Samsung Display, the subsidiary of Samsung that produces the company’s screens, has unveiled a new prototype display at CES 2023 that has the capability to rotate 360 degrees. The new “Flex In & Out” display, which is still in the prototype stage, can be folded both inward and outward, according to a company spokesperson, John Lucas. This new design could potentially be used in the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, which is expected to be released in August alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
This new prototype display also features a different hinge design that creates a significantly less visible crease. The “water-drop hinge” allows the display to form a looser shape, similar to a waterdrop, when folded inward, which puts less stress on the display. This design would fix what some see as the flawed “U”-shaped hinge of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4, which creates a prominent crease.
Samsung has previously showcased a similar “Flex In & Out” prototype at South Korea’s International Meeting for Information Displays (IMID) in 2021, but the design was different, and the display folded like an “S” with multiple segments. As of now, the Galaxy Z Fold line is still using displays that only fold flat in one direction.
It’s worth noting that Samsung is not the only company to experiment with foldable displays that can rotate 360 degrees. Oppo has also recently unveiled its own foldable phone concept, the Oppo X 2021, which features a rollable display that allows the phone to expand in size. However, Samsung’s prototype is different as it utilizes a hinge design that allows the display to rotate 360 degrees and fold in both directions.
While it is not yet known when Samsung will release the Galaxy Z Fold 5, all eyes are currently on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 series, which will be launched during the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 1st. As foldable phones continue to evolve and improve, we can expect to see more companies experimenting with new designs and features in the near future.
