GoKawiilOver the years, phone-makers have shown off handsets that stretch, bend and fold. But inside a secret room at Samsung Display's headquarters in South Korea -- one that had never before been opened up to the press -- I got a firsthand look at the company's vision for the future of smartphones.
Along one wall sat a lineup of concept displays that could eventually make their way into future mobile devices. I wasn't allowed to touch the prototypes, but they were mounted on machines that repeatedly bent, folded and rolled the displays, showing off their range of motion.
Watch this: I Went Inside Samsung's Secret Display Lab and Saw Its Wildest Phone Concepts 03:16
Consumer tech shows such as CES and Mobile World Congress have become stages for companies to exhibit their most ambitious innovations -- many of which never see the light of day. Still, they show how manufacturers are exploring ways to make our devices more intuitive and compelling. Samsung is one of the biggest players in the foldable phones market, having released the clamshell-style Flip, book-style Fold and even the phone-tablet hybrid Galaxy Z TriFold. The company's expected to unveil the Galaxy Z 8 series next week at its Galaxy Unpacked event.
During my visit to Samsung's global headquarters in June, I got a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the company tests its latest mobile displays, along with an exclusive preview of what may be coming next. Samsung didn't share specs for its concept displays, but here's what I saw during my tour -- and what it could mean for your future phone.
The Flex S folds into a Z shape. Samsung
One concept, called the Flex S, opens and closes in a Z shape (not to be confused with the Galaxy Z TriFold, which forms a C shape and folds shut like a pamphlet). The Flex S opens up to a tablet-sized display, which could be ideal for watching movies. That's what I appreciated about the TriFold, which I happened to review while recovering from strep throat. Lying in bed, I enjoyed having a larger screen for streaming that I could simply fold shut when I was finished.
See also: From Extreme Heat to Half a Million Folds: A Rare Look Inside Samsung's Display Lab
The Out Foldable has screens on the outside of both panels. Samsung
Another prototype, called the Out Foldable, is like a reverse book-style foldable. Instead of placing the larger display on the inside, as Samsung does with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the design puts both screens on the exterior and unfolds into a wider, mini-tablet-like layout, similar to some early foldables such as the 2019 Huawei Mate X.
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