigours of daily use to see how it fares.

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After announcing the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone in its home country as well as some other regions, the Galaxy Fold 5G variant is now available for purchase in South Korea. The phone is priced at 2.398 million won, which is roughly about $2,000.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone is now also available for purchase in UK, Germany, France, Singapore, and the United States. However, not all of these regions will get the 5G variant and will be limited to 4G only.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G is being offered in two color options — Black and Silver. Further, those who purchased the smartphone after 20th September and buys before 31st October, will receive a high-end Montblanc protective case as a gift.

Most of the specifications of this 5G variant remains the same as the standard model, expect for the addition of 5G network support. The Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone presents a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display with a 1536 x 2152 pixels screen resolution where can use three apps at the same time which Samsung calls Three-app Multitasking.

When the device is folded into phone mode, it offers a 4.6-inch display with 840 x 1960 pixels screen resolution. It comes with a feature called App Continuity which automatically adjust an app when you switch screens. It is powered by a 7nm SD855 octa-core processor paired with 12GB of RAM and packs 512GB of internal storage using UFS 3.0 technology.

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Connectivity options on the phone include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, NFC, and USB Type-C port. The smartphone also comes with stereo speakers that are equipped with Dolby Atmos surround sound technology.

It comes with camera module that’s made up of a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and another 12MP wide-angle camera. On the front side, it comes with a 10MP sensor. It runs Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box and is powered by a 4,380mAh battery which is split into two units and supports Wireless Charging as well as Wireless PowerShare for reverse charging.

Yesterday, the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone was launched in the Indian market, which comes packed with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. In India, the phone has been priced at ₹1,64,999 (~$2,323) and will go on sale from 20th October.

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Samsung launched its first foldable smartphone — Galaxy Fold earlier this month after delaying it a few times since its debut earlier this year. Now, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has been officially launched in the Indian market.

With this, the Galaxy Fold has become the first foldable smartphone in India. It is priced at ₹164,999 for the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage model, which roughly converts to $2,323.

The smartphone comes in Cosmos Black color and the company is also offering Galaxy Fold Premier Service with one-on-one assistance with a Fold Concierge and one-year accidental damage protection, and one-time free screen replacement.

Moreover, the company is also bundling the Samsung Galaxy Buds headphones. Samsung will start taking pre-booking for the Galaxy Fold smartphones in India from 4th October and the shipments for the same will begin from 20th October.

Coming to the specifications, the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone presents a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display with a 1536 x 2152 pixels screen resolution. In this mode, you can use three apps at the same time which Samsung calls Three-app Multitasking.

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When the device is folded into phone mode, it offers a 4.6-inch display with 840 x 1960 pixels screen resolution. It comes with a feature called App Continuity which automatically adjust an app when you switch screens. It is powered by a 7nm octa-core processor paired with 12GB of RAM and packs 512GB of internal storage using UFS 3.0 technology.

Connectivity options on the phone include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, NFC, and USB Type-C port. It comes with stereo speakers that are equipped with Dolby Atmos surround sound technology.

The phone comes with a camera module that’s made up of a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and another 12MP wide-angle camera. On the front side, it comes with a 10MP sensor. It runs Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box and is powered by a 4,380mAh battery which is split into two units. It also supports Wireless Charging as well as Wireless PowerShare for reverse charging.

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Samsung launched the reworked Galaxy Fold 5G smartphone in South Korea earlier this month and since then the phone has been launched in several countries, including France, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Apparently, the Galaxy Fold not be entirely free of the technical issues that plagued the first model.

A Galaxy Fold owner, Brian Heater who also is an author/reviewer at TechCrunch has reported an early damage to his unit. The reviewer hinted that he noticed a tiny, bright coloured amorphous blob on the screen after it was left in his pocket for a while. The patch is notcieable just between the lock screen’s flapping butterfly wings.

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Brian happened to be one of th reviewers who got the the first-gen Galaxy Fold earlier on. At the time when a good number of the units had issues, his unit remained intact but was withdrawn by Samsung when they went back to the drawing board to fix the usses that propped up then. This time around he isn’t so lucky but good thing the screen still worked well. The unit has since been collected by Samsung in order to ascertain what went wrong. But if we are to guess, a sligtly heavy amount of pressure may have caused the screen patch.Samsung already issued warning for users not to apply excessive pressure to it.

The overall design of the Galaxy Fold still remains the same as the ill-fated original version. That is a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display on the inside a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED panel on the outside. However, Samsung says it has fixed the hinge and the protective layer of the flexible screen. The foldable mechanism is now hidden behind a rubbery protective layer in order to protect it from dust and other particles getting in the mechanism through the foldable part. Samsung also extended the layer on top that protects the digitizer from scratches beyond the edges, so that it can’t be peeled accidentally.

With all the improvements aimed at optimizing the build quality,it remains to be seen if the device can at least provide a considerable level of durabiliity. For a device that costs up to $2,000 the question that still begs for answer is if the Galaxy Fold is worth buying or still a risky venture. From the tech point of view, the device is an awesome one and the reviews have been above par. However, the fragility is still the foldable phone’s Achilles heel. Good thing though, this is about the first report we’re seeing about an issue with the reworked Galaxy Fold.

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(source)

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In the Q1 of 2019, Samsung unveiled its first foldable smartphone which is called the Galaxy Fold. While the device was originally set to be commercially available in the following months, due to some display related issues, Samsung had to push back this date to Q3 of 2019.

The reiterated Samsung Galaxy Fold with a slightly modified design was first put on sale in its home country, Korea on the 6th of September. Subsequently, it was also made available in Europe and the US on 9th September and 27th September, in respective order.

Samsung is now expanding its availability to other countries and interested customers residing from Australia, India and UAE can pre-register to purchase a unit of Galaxy Fold.

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While Samsung India has already notified that the unique handset will launch in the country on the 1st of October, Samsung UAE and Samsung Australia are yet to provide a specific launch date. With that being said, the company is expected to launch the Galaxy Fold by the mid of October in the two latter countries as well.

The customers do not need to pay any money for the registration process and price in different regions will be revealed along with their launch.

Interested users can click on the links provided below to pre-register for the Galaxy Fold based upon specific regions:

• Samsung Australia
• Samsung UAE
• Samsung India 

Noteworthy, Samsung has also declared that the premium device will not be sold online and customers must pre-order it to be able to purchase a unit. Besides, it will be sold in limited quantities, though Samsung has not provided a specific number of units up for grabs. Therefore, if you plan to buy one we would recommend pre-registring as early as possible.

To recall, the specs and features of the Galaxy Fold are as follows:

It features two displays, out of which, the main cover display measures 4.6 inch while the second 7.3 inch Dynamic AMOLED foldable panel is present on the inside.

The Galaxy Fold features the Snapdragon 855 SoC which consists of an Octa-core CPU and Andreno 640 GPU. In terms of storage, it has 12GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage. The device is powered by 2 batteries with a total rated capacity of 4,380mAh. In addition to fast wired charging, it also supports wireless charging.

The Galaxy Fold has a total of six cameras. The triple rear camera setup consists of a 16MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor with a 12MP, f/1.5-2.4 sensor and a 12MP, f/2.4 telephoto sensor. The selfie camera present on the front has a resolution of 10 MP. The two remaining sensors are placed above the foldable display and have a resolution of 10 MP and 8 MP.

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Samsung has finally relaunched the Galaxy Fold, its first foldable phone. The Galaxy Fold was first unveiled in February this year with the release set for April. However, the release was put off by Samsung following a number of issues that were encountered by early users. The foldable smartphone is now officially in the market again but with some improvements in its design and construction.

The overall design of the Galaxy Fold still remains the same as the ill-fated original version. That is a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display on the inside a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED panel on the outside. However, Samsung says it has fixed the hinge and the protective layer of the flexible screen. The foldable mechanism is now hidden behind a rubbery protective layer in order to protect it from dust and other particles getting in the mechanism through the foldable part. Samsung also extended the layer on top that protects the digitizer from scratches beyond the edges, so that it can’t be peeled accidentally.

The camera configuration and those of other hardware components are unchanged. The Samsung Galaxy Fold packs a total of six cameras and is still powered by a Snapdragon 855, coupled with 12 GB RAM and 512GB of storage. Keeping the lights on is a 4,380 mAh battery but the 5G model has a slightly lesser 4,235mAh battery due to the internal architecture.

The Galaxy Fold will go on sale for the first time tomorrow in South Korea. The phone will launch subsequently in select countries, including France, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The price has not been revealed but it is expected to retain the original price of around  €2,000.

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(source)

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Samsung Galaxy Fold is yet to go on sale but the company may be planning to unveil its second foldable device early next year. There are indications that the luxury phone is one that folds down into a compact-sized square.

According to people familiar with the product’s development, the device comes with a 6.7-inch inner display that comes down to a pocketable square when it’s folded inward like a clamshell. The company is said to have got plans to make the device affordable. It is also expected to have a thinner build than this year’s Galaxy Fold. One key advantage that the 6.7-inch foldable phone for next year will have over the Fold is that its shape when open will be basically that of a smartphone: so it will run Android phone apps in their native state. The Galaxy Fold opens to a squarer aspect ratio and larger screen, and so it demands that apps be customized or adapted to best make use of its full dimensions.

Samsung is testing the use of Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) for the inner display of its next foldable, which would measure in at only 3% the thickness of the glass conventionally used to protect smartphone displays. At the same time, the company will want to ensure the durability of its foldable devices and avoid any repeat of the Galaxy Fold debacle.

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The foldable phone will also have a punch-hole design at the top of the inner display which will house the selfie camera. The source also hints that design is similar to that of the recently launched Galaxy Note 10. On the outside part, there will be a dual-camera setup which faces the rear when the phone is flipped open and faces the front when it is closed. The Korean tech giant is also said to be in collaboration with American designer Thom Browne for its upcoming foldable phone. This is in a bid to make its product appeal to a broader range of consumers including those more interested in fashion, status and luxury than a device’s tech specs.

One of the sources, however, hinted that the launch of the second foldable device may hinge on how well the Fold performs after its imminent launch.

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(source)

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Samsung Galaxy Fold is one of the much anticipated smartphone to have launched this year. Even though the phone was unveiled earlier this year, the phone’s launch has been delayed multiple times due to design and build quality issues.

However, the company recently confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy Fold, the company’s first foldable smartphone, will go on sale from September this year, but the South Korean giant had not revealed the exact dates.

Now, a new report claims that the smartphone will be launched in South Korea on 6th September. As per the report, the company was planning to launch the Galaxy Fold in late September but for some reason, it has decided to launch in early September.

Interestingly, IFA 2019 in Berlin is also kicking-off from 6th September so there’s a possibility that Samsung could use that stage to re-launch its Galaxy Fold smartphone and talk about the changes in detail.

As for the rest of the world, it’s being said that Samsung will release the Galaxy Fold in other countries later next month. Exact dates for the U.S., the UK, Canada, and other countries is still unknown, but we hope to learn more about it pretty soon. Earlier this week, Samsung China had started taking pre-registration for the Galaxy Fold smartphone on its website.

Samsung has already confirmed that it made several important changes to the phone’s design addressing the flaws in the original product. Further, it added that the phone was put through ‘rigorous tests’ to validate this new design.

Coming to the specifications, the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone presents a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display with a 1536 x 2152 pixels screen resolution. In this mode, you can use three apps at the same time which Samsung calls Three-app Multitasking.

When folded into phone mode, it offers a 4.6-inch display with 840 x 1960 pixels screen resolution. It comes with a feature called App Continuity which automatically adjust an app when you switch screens. It is powered by a 7nm processor paired with 12GB of RAM and packs 512GB of internal storage using UFS 3.0 technology.

The phone comes with a camera module that’s made up of a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and another 12MP wide-angle camera. On the front side, it comes with a 10MP sensor. It runs the latest Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box. The phone packs a 4,380mAh battery which is split into two units.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold retains the same price tag as before, $1980. Since the company has started pre-registrations for the same, the launch of Samsung’s first foldable smartphone should be just days away.

(Source)

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Samsung announced its first foldable smartphone — Samsung Galaxy Fold earlier this year. However, days before the phone was scheduled to go on sale, it’s launch was postponed as many reviewers started complaining about the phone’s display breaking in just a couple of days of usage.

After around three excruciating months for the company’s foldable department, Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy Fold smartphone will be officially released in September. However, no launch date has been revealed by the company. Now, Samsung China has started taking pre-registration for the Galaxy Fold smartphone on its website.

Samsung had explained that it made several important changes to the phone’s design addressing the flaws in the original product. Further, it added that the phone was put through ‘rigorous tests’ to validate this new design. In an official release, the South Korean giant explains the key changes made to the phone’s design. They are as follows:

• The top protective layer of the Infinity Flex Display has been extended beyond the bezel, making it apparent that it is an integral part of the display structure and not meant to be removed.
• Galaxy Fold features additional reinforcements to better protect the device from external particles while maintaining its signature foldable experience:
• The top and bottom of the hinge area have been strengthened with newly added protection caps.
  • Additional metal layers underneath the Infinity Flex Display have been included to reinforce the protection of the display.
  • The space between the hinge and body of Galaxy Fold has been reduced.

Coming to the specifications, the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone presents a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display with a 1536 x 2152 pixels screen resolution. In this mode, you can use three apps at the same time which Samsung calls Three-app Multitasking.

When folded into phone mode, it offers a 4.6-inch display with 840 x 1960 pixels screen resolution. It comes with a feature called App Continuity which automatically adjust an app when you switch screens. It is powered by a 7nm processor paired with 12GB of RAM and packs 512GB of internal storage using UFS 3.0 technology.

The phone comes with a camera module that’s made up of a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and another 12MP wide-angle camera. On the front side, it comes with a 10MP sensor. It runs the latest Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box. The phone packs a 4,380mAh battery which is split into two units.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold retains the same price tag as before, $1980. Since the company has started pre-registrations for the same, the launch of Samsung’s first foldable smartphone should be just days away.

(Source)

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Earlier this year, Samsung announced its first foldable smartphone — Samsung Galaxy Fold. However, days before the phone was scheduled to go on sale, it’s launch was postponed as many reviewers started complaining about the phone’s display breaking in just a couple of days of usage.

Recently, the company officially revealed that the issues on the devices have been fixed and the smartphone is all set to get launched in September. While the company has confirmed this, it has not yet revealed the exact launch date.

Now, reports indicate that the launch of Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone could take place right around the launch of Apple iPhone 11, which is expected to take place between 18th September and 20th September.

The report further claims that Samsung is currently mass-producing the Galaxy Fold smartphone along with the upcoming Galaxy Note10 series phones. Also, the South Korean market analysts estimate 100,000 units will be sold in Samsung’s home market and forecasts an initial 20,000 to 30,000 units will be available for Korea at launch.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone presents a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display with a 1536 x 2152 pixels screen resolution. In this mode, you can use three apps at the same time which Samsung calls Three-app Multitasking.

When folded into phone mode, it offers a 4.6-inch display with 840 x 1960 pixels screen resolution. It comes with a feature called App Continuity which automatically adjust an app when you switch screens. It is powered by a 7nm processor paired with 12GB of RAM and packs 512GB of internal storage using UFS 3.0 technology.

The phone comes with a camera module that’s made up of a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and another 12MP wide-angle camera. On the front side, it comes with a 10MP sensor. It runs the latest Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box. The phone packs a 4,380mAh battery which is split into two units.

(Source)

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Earlier this year, South Korean giant Samsung launched its ambitious foldable smartphone — Samsung Galaxy Fold, which the company had been working on for years. While the phone is yet to go on sale, the company is reportedly working on its successor.

As per the report, which cites the company’s suppliers in Taiwan as the source, Samsung is working on a next-generation foldable smartphone which is expected to get launched early next year but not specific timeframe is known yet.

The report further adds that while the current foldable smartphone comes with a book-like foldable smartphone, the next-generation foldable smartphone will have a flip design and will be folded vertically and not horizontally.

While nothing much is known about this upcoming foldable smartphone, the report adds that the smartphone will come with a 6.7-inch display. It also reveals that the company will start sourcing components for this device from November this year.

The news about the next-generation foldable smartphone from Samsung comes when the company is yet to start selling the Galaxy Fold smartphone, it’s first foldable display device. While the phone was announced earlier this year, it’s sales have been postponed because of the display-related issues reported by the early reviewers.

The company has reported fixed the issues and is all set to start selling the smartphone, but is yet to officially confirm this. It is believed that the company could take the stage at the Galaxy Note 10 smartphone launch on 7th August to share more information about the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone.

(Via)

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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 was mostly dominated by 5G and foldable smartphones. The Huawei Mate X and Samsung Galaxy Fold were the only models showcased at the event but the media attention generated was enough to ensure we keep talking about foldable phones for the rest of the year and that is what is happening. Since after MWC, Samsung had attempted to release the Galaxy Fold but some technical challenges had to precipitate an indefinite postponement. Now, Samsung is preparing to launch the Fold and there are rumours the Korean tech giant is even planning to release a second foldable phone, one with a Mate X-like design.

According to the reports, Samsung is currently working on multiple future models. The report hints that one of the foldable models could launch within the next few months while two of the devices are expected to arrive at some point next year.

The report covered by Korean’s The Investor reveal that Samsung has plans to “soon” launch an entire range of foldable smartphones, one of which will fold outwards like the Huawei Mate X. Very little is known about Samsung’s out-folding alternative at the moment but people within the company believe it could reach consumers before Huawei’s own device.

Huawei’s foldable Mate X remains the most preferred foldable model by fans as a result of the outward folding design which translates into a tablet size screen when unfolded. This is different from the Galaxy Fold with an outward smaller display and an inner foldable display panel. The Mate X is expected to be released in September so, we have to be on the lookout if Samsung can come out with a new foldable phone before then.

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(source)

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Samsung faced some troubles related to the Galaxy Fold smartphone ahead of its launch and the company decided to postpone the sales of its first foldable smartphone. While the South Korean giant is yet to officially start sales, Russian manufacturer Caviar has launched three limited edition variants of the Galaxy Fold.

Out of the three new variants, one of them is Samsung Galaxy Fold Game of Thrones Edition, inspired by the  American fantasy series Game of Thrones. The other two variants are Leather and Carbon. Almost everything on the limited edition smartphone is the same as the standard Galaxy Fold, except that it comes with a custom Game of Thrones skin on the GoT edition.

The Game of Thrones Edition of Samsung Galaxy Fold features big houses from the Seven Kingdoms, figures of dragons and towers of the palace, and engraved map of Westeros. The company has made just seven units of this edition and it has gifted one unit to Game of Thrones writer George Martin.

If you are a fan of Game of Thrones and want to own this limited edition device, get ready to shell out an insane amount of money. The Samsung Galaxy Fold Game of Thrones Edition is priced at $8,180, which is four times the cost of the standard edition.

The standard Samsung Galaxy Fold is priced at $1,980 and is expected to soon get launched. The company has reportedly fixed the display-related issues and is all set to officially commence the phone’s sales.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone presents a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display with a 1536 x 2152 resolution. In this mode, you can use three apps at the same time which Samsung calls Three-app Multitasking.

When folded into phone mode, it offers a 4.6-inch 840 x 1960 display. It comes with a feature called App Continuity which automatically adjust an app when you switch screens. It is powered by a 7nm processor paired with 12GB of RAM.

The phone comes with a camera module that’s made up of a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and another 12MP wide-angle camera. On the front side, it comes with a 10MP sensor. It runs the latest Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box. The phone packs a 4,380mAh battery which is split into two units.

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You will recall that the  Samsung Galaxy Fold was already scheduled for release in April before a chain of events started happening which eventually led to the postponement of the Fold’s release. The Korean tech giant is yet to officially confirm when the Galaxy Fold will be released but there have been rumours it could drop in July. A Samsung executive has disclosed that the Galaxy Fold is “ready to hit the market.”

The vice president of Samsung Display, Kim Seong-cheol disclosed during his speech at The Korean Information Display Society that “Most of the display problems have been ironed out, and the Galaxy Fold is ready to hit the market.” As you know, Samsung Display is responsible for the development and production of the flexible display panels used on the foldable phone. The exec also hinted that he has high expectations for the device and expects it to receive a lot of attention in the market when released.

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Sadly, he didn’t reveal any date for the release but we believe earlier rumours of a July release may just be correct. However, the Galaxy Fold will likely get different release dates for different regions. We expect the company to come out with a clear roadmap soon.

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(source)

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Samsung was obviously racing against time to become the first OEM to release a foldable smartphone. The tech giant was on the verge of a massive breakthrough when disaster struck. The Galaxy Fold units sent out to reviewers were being plagued by one issue or the other. This development prompted the tech giant to put off the sales plans unit the issues were resolved. Samsung is yet to officially reveal the release details for the device. However, the end of the wait seems to be in sight as a Samsung executive has been reported to have hinted that the Galaxy Fold may get released sometime in July.

This is the most specific disclosure we have gotten about the Fold’s release even though it still doesn’t confirm anything. The Fold will likely get different release dates for different regions. Samsung is expected to host an official conference where it could announce the July launch date soon.

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Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Fold alongside the Galaxy S10 models during the Galaxy Unpacked event held in March. The Fold has gained widespread attention due to the practicability of its design and the “protection” it offers the delicate flexible panel with the in-fold design it adopts.

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(source)

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The Galaxy Fold is yet to be released by Samsung but popular Russian luxury phone case maker Caviar has unveiled its customized design for the Galaxy Fold that it hopes will appeal to fans of the just concluded TV series Game of Thrones.

Samsung Galaxy Fold Game of Thrones Edition has golden elements adorning both panels. The golden elements reflect some of the famous characters on the HBO series. Caviar says it will issue just seven units, symbolizing the seven houses and bearing unique designs. The units are already available for pre-order.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy Fold vs Huawei Mate X: Specs Comparison

A press release by the Russian luxury phone case maker indicates that the sales will commence when the Galaxy Fold series officially open to buyers. As for the price, you’ll have to shell out a whopping $8200 for the phone. That is way higher than the original price tag of $1,980 which the Galaxy Fold adopts. Good thing there are only seven units available and we don’t see them staying on the shelf for too long. If you want a customized Galaxy Fold, you may have to make do with the carbon and leather-clad variants but we don’t know their prices just yet.

(source)

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Samsung’s ambitious and futuristic smartphone — Samsung Galaxy Fold, the company’s first foldable smartphone, was finally unveiled a couple of months ago after being in development for years.

However, just days before the phone’s launch, the company postponed the sales of the Galaxy Fold smartphone based on the feedback received from the early users of the device regarding issues with the display.

At that time, the company simply said that the new launch of the Galaxy Fold smartphone will soon be announced it thoroughly checks the device. While the company said that it’ll fix the issues, it didn’t reveal how it plans to do so.

A new report from Yonhap News claims that the company is planning to tuck the protective display layer into the body. This will help prevent users from removing it, which some users did as they considered it to be a screen protector. It further adds that Samsung will also block the gaps at the top and bottom of the hinge to prevent debris from damaging the foldable display of the phone.

The company is reportedly testing the smartphone on Korean networks. The report also adds that Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Fold in June but it’s not yet confirmed and the company could change the launch timeline.

As for the specifications, the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone presents a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display with a 1536 x 2152 resolution. In this mode, you can use three apps at the same time which Samsung calls Three-app Multitasking.

When folded into phone mode, it offers a 4.6-inch 840 x 1960 display. It comes with a feature called App Continuity which automatically adjust an app when you switch screens. It is powered by a 7nm processor paired with 12GB of RAM.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone’s fate will be decided ‘in a couple of days’, says Samsung CEO

The phone comes with a camera module that’s made up of a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and another 12MP wide-angle camera. On the front side, it comes with a 10MP sensor. It runs the latest Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box. The phone packs a 4,380mAh battery which is split into two units.

(Source)

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The Galaxy Fold release, which was put off by Samsung following a number of issues that were encountered by early users, may finally be happening soon. The Galaxy Fold user manual for the AT&T version has leaked in the Korean media, and it does indeed contain a number of warnings based on the issues that were encountered.

One of such is a warning not to peel off the top layer of the device as it is an integral part of the display. This is actually the same warning that was present on the outer wrapper of the retail box, as was showcased by T-Mobile’s marketing head honcho Desmond Smith earlier on. The warning reads, “ATTENTION – The main screen includes a special protective layer. Peeling off the protective layer or using any adhesives on the main screen, such as screen protectors or stickers, may cause damage.” Thus, Samsung not only put the warning on the retail box but in the manual in order to apparently ensure it is not missed by anyone.

Apart from that, Samsung also included a note on the user manual which notifies users that the crease in the middle of the display at the point where the device unfolds is normal. Here’s the notification; “NOTE: You may notice a crease at the center of the Main screen. This is normal characteristic of the device. When folding the device, make sure that no objects are placed between the screens.

Read Also: iFixit offers some explanation on why the Galaxy Fold displays were breaking

The report also revealed that Samsung will try and release the Fold next month (June) in order to beat the Mate X launch in July. It has allegedly been postponing the launch in order to better train the reps on presenting the device and teach potential buyers how to use the phone. Like, for instance, not to scrape off the cover film which turned out to be an integral part of the flexible display underneath, even though it does not completely wrap around and fuse with the panel at the edges, making it look like a screen protector of sorts.

(source)

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Earlier this year, Samsung officially unveiled its much anticipated and futuristic smartphone — Samsung Galaxy Fold, the company’s first foldable smartphone. The phone was all set to go on sale from 26th April but just a couple of days before sale, it was postponed.

Now, Samsung CEO DJ Koh has revealed that the South Korean company will confirm the foldable’s revised release date in a matter of days. He also said that the defect was caused from substances that entered the device and the official conclusion will be reached in a couple of days.

Samsung had earlier sent out review units of the Galaxy Fold but within a day or two, many reviewers started complaining serious issuus related to the phone’s display. In a statement, the company said that it will thoroughly check the affected devices but has not hinted about the delaying the launch.

However, after negative press, the company announced its plan to postpone the launch and confirmed that the decision to delay the release of the Galaxy Fold smartphone was taken based on the initial feedback.

As for the specifications, the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone presents a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display with a 1536 x 2152 resolution. In this mode, you can use three apps at the same time which Samsung calls Three-app Multitasking.

When folded into phone mode, it offers a 4.6-inch 840 x 1960 display. It comes with a feature called App Continuity which automatically adjust an app when you switch screens. It is powered by a 7nm processor paired with 12GB of RAM.

The phone comes with a camera module that’s made up of a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and another 12MP wide-angle camera. On the front side, it comes with a 10MP sensor. It runs the latest Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box. The phone packs a 4,380mAh battery which is split into two units.

Read More: Samsung confirms the development of under display camera technology for ‘perfect full-screen’ devices

For the first time in a smartphone, it comes with UFS 3.0 storage with a 512GB capacity. Samsung says there are six cameras – three on the back (when folded in phone mode), one in front (also in phone mode), and two inside (in tablet mode).

(Source)

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Samsung’s ambitious smartphone — Galaxy Fold, which was recently launched as the company’s first foldable smartphone, was about to go on sale this week but it has now been postponed.

After the smartphone was provided for early access to select reviewers, the phone’s display issues started emerging within a day or two. Based on that feedback, the company postponed the planned launch of the smartphone.

Now, iFixit has taken down the Samsung Galaxy Fold teardown report from its portal, honoring the request of Samsung. In a statement, iFixit said that a partner provided them with a unit of Galaxy Fold and Samsung requested through that partner to take down the teardown report. The statement reads:

“We were provided our Galaxy Fold unit by a trusted partner. Samsung has requested, through that partner, that iFixit remove its teardown. We are under no obligation to remove our analysis, legal or otherwise. But out of respect for this partner, whom we consider an ally in making devices more repairable, we are choosing to withdraw our story until we can purchase a Galaxy Fold at retail.”

The report from iFixit hinted at the OLED display being at the heart of the Galaxy Fold’s troubles as it doesn’t have a protective layer like a Gorilla Glass. OLED displays are said to be very fragile such that even the smallest dust particles can cause problems. The Fold is said to have plenty of areas where dust can easily enter sensitive areas.

We don’t know yet what the reason behind Samsung wanting to take down the teardown report but whatever it may be, this doesn’t look good on Samsung’s part which is already fighting the negative impact with the failure of the initial Galaxy Fold reactions.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy View 2 renders leaked; Arriving with a 17.5-inch massive display and hinged stand

When postponing the launch of the Galaxy Fold, Samsung said that it will announce the new launch date in the coming weeks. While the new launch date has not been confirmed officially, AT&T recently revealed that the new shipping for the foldable smartphone is July 13th. However, there’s no official confirmation regarding this.

(Source)

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The media was agog recently with reports that the flexible displays on some of the review units of Samsung’s new Galaxy Fold were breaking quite easily. These incidences even prompted Samsung to postpone the release of the Fold globally. The Galaxy Fold botched debut left some wondering what went wrong with the Fold that was billed to be the world’s first commercial foldable phone especially considering the almost $2000 price tag.

The guys at popular teardown website iFixit have offered us some reasons, albeit informed guesses, as to why the Galaxy Fold wasn’t holding up. In a new blog post, Kevin Purdy and other members of the iFixit team examine the known issues that plagued reviewers who did get a chance to use the Samsung Galaxy Fold. The team makes some informed guesses based on more than a decade of examining the internals of devices using similar flexible AMOLED panels.

Summarily, the post hints at the OLED display as being at the heart of the Galaxy Fold’s troubles especially as it doesn’t have a protective layer like a Gorilla Glass on top. OLED displays are said to be very fragile such that even the smallest dust particles can cause problems. The Fold is said to have plenty of areas where dust can easily enter sensitive areas.

In a few cases, the protective film on the OLED was peeled off with the expectation that it was similar to the thin, removable waterproof film that ships with most phones. That damaged the OLED display and it highlights that tough pressure on a relatively unprotected OLED panel is dangerous.

Related: Samsung officially announces the postponement of Galaxy Fold release

Before the Galaxy Fold release, Samsung had released a highly-publicised mechanical stress test for the Fold where robot folders subjected the folding mechanism to several folds. iFixit is of the opinion that the tests were too mechanical and didn’t properly take into consideration the fact that human use varies. The lack of a dedicated crease line down the middle of the foldable display prevents even folding on a consistent basis, putting even more stress on the OLED panel. That perhaps, explains why in one instance, the OLED had a slight bulge at the area where the crease line was supposed to run. You can read more from the source link below.

(source)

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Samsung earlier expressed delight at the level of interest the latest Galaxy Fold is courting, despite a few snags with the display. The response is likely to spur the tech giant to continue to work on new foldable phone designs. According to reports from South Korea, as covered by The Bell, Samsung is working on two more foldable smartphones. The models are code-named “Type G” and “Type S,” and they are reported to be two larger variants of the delayed Galaxy Fold.

The details include that the Type G will reportedly feature an 8-inch display when unfolded and two sides that fold in to form the letter “G.” The Type S reportedly features a larger 13-inch display when unfolded and is somewhat shaped like the letter “S.” The Type S sketch was first spotted back in November 2018 when Samsung filed a patent for it. So we have an idea of what the design will look like as shown in the image above.  That of the Type G is unknown.

Read Also: Samsung officially announces the postponement of Galaxy Fold release

The report didn’t disclose when the Type G and S will be released but we don’t expect them anytime soon. Samsung may likely not release any other model this year since the Fold is yet to even hit the market. Moreso, with the issues encountered with the Fold, Samsung wouldn’t be in a hurry to push out more foldable phones.

(source)

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