Samsung’s foldable phone is a step closer

Samsung foldable phone

Samsung is set to release a foldable phone with a multi-display and multi-active windows. The Samsung Foldable phone will be known as Galaxy F or X.

The video below is a presentation on the Samsung Foldable phone to the Samsung Developer’s conference last week. It is 35 minutes long so let us give you an overview.

The outside of the phone will have a 4.58” 1960 x 840, 21:9 ‘display’ for notifications and general ‘quick’ use.

Inside is a 7.3” foldable OLED (fOLED), 2152 x 1536, in 4.2:3 format (think Microsoft Surface format). This can is for either a single screen or a half screen with two smaller screens as well.

Samsung foldable phone

There are two main issues with all foldable screen smartphones.

First, is the complete lack of standards for foldable screen apps. How do they address the different screens? That was why Samsung was addressing its Developer Conference. It may run Android Pie (Google has already incorporated some of the smarts), but itis going to need a completely new User Interface (One UI) to make foldable screens more than a cute, expensive gimmick.

Samsung foldable phone

The next issue is how to power the screen (CPU and GPU) and get enough battery life. Samsung’s 8nmExynos 9820 SoC addresses that. It requires three GPUs make foldables work.

Samsung says the Exynos 9820’s new “tri-cluster”architecture comprises two custom-designed cores, two high-performance ARMCortex-A75 cores, and four energy-efficient Cortex-A55 cores. It will deliver a15/20% multi/single-core performance boost, and overall power efficiency is up 40%.

The Mali-G76 MP12 GPU features wider execution engines with double the number of lanes. It supports 10-bit colour screens.

On the camera side, it supports 8K@30fps video and five separate camera sensors

Of course, this chip will power the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10 as well. It should be spectacular.

Samsung foldable phone

Samsung says the screen will withstand hundreds of thousands of opening/closings

The aim is to get this tech into a device around 200g. Samsung also made it clear that it would not be rushing this out to beat the competition. When its ready, it is ready.

DJ Koh, president of Samsung’s mobile communications business, said:

“The foldable display lays the foundation for a new kind of mobile experience. We are excited to work with developers on this new platform to create new value for our customers.”