With the success of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 foldable phones, Samsung’s next step could be a foldable tablet model. However, the supposed Galaxy Tab Fold should not use a screen with ultra-thin glass (UTG) technology like the smaller “brothers”.
- Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 arrive in Brazil with more power and resistance
- Samsung may launch a notebook with a foldable screen soon
According to information from the South Korean portal The Elec, Samsung plans to use transparent polyimide (PI) films in future foldable OLED screens for tablets and notebooks. Using the new material instead of ultra-thin glass would be a strength-related choice.
While the UTG employed in recent Galaxy Z folding models offers better visibility and flexibility, the technology still has similar characteristics to “regular” glass. In this way, it is more vulnerable to external shocks.
Due to the size of the screen on a supposed foldable tablet, there is concern about the durability of the material. Thinking of eliminating possible resistance issues, the South Korean should take a step back and use PI films on larger displays.
It is worth mentioning that currently foldable smartphones have panels from 7 to 8 inches, while future tablets and foldable notebooks may have screens between 10 and 20 inches. This will really require more care with foldable OLED screens.
Finally, The Elec mentions that the market for tablets and foldable notebooks is still very small. Less than 100,000 units of devices with these characteristics are sold annually.
controversial choice
Certainly, choosing PI films doesn’t bring back good memories for owners of the original Galaxy Fold. Launched in 2019, Samsung’s first foldable was marked by the numerous units with accidentally broken screens.
According to The Elec, the brand studied using a combination of UTG with PI, but chose to use only polyimide films on the panels. So, adopting such a problematic technology in the first generation of tablets and notebooks with foldable screens can be a big risk.
On the other hand, the manufacturer’s first folding tablet still seems to be far from being commercialized. With this, the South Korean giant can continue working to find new, more resistant solutions.
Source: The Elec, Phone Arena
