Samsung is reportedly developing a three-pronged smartphone. The move is said to be aimed at catching up with Huawei, which launched the global tri-fold smartphone dubbed Mate XT Ultimate Design in September. Ahead of its planned 2025 debut, Samsung recently obtained a patent for a flexible display device featuring a foldable design featuring three displays and a specialized barrier layer for improved durability and reduced strain.
Samsung patent for a tri-fold smartphone
A patent granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (via MSPoweruser) from Samsung Electronics describes a display device with a flexible form factor. It was filed by Samsung in 2021 and granted on November 5. Unlike rigid devices which have a screen area allocated for displaying images, this so-called device has three zones: a first zone which is folded, a second zone which can be folded. folded and unfolded, and a third zone arranged in a specific direction.
Samsung’s alleged trifold smartphone
Photo credit: United States Patent and Trademark Office/Samsung
According to the patent, the device will feature a specialized barrier layer positioned beneath the display panel. This layer is supposed to have at least one opening that could overlap the second display area, and two bottom plates placed under the panel overlapping the three areas. Additionally, the display panel may also feature an anti-glare layer on top, similar to the one used on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Although it suggests that the flexible display device may have the ability to be bent, folded or warped into various shapes, the document could be referring to the same alleged tri-fold smartphone that Samsung is reportedly developing.
The trifold smartphone is also expected to support multiple input methods, in addition to touch gestures. This suggests that the alleged device could also support the S-Pen.
However, it is crucial to note that not all devices for which patents have been granted make it to the final stage of production or have the same elements. Thus, it is not yet clear whether Samsung’s alleged trifold smartphone will feature technical aspects similar to those described in the patent filing.
