Samsung delivers on the promise of a foldable phone at its 2018 Developer Conference-- specifically by showing off an "Infinity Flex" technology consisting of a main 7.3-inch and a 4-inch display on the back.
“The foldable display lays the foundation for a new kind of mobile experience," Samsung CEO DJ Koh says. "We are excited to work with developers on this new platform to create new value for our customers. We cannot wait to see where the technology and collaboration takes us.”
Seen in admittedly chunky prototype form, the Infinity Flex device seamlessly shifts from folded to unfolded modes. To do so it runs on One UI, a take on Android Samsung says "delivers a new kind of mobile experience." According to the company, One UI allows apps to transition from the smaller to larger display as the device unfolds, as well as simultaneously run up to 3 apps on the larger display.
Interestingly, the Samsung foldable phone reveal follows Google making an extremely relevant announcement-- official Android support for such devices, or "Foldables" in Google lingo, is on the way. Part of an effort to prevent Android fragmentation, the Foldables feature will boost "screen continuity," the API apps use in case of screen size change (such as when a user rotates the screen from portrait to landscape mode).
In turn, Samsung says it will be working with Google and the Android developer continuity to create "an optimised foldable user experience." And just as well, since it will certainly not be only mobile device maker working on foldable displays. Companies with confirmed plans for the flexible device form factor include Lenovo, Xiaomi and, of course, LG. Even Microsoft might have something of the sort in the works...
When will customers be able to buy a foldable phone? Samsung gives no concrete dates, but one can safely bet it will show off the device at MWC 2019.