Samsung Unveils Their Infinity Flex Display

Two years ago, almost to the day, we reported that a leaked patent suggested that Samsung would be putting out a foldable smartphone in 2017. Obviously, that didn’t happen. And with 2018 wrapping up, the chances of us getting one this year are increasingly slim. It looks like 2019 is our year, though, because the phone exists and Samsung just officially unveiled it.

It was on a dark stage, purposely darkened to obscure details of the phone in an attempt to ward off developers would steal the design, but Samsung SVP of mobile product marketing Justin Denison displayed what was very clearly a tablet with a 7.3-inch display that smoothly folded into a candy bar form factor with its own cover display. The phone itself doesn’t have a named yet, but they’re calling the foldable technology the Infinity Flex Display.

A feature called the multi-active window lets the phone run up to the three apps at the same time. Mass production on the phone will start in a “matter of months,” though the phone that was seen on stage is still a concept device and they gave no indication as to when we can have the actual phone in our hands.

A crucial element to the success of these foldable displays, both commercially and critically, will be how well software developers tailor their products to work with the new technology. Fortunately, Google is already working closely with Samsung to ensure that Android is ready and capable to take advantage of the Infinity Flex Display.

Samsung is far from the only developer working on foldable devices. Huawei, Lenovo, Xiaomi, and LG are all supposedly working on their own devices. Are we going to see a flash flood of foldable phones in 2019? And is that a bad thing or is it really exciting? Fingers crossed that we won’t have to wait long for a solid release window from Samsung.