The Galaxy Z Fold7 featured the third generation of the Armor FlexHinge, which was 27% thinner and 43% lighter than the hinge found inside the Z Fold6. Now the company is introducing the next innovation that will make foldable displays even stiffer and thinner while reducing creases – Flex Titanium.
This is just a preview of what’s to come on Wednesday next week. Flex Titanium technology promises a more refined viewing experience for the new Z Folds, while making the display more resistant to external shocks and wear and tear from being folded and unfolded hundreds of thousands of times.
Samsung Flex Titanium technology combines two titanium-based layers
This new design has two key components – a titanium alloy film with a flexible titanium plate. The newly developed titanium alloy film is very thin – it reportedly measures only one third the thickness of a human hair – but it is reportedly 20 times more rigid than the polymer film used in some older designs.
The titanium alloy film sits in the display module below the OLED panel and supports it when flexing. And beneath that is the titanium plate – it supports the entire display panel for a flatter, more uniform surface. The latter was introduced back with the Z Fold7. Samsung engineers have apparently managed to remove the air gap between the display and the supporting plate, creating a stronger bond between the two.
“By introducing sophisticated micro-patterned holes into the folding section of the titanium plate, we have successfully secured flexibility with strong durability. By combining high-resolution display architectures with new organic materials that maximize power efficiency, we will further strengthen the competitiveness of the next generation of Galaxy foldable devices.” said Kyung-jin Yoo, corporate EVP of Samsung Display and head of the mobile display product development team.
The Galaxy Z Fold has become noticeably thinner over the years
The Flex Titanium design is based on the knowledge and innovations gained from seven generations of Galaxy foldables. Samsung listened to consumer feedback to focus its attention on the key factors that users care about.
Titanium is a difficult material to work with, but it is strong and lightweight, making it an ideal choice for foldables. However, incorporating it into the thin and flexible structure of the display was a major engineering challenge.
The Galaxy Unpacked event in London will also introduce a new form factor – Samsung is still keeping details under wraps, but the tagline of the event is “A new shape unfolds.” The open secret is that it’s a wide book-style foldable, something that would sit somewhere between the Z Flip and the Z Fold.