While both the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Round and LG G Flex feature flexible displays, they are encased in a frame that is not. As a result, both devices are more like teasers for the potential of such displays than full-on ambassadors of the new technology. The promise of this technology is better illustrated by some new Samsung concept devices. Obtained by Austrian website OLED.at, they show off what might be possible a few years down the line.
Here is what a future smartphone could look like:
The Samsung Foldiplay concept takes flexible displays to a new level. Essentially, it can be folded into something as small as a 70 by 70 millimeter square. Unfold it and you can have a tri-pane smartphone as above or something as large as nine panels as in the case of the e-newspaper below. At only 2 millimeters thick, even folded up several times, it remains thinner than most of our devices today.
Fully unfolded, it measures 210 by 210 millimeters. Folded back up to a single square, it’s small enough to fit into a wallet.
Another advantage of this concept is that you can unfold it to take on different shapes, each suited for a particular function. Other concepts show the technology being used on larger tools such as a desk with a bendable surface.
While the concept is intriguing, Samsung is going to have to figure out how to not only slim down a few other components (such as the battery) but also get them to fold the same way as its Foldiplay display. It might be more than a few years before we’re all able to fold up our phones into our wallets (and will we still need wallets in that future?).