Summary
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Samsung presented the prototype of its trifold smartphone, with two folds, during an event in South Korea.
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Chosun reported that the model has a screen measuring up to 10 inches when opened and a G-shaped structure, similar to a compact tablet.
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According to the South Korean newspaper, initial production will be 50 to 100 thousand units, restricted to Asian markets.
Samsung finally showed off the prototype of its long-awaited trifold smartphone. The first images of the two-fold device emerged this Tuesday (28/10), during a presentation at the K-Tech Showcase, a parallel event to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in South Korea.
The South Korean newspaper Chosun confirmed that the device was being demonstrated at the event and described it as a “small tablet PC”. As can be seen in the leaked images, the prototype was protected by a glass dome and, according to the press, could not be handled by visitors.
Unlike the current Galaxy Z Fold, the trifold prototype has two hinges, allowing the continuous screen to be divided into three parts. Samsung had already announced that it would launch the product “later this year”, a prediction that has not been confirmed so far.
The South Korean vehicle reports that the device’s external screen, when closed, measures approximately 6.5 inches — similar to the Z Fold. When fully unfolded, however, it reveals a 10-inch display, comparable to a tablet.
Already the Android Authority notes that the mechanism appears to use two hinges that move inwards, forming a G-shaped structure, unlike Huawei’s Mate XT, which uses an S-shaped design (one folds inwards and one outwards). In Brazil, the Huawei trifold arrived for R$32,999.
Samsung’s choice, the website points out, should help better protect the flexible display. Based on the leaked images, the portal also highlights that the device has a selfie camera in a centralized hole and that the edges around the screen seem “quite visible”.
Limited release
The expectation is that Samsung’s new device will be niche. Firstly, the price, which should exceed 3 million won (around R$11,254, in direct conversion), similar to the launch price of the Huawei device. The justification is the complexity of the hinges and additional screen components.
Furthermore, the Chosun also found that initial production will be limited, between 50 and 100 thousand units, with launch restricted to countries such as South Korea and China. According to the Android Authoritythis first version of the device will probably not be launched in the USA, being limited to Asian markets.
Citing industry sources, the South Korean newspaper assesses that the manufacturer’s objective is not sales volume, but rather “highlighting its technological capabilities and premium image”.
The strategy would be a “demonstration of technological power” amid a slowdown in the growth of the global foldable cell phone market. It is worth remembering that Samsung must supply the display for Apple’s first foldable, scheduled for next year.
Source: https://tecnoblog.net/noticias/primeiras-imagens-do-trifold-da-samsung-vazam-na-web/
