Samsung’s potential quad-foldable phone might be a step too far

0 1 4 minutes read

Samsung’s potential quad-foldable phone might be a step too far

Samsung has always been one of those companies that loves to push the boundaries when it comes to displays. Over the years, we have seen all kinds of wild concepts, patents and ideas for screens that aren’t exactly your run-of-the-mill designs. We have seen displays that fold one time – nothing new there anymore – stretch, fold twice, fold three times, fold backward and now… one that folds in four places.Yep, you heard that right. Samsung’s future phone might just sport a quad-foldable display, hinting at a device that folds into four sections. When I first saw the concept, I thought, “Okay, interesting. It is innovative, but… will it actually happen?” Because, let’s be real, do we really need a phone like that? And what is in it for Samsung?

Weird display concepts that haven’t (yet) become a reality

Samsung Display is a global leader in OLED and MicroLED tech. It provides displays for all sorts of devices, including smartphones. In fact, Apple relies on Samsung, with all iPhone 17 models set to feature Samsung’s top-tier OLED displays.And one major perk of being a leader in the field? You get to have some fun showing off what you can do. And Samsung does just that. Over the years, the company has given us a glimpse of what the future could look like in terms of smartphone form factors. Remember stretchable displays?

Samsung’s Flex G tri-fold display could be employed on a phone next year. | Image credit – The Verge

Oh, and speaking of tri-foldables, there is also the concept of a triple foldable in the clamshell design – though, to be honest, it looks a bit awkward and let’s hope it stays just a concept.

I am not sure how comfortable it would be to use a phone with such a design. | Image credit – The Verge

However, for those of us who prefer smaller phones, Samsung might have something else in mind that looks pretty tempting. A YouTube video from Samsung Display recently showed a phone with a screen that expands vertically – from a 5.1-inch to a 6.7-inch display.

Now, this is something I would go for. | Video credit – Samsung Display

Overall, with all these concepts floating around, I think it is clear Samsung is committed to continuing its innovation streak in the smartphone space. Whether or not these concepts ever hit the market? Well, that depends on way too many factors like durability, production costs, actual demand and more. Which brings me right back to that quad-foldable display in Samsung’s latest patent.

Playing the long game

I think it is probably a smart move for Samsung to keep the quad-foldable display on the sidelines for now, at least until it wins the cup again. Lately, its hold on the foldable smartphone market has been challenged by brands like Huawei, Motorola, Oppo, vivo and Honor.

So, focusing on its strongest contenders (the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7) and improving them might be the best play. Simply put, there might not be a real need for such a foldable just yet.

These images from Samsung’s patent show how a quad-foldable display could work.

We know that a triple-foldable phone is coming first and depending on how it performs and whether people actually want it, we might see a quad-foldable down the line. Of course, just because there is a patent doesn’t mean we will see a product anytime soon, but it is definitely a sign that Samsung is keen on exploring this idea.

And more than that, it also signals Samsung wants to lock down this concept before another company beats it to the punch, like what happened with Huawei and the tri-foldable.

A potential quad-foldable device won’t be as chunky as stacking two Galaxy Z Folds together, of course, but don’t expect it to be slim either. | Image credit – PhoneArena

But why not a quad-foldable right now? Well, for starters, it would likely be way too bulky to carry around in your pocket – and let’s face it, portability is one of the main things we look for in a smartphone. Plus, producing such a device would probably be super expensive, meaning the final price tag would be sky-high, too.

For context, Huawei’s tri-foldable phone costs around $3,500, so imagine a device with even more hinges and extra screen space. At that price, most users would probably opt for a flagship phone along with a tablet or laptop instead. Foldables are simply not for everyone.

I am guessing the quad-foldable, like the triple-foldable, would appeal more to power users who are constantly on the go and need something that can handle work and play on the move (unfolding your phone is a lot faster than pulling out a laptop and finding a spot to work). But that is still a pretty niche market.So, even if Samsung decides to hold off on the quad-foldable for now, its push for more innovative ideas is a good thing for the industry. It forces other companies to stay on their toes, exploring new concepts and form factors, too. And in the end, that is a win for us, the users, as we get more options to choose from and find the device that fits our needs the best.

Read the latest from Tsveta Ermenkova