Hybrid foldable, rollable Samsung phone comes to life in mockup illustration،
Samsung could also have another interesting form factor that combines its book-like foldable design with a rollable design. We've seen Sammy experiment with slide phones and rollable models. And now Samsung has obtained a patent from the American Patent and Trademark Organization (
USPTO via CalibreCleaning,
Tom's Guide) titled
Display device. Most patents have long-winded titles, so kudos to Samsung for taking something that others might have expanded into a 15-word title and making it just two words. Alliteration helps too.
Instead of repeating what the patent granted to Samsung is for, we can show you with mockups of the device based on the patent created by Caliber Cleaning and XLeaks7. This is a hybrid foldable and rollable tablet. From the outside, it looks like your regular Galaxy Z Fold phone, although the rear cameras are on the side of the phone that doesn't sport a hinge. There is also no cover screen.
When you open the hybrid device, it reveals a large, tablet-sized internal screen. But if this screen is not enough for you, you can use the rollable technology to extend the screen on one side to make it larger. So when the device is unfolded, there can be a large and small screen mode. When folded, the device resembles the back of a closed Galaxy Z Fold. But here's the interesting part; it can be folded but still reveals a small vertical screen segment protruding from the rear panel.
This small screen segment could be used for notifications or with certain widgets without the user having to open the device. In some ways, this would make this vertical strip similar to the larger external displays seen last year on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Razr+, which allow the user to experience much of what either the other with flap offers without having to open the device from the top.
Illustration of the hybrid phone from Samsung's Dual Display patent
Just because Samsung got a patent doesn't mean this device will arrive this year, next year, or any year. But it is a sign that the company continues to want to “expand” the definition of a smartphone before our eyes.
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