While the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is Samsung’s current foldable king, there’s talk of a more ambitious foldable on Samsung’s roadmap for 2021 – the Galaxy Z Fold S.
Unlike the Z Fold 2, the Fold S is expected to boast an adapted hinge design and allow for a full 360-degree range of motion; creating a device that melds the functionality of existing foldables (such as the Huawei Mate X2) with ‘pseudo-foldables’, like Microsoft’s Surface Duo.
Sourced from relatively unknown tipster Fold Universe (meaning we can’t vouch for the information’s validity at this stage), the Z Fold S is described as possessing a 360-degree hinge, allowing it to fold both inwards and outwards, in a similar fashion to Microsoft’s Surface Duo.
Samsung rumored to have a 3rd foldable family member next year, tentatively known as Z Fold S.
It has got 360° hinge that enables outfold and infold and works similarly like the Surface Duo.
The Fold S is a fully single flexible OLED screen unlike the Surface Duo dual screen.
— Fold Universe (@folduniverse)
September 5, 2020
Unlike the Duo, however, the Fold S is said to sport a single continuous OLED screen, rather than two separate displays – much like the existing Galaxy Z Fold 2 – giving the user a larger seamless canvas that, when folded, can either wrap around the exterior of the device or remain protected as the inside face.
Fold Universe also shared a clip from Chinese display manufacturer, Visionox, which shows a foldable concept demonstrating the “Innie + Outie” form factor as described to be used by the Galaxy Z Fold S.
Visionox’s Innie + Outie concept@DSCCRoss @theMrMobile
— Fold Universe (@folduniverse)
August 4, 2020
Visionox made headlines last year by partnering with Huawei on future foldable products, as well as helping ZTE release the Axon 20 5G – the first commercially available smartphone with an under-display front-facing camera.
While rumours have remained quiet since the above 2020 rumours first emerged, and in the face of growing information on Samsung’s other foldables instead – the Galaxy Z Flip 2/3, Fold 3 and potential Galaxy Z Fold Scroll – Samsung Display’s showcase during the Display Week 2021 exhibition in May points to a number of future foldable devices that the company is potentially working on.
As spotted by , Samsung Display showcased a range of concepts, and although none featured a 360-degree hinge design, there were OLED configurations that don’t yet have an attachment to any of Samsung’s other rumoured foldables.
A bi-folding design that’s said to expand up to a 7.2in panel was seen, wrapped within the guise of a mobile device, while a larger book-style folding display transformed from a tablet to a monitor. A scrollable concept and a laptop concept with a UPC (under-panel camera) were also on display.
Whether that bi-folding design is what’s become of the Galaxy Fold S remains to be seen, but other leaks at least confirm it isn’t destined to be the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
