South Korean news site Naver has reported that Samsung could
be adding a significant design update to its upcoming phone, the Samsung Galaxy
Z Fold 5. The design change is thought to include a droplet-style hinge that
would contribute to a much less noticeable crease in the phone when it folds,
as well as lesser stress on the display.
Currently, the crease design in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 phones is a U-shaped hinge, because of which the crease appears sharper and prominent.
Although Samsung is a leading Android mobile phone company and even proposed the droplet hinge design way back in 2016, competitors of the company like Oppo and Motorola have already resolved the sharp crease issue using the droplet-style hinge. It is speculated that Samsung held back from taking the initiative as a marketing strategy - perhaps the company wanted to wait till it brought out the water resistance feature that was first introduced to its third-gen folding devices in 2021, and then launch it with the droplet-shaped hinge. This would make its new devices stand out against Oppo and Motorola’s.
In addition to an improved crease, it is reported that the Galaxy
Z Fold 5 would also be designed to make both halves of the display be flat
against each other when the phone is folded closed. This too, is a feature that
yet hasn’t appeared in the previous generations of the Galaxy Z Fold, which is
why those phones consist of a small gap when shut.
The reports are yet to be confirmed once Samsung previews its
new folding range, which is in August.
