Samsung Electronics will reduce the number of hinge parts, that serve as hinges for foldable smartphones, from two to one. It improves portability by reducing the weight and thickness, which are disadvantages of foldable phones. Cost is also expected to reduce due to the reduction of parts.
From the first-generation Galaxy Fold, the first foldable phone, to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 released last year, Samsung has always had two hinges. Hinges are mounted on each side of the folding screen. In this year's new product, the number of hinges will be integrated into one for the first time ever. There will only be one hinge mounted in the middle of the foldable part of the screen. At both ends, only rotating body parts that can smoothly fold and unfold the display are mounted. As the hinges are integrated into one, the weight and thickness of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is expected to be lower than its' predecessors. The cost of production is also lowered by reducing the number of hinges, which is an expensive part. The hinge is known to be an expensive part with a unit price of tens of thousands of KRW.
Hinge integration was first attempted by Huawei. Huawei's recently unveiled foldable smartphone P50 only has one hinge. Samsung is one of the few companies in the world that has secured their own hinge mechanism technology. Even before 'bar type' smartphones became common, Samsung Electronics accumulated hinge technology by successively launching folder phones and slide phones with an upward screen. They produce hinges in collaboration with its partner KH Vatec.
Samsung Electronics plans to release new foldable smartphones, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4, in August this year. Samsung Electronics recently notified their major foldable phone partners of its plans to mass produce. They will start working on molds to mass produce new foldable phones as early as this month.
The foldable smartphone market is expected to grow significantly this year compared to the previous year. Samsung Electronics expects to sell close to 20 million foldable smartphones.
By Staff Reporter So-ra Park (srpark@etnews.com)