Samsung’s first foldable, the Galaxy Fold, was introduced in early 2019. Jason Noh, a developer in the Display Group under Samsung MX, explains that it was the result of a very long development process.
Work on foldable technology began as early as 2008. Putting this into context, The Samsung Galaxy, the company’s first Android phone, arrived in 2009. 2008 was the year of the Pixon and Omnia, the first touchscreen-based smartphones.
Jason Noh • Samsung’s first foldable, the Galaxy Fold
Noh explains, “Our team had to create a high-quality display that could be bent but also protected from debris – which meant we had to replace the plate that supports the display.” One of the early advancements was the development of a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) that helps the display stay bent in a variety of positions and environments.
Another major material advancement was Ultra Thin Glass (UTG), first introduced with the Galaxy Z Flip in 2020. UTG has become a standard component of folding displays. “With the adoption of UTG, we were able to deliver a clear display – with a premium look and feel that had not yet been seen on a foldable smartphone. UTG has been used ever since,” says Noh.
Coming to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 in 2024, it introduces the so-called “Protect Layer” structure. A key component of this is another innovative material, Shear Thickening Fluid (STF). STF adapts to different amounts of pressure so that it can resist deformation caused by impacts. This has made the 6-series foldable displays the most durable ever.
Latest Galaxy Foldables • Carbon Fiber and Metal Plates
Back in 2021, the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 were the first foldable devices to feature water resistance with a high IPX8 rating. This was done using a rubber band that runs around the perimeter of the display and protects it from liquids. And back to 2024 with the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, which are the first foldables with particle ingress protection, IP48.
This function is made possible by advanced sweeper technology – a small brush that prevents debris from entering the gap between the front part of the device and the hinge.
The S Pen stylus is another piece of Samsung’s iconic technology and it made sense to combine the Fold and the S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Easier said than done as the metal plate used as the screen backing in earlier models created interference that messed up the S Pen digitizer.
Instead, Samsung had to switch to a carbon fiber plate. This still wasn’t enough – the digitizers are on the left and right side of the display and they had trouble detecting the S Pen in the bent part of the display. The developers created a solution to this using “sophisticated calculations.”
Noh added, “As the pioneer of foldable smartphones, our team has gained knowledge and experience about what users expect from this form factor. To meet those expectations, we will not stop our journey towards the perfect display experience. The Galaxy Z series will be continuously improved to prove Samsung’s title as the leader in foldable smartphones.”