The Samsung Galaxy Fold: A Deep Dive into Samsung’s First Foldable

In November, Samsung teased the world with its vision for the future of mobile technology: a foldable Android device. Keeping key design elements under wraps, the initial reveal focused primarily on the groundbreaking display technology. The mystery culminated at Unpacked 2019, where the device was officially unveiled as the Samsung Galaxy Fold, marking Samsung’s bold entry into the nascent foldable market.

The Galaxy Fold presents a radical departure from traditional smartphone design. It unfolds like a book, revealing a larger display within while retaining a smaller, more conventional screen on the exterior for everyday tasks. This dual-screen approach aims to bridge the gap between smartphone portability and tablet-like immersion.

Display Innovations: A Tale of Two Screens

The Galaxy Fold boasts two distinct displays, each tailored to specific use cases. The "Cover Display," located on the exterior, measures 4.6 inches diagonally with a resolution of 840 x 1960 pixels and a tall 21:9 aspect ratio. This smaller screen is intended for quick interactions, such as checking notifications, making calls, or composing brief messages, offering a familiar smartphone experience in its closed state.

However, the true magic lies within. Unfolding the device reveals the "Main Display," a 7.3-inch screen with a resolution of 1536 x 2152 pixels and a 4.2:3 aspect ratio. This larger display provides a significantly more immersive experience, ideal for watching videos, browsing the web, reading articles, playing games, or engaging in more demanding productivity tasks. The substantial increase in screen real estate transforms the device from a phone into a mini-tablet, offering a versatile mobile experience.

The Cover Display, while functional, is framed by noticeable top and bottom bezels, a design choice that drew some criticism. In contrast, the Main Display is designed to be as edge-to-edge as possible, maximizing screen space and minimizing distractions. Samsung boasts that the Infinity Flex screen is capable of withstanding "hundreds of thousands" of folds, indicating a focus on durability. The flexible OLED panel is protected by an "advanced composite polymer" instead of traditional cover glass, a crucial element in ensuring the display’s ability to bend and flex repeatedly without damage.

Engineering Marvel: The Hinge and Design

The hinge mechanism is a critical component of any foldable device, and Samsung has invested heavily in its design and engineering. The Galaxy Fold utilizes a complex system of multiple interlocking gears to ensure smooth and reliable folding and unfolding. This intricate mechanism is designed to distribute stress evenly across the display, minimizing the risk of damage and ensuring a consistent folding experience.

When unfolded, the Main Display offers a near edge-to-edge experience, with a small exception. A distinctive oblong partition, or corner notch, is located in the top-right corner of the screen. This notch houses two front-facing cameras and various sensors, allowing for selfies, video calls, and facial recognition. While some users found the notch distracting, it’s a necessary trade-off to accommodate the front-facing camera system.

When the Galaxy Fold is closed, the two halves do not fully align, leaving a partial gap between them. This gap is a consequence of the folding mechanism and the need to protect the flexible display. While not aesthetically ideal, it’s a functional design choice that contributes to the device’s overall durability.

Performance and Internals: Powering the Foldable Experience

Under the hood, the Galaxy Fold is powered by a yet unspecified 7nm 64-bit octa-core processor, paired with a generous 12GB of RAM and a massive 512GB of internal storage. This powerful hardware configuration ensures smooth performance, even when running multiple apps simultaneously or engaging in demanding tasks.

A USB-C port is conveniently located on the right half of the device, while speakers are positioned on the opposite side, providing balanced audio output. The volume rocker and power button, which also functions as a fingerprint sensor, are located on the right edge for easy access.

The device is powered by two batteries, which combine for a total capacity of 4,380mAh. This substantial battery capacity is necessary to power the two displays and the powerful processor, ensuring all-day battery life for most users.

Camera System: A Versatile Array

The Galaxy Fold features a total of six cameras, offering a comprehensive and versatile photography experience. The Cover Display features a 10MP camera with an F2.2 aperture, allowing for quick selfies and video calls.

For the Main Display, there are two front-facing cameras: a 10MP camera with an F2.2 aperture and an 8MP RGB depth camera with an F1.9 aperture. This dual-camera system allows for high-quality selfies with enhanced depth-of-field effects.

On the rear of the device, there is a triple-camera system consisting of: a 16MP ultra-wide camera with an F2.2 aperture, a 12MP wide-angle camera with Dual Pixel AF, OIS, and a variable aperture of F1.5/F2.4, and a 12MP telephoto camera with PDAF, OIS, F2.4 aperture, and 2X optical zoom. This versatile camera system allows for capturing stunning photos and videos in a variety of conditions, from wide landscapes to close-up portraits.

Software and App Continuity: The Foldable Advantage

The defining feature of Android Foldables is "app continuity," a seamless transition of content from the smaller Cover Display to the larger Main Display, and vice versa. This feature allows users to start a task on the Cover Display and then seamlessly continue it on the Main Display when they unfold the device, creating a fluid and intuitive user experience.

Google has been actively working to optimize Android for foldable devices and to help developers tune their third-party apps to take advantage of the larger screen real estate. The Galaxy Fold also supports three-app multi-tasking on the 7.3-inch screen, allowing users to run multiple apps simultaneously and increase productivity.

Pricing and Availability: A Premium Experience

The Galaxy Fold was initially available in both LTE and 5G models, with a starting price of $1,980. This premium price tag reflects the innovative technology and complex engineering that went into creating the device. The Galaxy Fold was available in a range of colors, including Space Silver, Cosmos Black, Martian Green, and Astro Blue, with users even able to customize the hinge color to further personalize their device.

Initial Challenges and Subsequent Improvements

The initial launch of the Galaxy Fold was met with some challenges, as early review units experienced display issues. Samsung quickly addressed these concerns, making design modifications to improve the device’s durability and reliability. The revised Galaxy Fold was subsequently released to positive reviews, showcasing Samsung’s commitment to refining its foldable technology.

Conclusion: A Glimpse into the Future

The Samsung Galaxy Fold represents a significant step forward in mobile technology, offering a glimpse into the future of smartphones. While the device has its limitations and faced initial challenges, it paved the way for subsequent foldable devices and demonstrated the potential of this innovative form factor. The Galaxy Fold’s dual-screen design, powerful performance, versatile camera system, and unique software features combine to create a truly groundbreaking mobile experience. Although it has since been succeeded by newer models, the Galaxy Fold remains a landmark device in the evolution of mobile technology and a testament to Samsung’s innovative spirit.