With the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, Samsung has achieved outstanding sales figures. According to the company, the foldable variants have been sold 5 times as often as their predecessors around the world. In order to maintain its dominant market position, Samsung is expected to continue to invest heavily on phones with flexible screens in the future years. To make this happen, it will need to keep innovating, and as a result, more and more manufacturers are entering the foldable phone industry.
LetsGoDigital published a month ago on a unique multi-foldable Galaxy smartphone based on a Samsung patent application. We've called this smartphone the 'Galaxy Z Multi Fold' because it's a one-of-a-kind device that can be folded both horizontally and vertically.
It wasn't long before South Korean Dohyun Kim approached LetsGoDigital's editors to inform them that this unique model is now being developed.
During the Galaxy S22 series, Dohyun Kim gained a lot of attention on Twitter. The South Koreans were the first to post a slew of official presentation materials online, allowing everyone to see both the design and the specifications.
Samsung Z Fold is a multi-foldable device.
Dohyun Kim, in the meantime, has been able to learn much more about this unique technology. The Multi Fold phone in development has somewhat greater overall dimensions than the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
That seems reasonable; after all, it can boost productivity. Furthermore, folding phones with larger displays than the Z Fold 3's 7.6" screen are currently available - consider the Huawei Mate X2 and the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold, both of which have an 8" flexible screen.
According to Dohyun Kim, Samsung is also exploring building a new user interface for the Galaxy Z Multi-Fold smartphone. The overall user experience will surely improve as a result of this. In previous folding designs, such as the useful Flex mode, the business has already given this a lot of thought.
The South Korean company is also considering employing a keyboard. The display may be folded in a variety of ways, resulting in a variety of user modes. You may effortlessly place the gadget in the same manner as a laptop. The operation, such as a virtual keyboard, can then be displayed on the lower screen, while the content is displayed on the upper screen.
Compatible with the S Pen
There is currently no information about compatibility with the S Pen. However, it's quite likely that Samsung will include a stylus pen with this gadget. The Samsung Z Fold 3 is the only foldable smartphone that works with Samsung's S Pen at the moment. This increases the device's versatility.
The latest Z Fold, on the other hand, lacks a stylus pen slot. Instead, cases with a S Pen pocket for storing the stylus are available. As a result, the stylus pen is not included as part of the package. With the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which is anticipated in mid-2022 – and the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which also has a S Pen compartment – there's a significant likelihood that this will change.
However, incorporating a stylus compartment into a multi-foldable smartphone will be far more challenging. There is just not enough room in the casing for a long S Pen because the gadget may be folded both horizontally and vertically.
Samsung may opt to make a case for the Z Fold 3, as it did for the Z Fold 3. Alternatively, it may use a magnetic strip on the back of the gadget, similar to what Samsung does with their tablets - think of the Galaxy Tab S8 series, for example.
Selfie camera with three lenses and a selfie camera hidden beneath the display
The patent papers mentions the integration of an under-display camera and a triple-camera system on the rear when it comes to the camera system. The Z Fold 3 is the first folding phone from the company to feature a selfie camera below the screen.
The image quality of its 4MP camera is disappointing. However, it appears that the photo and video quality of under-display cameras will soon be comparable to that of a punch-hole camera system.
In addition, the main camera on this Galaxy Z Multi Fold smartphone may be used to capture selfies. As a result, the quality of the under-display camera is suddenly secondary.
When you fold the phone vertically (outwards), it becomes a dual-screen smartphone, with a portion of the screen surface visible from the rear. This screen area can be utilised as a viewfinder when using the triple camera to take photos and videos.
Inwards and outwards foldable
It is no longer essential to include a separate front display because this multi-foldable telephone may be folded both inwards and outwards. When you fold your smartphone vertically, you get a double-sided phone that is also pretty small. In reality, this smartphone combines the benefits of both the Huawei Mate X and the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
Furthermore, if a separate cover screen is not required, expenditures can be reduced. In addition, one fewer camera must be integrated without sacrificing functionality. Naturally, an extra hinge must be included, so don't expect this device to be less expensive than the Z Fold 3.
When you're finished, simply close the device, as if it were a laptop. The entire screen surface is thus safely kept in the housing, providing excellent scratch and bump protection.
You may easily take the mobile device with you – without having to carry a separate bag – because it is much more small than a traditional laptop. Samsung has managed to combine a huge tablet screen, a dual-sided phone, and a compact laptop into one gadget with this design. As a result, the Galaxy Z Multi Fold is extremely adaptable.
The design's potential drawbacks
There are, however, some drawbacks to consider. Despite the fact that the Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 have a very sturdy hinge, the folding seam is still visible. In fact, as we noted in our Samsung Z Fold 3 review, the folding line can be felt rather well. Touch input entered directly on the folding seam does not always work effectively with the phone.
The Multi Fold structure has two folding lines rather than one. Samsung is expected to make this folding seam less conspicuous and visible first, in order to prevent four squares from forming later.
This is a problem that other manufacturers are dealing with as well. Following the release of the new Galaxy Z series smartphones, several manufacturers have chosen a different type of hinge, resulting in a less acute angle when the screen is folded. Consider the Huawei P50 Pocket and the Oppo Find N. On these devices, the folding seam is less obvious as a result. However, it is not quite perfect, as two folding seams appear to be visible under certain lighting situations.
On the 4th generation Z Fold and Z Flip devices, the fold seam is expected to be less apparent. However, it is still unclear what remedy Samsung has devised in this regard.
Water resistance is another potential disadvantage. The Galaxy Z 3rd generation smartphones are the first and so far only foldable versions that meet the IP67 standard for dust and water resistance. Given the complexity of the moving hinge, this is an excellent performance. It remains to be seen whether a water-resistant multi-foldable smartphone with a double hinge can be created.
I'm also interested in seeing what optional accessories Samsung will provide with this model. I'm primarily referring to the types of covers. Because the smartphone may be folded both inwards and outwards, finding a matching phone case will be difficult. Samsung may see this as an opportunity to create a two-part casing, similar to the Z Flip. Alternatively, the manufacturer may choose for an Envelope cover, like seen on the Mate XS.
Multi-Fold Samsung Galaxy Z
There is currently no information available regarding the processor or software. Undoubtedly, this smartphone will be touted as a true powerhouse. As a result, you can expect Samsung to use the most up-to-date and powerful chipset available. The processor used will be determined by the device's release date.
This is likewise true with software. The Galaxy Z Multi Fold will certainly run on the most recent Android version, combined with Samsung's One UI. New modes should improve the user experience even further.
The battery capacity is, of course, crucial. Samsung is expected to provide a powerful battery with this multifunctional smartphone. The Z Fold 3's 4,400 mAh dual-cell battery lasts roughly 10 hours on average. That's enough, but it's not extremely long.
The charging options are the same. The phone has a 25W fast charging and a 10W wireless charging capability. In addition, the 2022 model is expected to accommodate 45W, as is also the case with the S22U.
For the time being, it's unclear when Samsung will unveil its first multi-foldable smartphone. The device is currently in the early stages of development. As a result, it's not unreasonable to expect that the general public will take some time to become acquainted with this incredibly flexible foldable.
Before then, Samsung will most likely unveil its first rollable smartphone. For quite some time, the Galaxy Z Slide has been discussed on the internet. This technology is expected to debut in 2022, according to South Korean reports. In any event, there are plenty of new Samsung phones to look forward to in the near future!
