At CES Samsung is expected to unveil both a remarkable folding ‘Galaxy X’ and an all new Galaxy S9. But new leaks also reveal Samsung is working on a far more radical Galaxy smartphone than either of them...
Popular Dutch tech site LetsGoDigital has the scoop having uncovered a brand new Samsung WIPO (World International Property Office) patent which details how the company will build a completely bezel-less phone. And this is not ‘bezel-less’ like the meaningless marketing terms being thrown around by smartphone companies today. This is zero bezels, no notch, nothing.
The patent (WO/2017/204483) shows exactly how Samsung will achieve this. The company plans to use “bent areas” on the main display so it can curve 180 degrees around the top, bottom and sides of the smartphone.
But why would Samsung extend its so-called ‘edge displays’ like this?
Firstly it simply looks stunning, as the LetsGoDigital concept illustrates above. Secondly it would bring new functionality such as side or top notifications (image being able to see your notifications from the top of your phone without even needing to take it out your pocket). And thirdly it would allow the replacement of physical power and volumes buttons with virtual ones that reduce repairs and increase water resistance.
Furthermore none of this ‘display folding’ technology is science fiction. Perhaps most notably Apple’s newly launched iPhone X actually achieves its bezel reduction via - yes - bending the edges of the glass around the display. Though in Apple’s case the display bends internally inside the phone, rather than being wrapping visibly around the edges.
Of course if Samsung is making such a radical Galaxy smartphone, it also raises questions such as to where the front facing cameras will go (presumably fitted under the display glass) and whether Samsung can finally get its in-display fingerprint sensors working.
Is there a timeframe we can apply to such technology becoming public? Right now, no. Certainly 2018 will be too soon but with no less than three Galaxy S9 models coming in the new year (despite some bad news) the already hotly anticipated Galaxy X almost ready and a complete redesign of its cheaper Galaxy smartphones imminent, it certainly seems like Samsung’s innovation teams are on a roll...
