Samsung has revealed its plan earlier this year to launch the very first foldable Galaxy smartphone. With the South Korean tech firm having its eyes set on a 2018 release date, it is expected that alleged patent documents will surface as the much-awaited unveiling inches closer. However, the latest patent leak for the bendable Galaxy X handset has caused quite a stir, with some saying that the device's concept form fell short of everyone's expectations.
The Dutch online tech publication, Let's Go Digital, was the first to obtain the suspected patent for the Samsung Galaxy X 2018. To note, Samsung has not yet provided the official details regarding the foldable handset, although the latest leak gives an idea on what the would-be breakthrough device will look like upon launch.
The Samsung Galaxy X patent leak suggests that the handset will look like the recently released foldable gadget from ZTE, the Axon M. The most noticeable similarity between the two is the twin displays of equal size that are clamped together by a hinge. The identical display panels can be folded inwards to cover the screen, and then folded outwards when the handset is about to be used.
According to Tech Radar, the screen's curved edges as shown by the Samsung Galaxy X patent may be important in securing the display seam while the handset is in tablet mode. At first look, the patent would easily capture a user's attention, although there are still few things that need to be improved. For one, the display screens are placed on the inside of the hinge, making the fragile panels exposed to scratches when folded. This setup resembles that of the Nintendo 2DS handheld device.
Perhaps the most disappointing part of this Samsung Galaxy X leak is the device looks nothing like the one presented by the tech giant at the Consumers Electronics Show (CES) 2013. Samsung made everyone expect that its first foldable Galaxy device will have the flexible single-screened AMOLED display, not a two-panel display with a noticeable seam line.
Nevertheless, the Samsung Galaxy X still has a long way to go, and the patent could still change towards a more desirable folded design with a thin body, which users can easily get their hands wrapped around on.
