Samsung Galaxy Fold

2021: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Announcement

On August 11, 2021, the presentation of the flagship smartphone Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, equipped with a bending display, took place. Compared to the previous model, the novelty received an updated design, improved damage protection and support for working with the S Pen stylus.

The main flexible AMOLED display of the device with a diagonal of 7.6 inches and an aspect ratio of 22.5: 18 supports a resolution of 2208 × 1768 pixels. The panel protects Corning Gorilla Victus glass from mechanical damage. On the opposite side of the case is a 6.2-inch display with 2268 × 832 pixel resolution support. Both screens support up to 120Hz refresh rates.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 smartphone

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 received the main camera with Gorilla Glass DX protective glass and three sensors:

• ultra-wide-angle by 12 Mp (1.12 μm, F/2.2);
• wide-angle by 12 MP (1.8 μm, optical stabilization, autofocus Dual Pixel, F/1.8);
• 12 MP telephoto lens (1.0 μm, optical stabilization, 2-fold optical zoom, F/2.4).

Smartphone with a bending display Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

The front camera is 4 MP (2.0 μm, F/1.8), integrated under the main screen, and becomes visible only during filming. There is also a 10 MP selfie camera (1.22 μm, F/2.2), cut into an additional display.

The device is equipped with a frame of reinforced aluminum (Armor Aluminum) and Corning Gorilla Victus glass to protect against scratches and other damage. There is also a new protective film and an improved glass structure of the main screen, which is 80% more wear resistant than in previous models.

The smartphone has 12 GB of RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, 256 or 512 GB storage, 4400 mAh battery.

Comparison of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3  with competitors

The cost of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in Russia is 160 thousand rubles for a version with 256 GB of permanent memory and 170 thousand rubles for a 512-GB variant.^[1]

2020

Galaxy Z Fold 2 Presentation

On September 1, 2020, Samsung held a presentation of the new bending smartphone Galaxy Z Fold 2. The improvements that were used in the device resulted in a price that, according to journalists, became a record in the market. In Russia - this is 180 thousand rubles, in the USA - $2 thousand.

Compared to the second generation Galaxy Fold, the display diagonal increased in the first - from 7.3 to 7.6 inches. In addition, the screen itself now looks much more aesthetic. The frames of the display became 27% thinner. The resolution of the screen in tablet mode is 2208 x 1768 pixels. A special adaptive mode is also supported, in which the refresh rate can reach 120 Hz.

Samsung held a presentation of a bending smartphone Galaxy Z Fold 2

Among the advantages of the product, the manufacturer attributed "seamless multitasking." The optimized Multi-ActiveWindow application allows you to view multiple files in the same application at once, and the improved Multi-Window Tray service with the integration of App Pair and Edge Panel allows you to open multiple applications simultaneously. Using Drag and Drop, you can quickly transfer text, images, and documents from one window or application to another, and using Split Screen Capture in the same way, you can easily move a screenshot.

One of the benefits of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is "seamless multitasking"

The main camera combines three modules with a resolution of 12 MP sensors - telephoto with an f/2.4 diaphragm, the main one with an f/1.8 diaphragm and optical image stabilization, ultra-wide-angle with an f/2.2 diaphragm. Two cameras for selfies and video calls are additionally cut into the screens - 10 MP each with an f/2.2 diaphragm.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 received Android 10 with the One UI 2.5 user interface, which is optimized for a bent display and automatically adjusts to working mode. For example, when viewing a YouTube, you can partially bend the screen so that video is displayed at the top, and comments can be added at the bottom - in this mode, the device is convenient to place on the table.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 + processor

The new product comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 + processor, 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 Flash memory. The battery capacity is 4500 mAh.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 will go on sale in Russia in black and bronze colors on September 18, 2020.^[2]

Galaxy Z Fold 2 Announcement

On August 5, 2020, Samsung introduced a new smartphone with a bending screen Galaxy Z Fold 2. The device is equipped with two Infinity-O displays with almost invisible frames - 6.2-inch external and 7.6-inch internal. The device will be sold in two colors of the case: black and bronze.

Compared to the first generation Galaxy Z Fold, the new smartphone retained a design with two separate screens. In a folded state, it looks like a regular smartphone in size, and in a folded one it resembles a tablet. The main difference of the new version is that the external screen now occupies almost the entire front surface.

Samsung introduced a smartphone with a bending display with invisible frames

In addition, in the new version, there is no longer a cut-out above the internal screen: instead, the device now has one small camera in the external screen. Both screens have an AMOLED matrix and operate at a frequency of 120 Hz. They receive power from two batteries with a total volume of 4,500 milliampere hours.

The South Korean manufacturer did not disclose the characteristics of the phone. It is only known that it received the Snapdragon 865 Plus, which is also installed in the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Note 20 smartphones for the US and Chinese markets, as well as in all regional modifications of the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7 + tablets.

The Snapdragon 865 Plus chip  includes the 5G Snapdragon X55 5G modem and the Qualcomm FastConnect 6900 module, designed to work Wi-Fi in the sixth series networks (including Wi-Fi 6E) in the new 6 GHz frequency range, which provides data transfer speeds up to 3.6 Gb/s. In addition, support for Bluetooth the 5.2 standard is implemented.

The tube has a special anti-corrosion coating, which indicates some moisture resistance of the product.

Samsung intends to talk in detail about the Galaxy Z Fold 2 model in September 2020 at a special event.^[3]

2019

Start of Sales

On September 6, 2019, Samsung began selling its first bending smartphone after a delay caused by the refinement of the device. However, there were no problems again.

According to a press release, the Samsung Galaxy Fold model went on sale in South Korea and is available  in Cosmos Black and Space Silver colors. Later, the device can be purchased in a number of other countries, including France, Germany, Singapore, the UK and the USA. A 5G-enabled version will also be available in some markets.

The problematic bending smartphone Samsung still went on sale

The manufacturer planned to begin sales of the Galaxy Fold in April 2019, but due to defects in the device, its release was postponed. In July 2019, the company announced the refinement of the phone: the protective layer of the Infinity Flex display was enlarged, additional layers of metal appeared under the screen, the upper part of the hinges was strengthened with new protective covers, and the gap between the hinge and the body was reduced.

Samsung hoped that all this would allow to bring the Galaxy Fold to the market in a short time. However, on September 6, 2019, the company announced the cancellation of all pre-orders for the purchase of a smartphone in the United States. As compensation, users were offered a coupon in the amount of $250, which can be spent on the purchase of goods in the Samsung branded online store.

The manufacturer explained the recall of armor by the desire to "rethink the entire process of customer service: from purchase to unpacking, as well as after-sale service," so that its customers have "the best experience in interacting with the latest revolutionary technology," Forbes reports.

In early summer 2019, AT&T canceled all pre-orders for Samsung's bending smartphone, returning money to customers and providing them  with a $100 gift card. The retailer Best Buy arrived similarly, but did not offer any compensation.^[4]

Samsung made a statement on the problems of Galaxy Fold smartphones

Samsung in an official statement confirmed the need for improvements in the flexible smartphone Galaxy Fold. "The smartphone needs further improvements that will provide the best experience in its use. In order to fully evaluate the feedback received and conduct additional internal tests, the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Fold is postponed. A new release date will be announced in the coming weeks, "the statement said.

Initial results from studies of identified display problems have shown that they may be associated with exposure to open upper and lower regions of the folding mechanism. A case was also identified where the device components affected the operation of the display.

The company promised to take measures to strengthen the protection of the smartphone display, as well as pay special attention to the features of using a display with protective film.

Breakdown on the second day of work

In mid-April 2019, it became known about defects in the bending smartphone Samsung Galaxy Fold. The problems were indicated by journalists who received from the manufacturer of the device for testing and writing the first reviews.

Bloomberg columnist Mark Gourman  said  that two days after use, the Galaxy Fold screen "completely broke and fell into disrepair." According to him, he removed the protective film from the screen of the smartphone, but it turned out that it could not be removed.

I shot it without knowing that you don't need to do it (and users won't know about it either). It looked like it could be removed, and I took it off. I believe this contributed to the problem, "he said.

Journalists from The Verge and CNBC reported that they left the film, but the screens still failed. The phone "became absolutely unsuitable" in two days, says CNBC reporter Todd Haselton.

 Dieter Bohn, an employee of The Verge, also discovered a display defect just two days after he received a smartphone for review. Bon believes that the reason could be small garbage that got inside the gadget, or a broken detail.

Blogger Marquez Brownlee also removed the film from the screen, after which the display blackened. In his Twitter blog, he warned followers that the film only looks like a protective one, but it cannot be deleted.

There were other claims from browsers: for example, the bend location is visible and felt by the hand, or, for example, the operation of applications that are not adapted to use on an expanded screen. And someone did not like the price of this smartphone - $2000.

Bending Samsung smartphone for $2 thousand breaks on the second day of work

The press service of Samsung said that the company is studying data on damage to displays that arose during the use of some folding Galaxy Fold smartphones.

The company suggested that the cause of damage to the main screen could be the removal of protective film.^[5]

Samsung Galaxy Fold Flexion Test Video

Samsung specialists conducted several stages of comprehensive tests of the device to make sure that the Galaxy Fold is ready to enter the market.

The test, which takes a whole week, determines whether the Galaxy Fold can withstand 200 thousand cycles of bending and unbending, which is equivalent to using the device 100 times daily for 5 years.

Video on how the test was conducted:

Device Announcement

On February 20, 2019, Samsung Electronics introduced the Galaxy  Fold bending smartphone. The front screen, which has a 4.6-inch diagonal and a resolution of 1960  x  840 pixels, flips and opens access to a larger folding display - 7.3 inches with a resolution of 2152 x 1536 dots.

The company has developed a special hinge mechanism with which the device opens smoothly and naturally, like a book. The connecting module hidden inside the smartphone body protects the internal display part and the bending mechanism, ensuring uninterrupted operation even when used intensively.

The smartphone runs an 8-core processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 with Adreno 640 operating system Android and 9.0 graphics accelerator. There are stereo speakers created with the participation of AKG.

The phone has six cameras: three are located behind, two on the inside and another on the front. One front camera, which works in a folded state, has a resolution of 10 MPs, the main cameras - one by 12 MPs, two wide-angle by 16 and 12 MPs, as well as two front cameras for a deployed state - 8 and 10 MPs.

Samsung introduced a bending smartphone with 5G for $2 thousand.

Samsung Galaxy Fold received 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of permanent memory, two batteries with a total capacity of 4380 mAh with wireless charging support. The device is also able to recharge  and simultaneously recharge other mobile devices thanks to wireless recharging technology.

The fingerprint scanner is placed on the  body end.  In the folded form, an auxiliary touch display is available to the user.

In tablet mode on the Galaxy Fold, you can enable and use three apps at the same time. An application running on your smartphone will automatically appear on your tablet when you open it. The smartphone supports connection to fifth generation (5G) networks.

Galaxy Fold in a folded form resembles a regular smartphone, but it can be deployed by turning it into a tablet

Samsung Galaxy Fold will cost $1980. The start of world sales of new products is scheduled for April 26, 2019. Pre-orders for the purchase of a smartphone in Russia will be opened in the second quarter of 2019.^[6]

Notes