Even though the Royole FlexiPai is called the first foldable smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Fold is here and here to stay. With so many things that makes this a premium device, it’s surely packed up with tons of features and when Samsung boldly brought it before us during the Mobile World Congress, we were amazed to see how far the technology had gone.

While Samsung only gave us a handy demo of how useful this piece of gadget would work right there on stage, journalists weren’t really given any chance to touch it right there. The device really does feel like a masterpiece and with the way it switches from it’s back screen to the inwardly folding screen is so fast and amazing.

Despite not being able to really interact with the device at all, the hype was really generous and most of us think Samsung had done a really good job here. One thing would be that we hope whenever we get one, it doesn’t fall short of it’s glorious HYPE.

And yes, we already have the Galaxy S10 here which comes in 4 variants, the Galaxy Fold is going to be costing a fortune. Not really, it’s just that this device would cost as twice as much the price of the iPhone XS; at least, it’s been labelled a “Luxury Device” by the presenter.

AT&T and T-Mobile are expected to be the major vendor of this smartphone (Or whatever we should label it). It’s also coming in Martian Green color, Astro Blue, Cosmos Black and Space Silver colors. Also, there will be 4G LTE and 5G versions of the device. Although nothing official about the UK and Australian prices yet, but the US price converts to about £1,500 or AU$2,800.

There are 3 screens altogether on the device. It’s primary screen is a 4.6 Inch display on the outside if it’s closed but when opened , there are two larger screen of 7.3 inch display that stretches across the entire inner part of the device turning it into a tablet device.

All we do know about the screen inside was the first example of the Infinity Flex Display, an ultrathin polymer (plastic) that uses a new adhesive that Samsung developed to laminate the phone’s many display layers so they can flex and fold hundreds of thousands of times.

Even though Corning is said to still be working on a ultra thin Gorilla glass that could bend, this might give the notion that the Galaxy Fold might be made of plastic which in my reasoning won’t be as fancy as a glass made material.

But the claims that Samsung made some interlocking hinge gears which are hidden away right underneath the device’s casing might be a really genius technology.

Software of the Galaxy Fold

It’s running on the Android Pie OS and built on Samsung’s own One UI. Google had announced later on last year (November 2018 precisely) that it would be supporting Folding smartphones.

The seamless transition of the device between the first screen to the folding inner screen is part of what Google had support which made the device really good at it’s operation. To make the most of a larger screen, you can open up to three separate apps at once, so an article, a video and your text messenger app.

We were also told last November that any app could also give you up to three active windows when you’re full screen. We’ve seen demoes for Flipboard, but the feature will only catch hold if Samsung can successfully lure the developers of today’s top killer apps.

It Has 6 Cameras

Yeah. This device is a real camera phone with 3 placed right at the back of the device, two on the inside and then the last one on the front. The same goes for sensors which were presented on the Galaxy S10 smartphones.

My curiousity here is how pictures flow will be like on the device, because the camera arrangement on the ZTE Axon M phone of 2017 had you flipping and repositioning that two-screen device to take pictures. It was a hassle, and one that Samsung has hopefully figured out.

Great battery as we Know

The device has a really good battery. We expect that it’s 4380 mAh  Li-Ion battery can work things out and last through the day if used well. Samsung said it’s solved the problem by putting a typically rigid lithium-ion battery on each side. “The two lobes work together, like your brain” as quoted by CNET reporter Jessica Dolcourt.

The power of the battery though will be put to test when we have our hands on one to review it and see how far it can go on a daily routine. While this might not be a smartphone for everyone, it’s worth noting that the battery capability is part of the determinant of it’s sales.

Will go for $2000 on Sales

Even many of us still have dispute with the iPhone and Huawei and a host of others placing the $1000 price tag on a smartphone. Now, we have something that’s even more expensive? Yeah, the Galaxy Fold will be sol for a whooping $2000 in the US.

But this to my own opinion isn’t a device for everyone. Even considering it’s designs and projections, most people in the general public might have biases about purchasing it. This might be where the rich comes onboard. Those who simply want to hold on to a futuristic technology before it gets saturated like an Android device.

A phone that can open into a book is the ultimate status symbol because it’s immediately recognizable, especially if you buy it in Martian Green.

Software developers might also be interested in early adoption considering the fact that such company or individual might want to test their application on a folding device to see how it would work and feel like. It’s a great experience and a whole new experience altogether.

Foldable phones the future of smartphones?

First of all, this would cause a big detriment to Tablets in general. The fact that you can carry a smartphone that can somehow transform into a tablet means tablet industry is doomed. But not only will this likely go mainstream.

Companies like Huawei, Xioami are already working on launching theirs. Even LG was reportedly working on creating a folding smartphone that folds outwardly. Even Apple has filed patent applications for a foldable iPhone design….just like the Notch bandwagon, this is another viral trend we could see in coming years.

“This will be the best way to deliver on that consumer demand but it is likely a multiyear process before pricing, software, apps and the product itself have the kinks worked out,” said Stephen Baker, VP of industry analysis at NPD Group.

There’s also a sense, however, that something else is yet to come. “It is essential that we move beyond devices with folding screens being a solution looking for a problem,” said Ben Wood, chief researcher at CCS Insight.

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold is the first solid step in that direction, and sink or swim, that’s exciting stuff.

Galaxy Fold specs we know so far

Do you think this technology will disrupt the tablet and mobile industry altogether, do let us know about your opinion in the comment section.