The portable phone that forms an essential part of our everyday lives is in the midst of a powerful evolution that will radically expand its usefulness and flexibility.
Consider Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold2 5G. It’s about the size of the smartphone you have nearby right now — except it’s hinged. Folded, it gives you the portability of a smartphone. Unfolded, it’s a small tablet. Open and browse apps on the cover screen and then unfold the device for a larger display. A hideaway hinge gives the phone an assured feel that holds tight without feeling stiff. Set the screen at any angle and it stays.
This combination of interactivity and enhanced multitasking is the kind of human-centered alignment of product and purpose that researchers say could be a game-changer, particularly now. In the past few months, the number of people communicating remotely has exploded, from corporate teams videoconferencing daily to students taking classes online or distant family members catching up and staying close.
Those changes and needs could reshape the look of our digital tools. A full-featured and versatile smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, for instance, could become a flexible device for those on the go.
New products for a new world
As businesses adapt to more remote workers than they had ever anticipated, product designers say that an array of new or modified tech tools are needed to help keep teams connected. Much corporate work is a collaborative process with project managers, designers, clients, and other stakeholders all in the mix. Tools that ease collaboration in real-time are at a premium.
The foldable phone may be part of an expanded digital toolbelt that includes more multi-use technology. The advantage of a folding phone, for instance, is that it offers a big screen when unfolded – the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G is 7.6 inches when measured diagonally – but takes up much less space when closed. Multitasking can also be a challenge on the standard smartphone, because the screen is too small. With the large screen that a folding phone affords there is more opportunity to use multiple apps concurrently. The Galaxy Z Fold2 5G’s unfolded screen can also be a popular option for entertainment, whether it’s watching a movie or tuning into a favorite game when office hours are over.
The future of phones that convert into tablets will potentially get far cooler and more functional in the years ahead. When paired with 5G, high-quality video or augmented reality apps, foldable devices are remarkably versatile, and product developers are excited to get their hands on that extra on-screen real estate. The remarkable thinness and image sharpness that OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens offers a crisp display for their work.
Smartphones are at the beginning of a new age of expanded utility. A phone that snaps into a tablet could be used as a PC with a keyboard attachment — for those who desire a single device for all their computing. The Fold2 5G moves in that direction with Samsung’s DeX feature, which lets a user connect a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to their device for a desktop-like experience. Connect the Fold2 5G with a USB or HDMI cable, or even use DeX wirelessly with smart TVs supporting Miracast.
ABI Research predicts that smartphone shipments with some type of foldable, flexible, or rollable display will grow to reach 228 million units in 2028. There may also be a future for foldable TVs being utilized for large format displays, providing rich opportunities for remote collaboration.
Cutting-edge technology is needed to ensure there’s no compromise in features compared to non-folding phones. Apps must work seamlessly across the multiple screens a foldable provides, automatically adjusting when a device is compact or growing into the larger screen when expanded. The adaptive display must offer a rapid refresh rate — with colors saturated, brightness uniform, and no lessening of image quality when the screen is at an angle — without compromising battery life. The foldable glass must stay tough and fault-free for reliable flex viewing. Processors, too, need to keep pace – fast computing is needed for the switch-screen rendering to be fluid.
But there’s little doubt that the foldable is the future when it comes to smartphones. What was once considered a technological experiment or novelty for cutting-edge adopters may soon be essential for many of us. The foldable phone will change the shape of how we work, play, and stay connected.
This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for Samsung.
