The Next Generation Samsung Galaxy Fold Might Come Sooner Than You Think

If a leak by an industry insider is to be believed, Samsung’s new device will ditch the annoying plastic polyimide (PI) screen protector and will instead switch to a new type of glass known as ultra-thin glass (UTG). It remains unclear how the glass will be made to work with the device’s folding mechanism since normal glass would shatter when bent. The new device is also expected to ship with a slightly smaller screen, dropping to 6.7 inches compared to the current fold’s 7.3 inches. Customers will also be pleased to know that Samsung is reportedly considering ways to make the phone less of a strain on the wallet—potentially by offering several different storage options to cut the price down to as low as $1,500 for the base unit. If a recent leak by Twitter’s Ice universe is accurate, then Samsung might also be looking to scrap the ‘Fold’ moniker, instead opting to call the second generation device the Galaxy W20 5G. This device could be unveiled as early as April 2020—just over a year after Samsung first announced its first folding phone. The first iteration of the Samsung Galaxy Fold was plagued with design flaws that were uncovered after review units were sent out to reporters several months before launch. Arguably the most serious of these flaws was the hinge design, which allowed small particles to enter the device and obstruct the folding mechanism. In addition, a protective layer added to the screen was frequently mistaken for a removable screen protector, leading some reviewers to damage their device by peeling it off.

Samsung's second foldable phone will be the Galaxy W20 5G, a "flip phone."
Someone caught its preheating poster at the exhibition. pic.twitter.com/KEMaSoQvJ6

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) September 16, 2019

Although these issues were fixed in the revised Samsung Galaxy Fold design, the device remains far less resilient than most standard smartphones—prompting Samsung to release a video showing fold owners how to care for their device, while launching the ‘premier service’ to provide on-demand support. Regardless, even the ‘fixed’ version of the Galaxy Fold still has its issues, including the recently described pixel clustering issue found by a TechCrunch reviewer. With arguably two iterations of test devices now shipped, Samsung arguably has enough experience under its belt to produce something much more resilient, and potentially cheaper too. With the current Galaxy Fold coming in a hefty $1,980, first adopters are undoubtedly paying down Samsung’s hefty research and development costs. With a sturdier, smaller design, as well as a lower price tag, Samsung might be looking to make a Fold successor that appeals to a much larger consumer demographic, unlike the ostensibly niche current generation Fold. What do you think Samsung will change with its next-generation Fold device? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Images are courtesy of Twitter, Shutterstock.