Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has just launched, and it’s one of the thinnest foldables yet, while offering a larger folding screen than previous models. As cool as Samsung’s latest Fold is, though, I’ve been spending time with an old alternative to foldable phones, and I’d love Samsung to copy this trick. Yep, I’m talking about LG’s Dual Screen Case.
The LG Dual Screen Case was first launched in 2019 for the LG V50, and most subsequent LG flagship phones supported this accessory. The case plugged into your phone’s USB-C port and gave you an FHD+ OLED screen to go with your phone’s display. This enabled a foldable-style experience in some ways for just $200 at the time. That was a fair chunk of change for an accessory, but a far cry from the $1,500+ you’d pay for a brand-new foldable phone back then. So what’s the benefit of this combination?
Why do I love the LG Dual Screen Case?
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
I often find myself using my LG V60 and the dual-screen add-on to watch YouTube on one of the screens while doing chores. Sure, I can do the same with cheap folio cases on a regular phone, but I still find it a handy feature, and it’s broadly in line with the way I use Flex Mode on proper foldable phones. It also doesn’t hurt that the case has a free-stop hinge, allowing the second screen to stay open at virtually any angle.
My favorite use case is reading, though. I use an app called AI Reader X, as well as the Wide Mode app, which allows you to span any app across both screens to read locally downloaded ebooks across both displays like a physical book. I’ve spent quite a few evenings over the past six months or so reading books like this. The Kindle app for Android supports this book-style layout, but this only applies to landscape orientation or on foldable phones with squat displays (e.g. Pixel Fold, OPPO Find N2).
Would you buy a Samsung phone with a dual screen case? 36 votes Yes, absolutely 17 % Maybe, it depends on price/features 31 % No, I wouldn't 53 %
LG also promoted the Dual Screen Case as ideal for multitasking, as you can run an app on each panel. I don’t care too much for phone-based multitasking in general, but it did come in handy recently when I ran a cooking timer on one screen while watching videos on the other display. However, I can envision this setup being very handy for people who love split-screen multitasking on foldable phones.
Some LG owners use their phones and the Dual Screen Case to emulate Nintendo DS and 3DS games, too. I haven’t extensively tested this scenario yet, but it’s certainly worth considering if you’re an emulation addict.
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