It was reported soon after the Galaxy Fold was unveiled that the company was working on other foldable smartphones as well. This made it clear that the Galaxy Fold wouldn't be a one-off device. At least two new models are believed to be in the pipeline.
A report out of South Korea claims that one of them will have a clamshell-like form factor. It would mean that this would be a vertically foldable smartphone. This device is said to feature a 6.7-inch OLED display and may arrive at some point next year.
Samsung's next foldable smartphone could be cheaper
An earlier report from Bloomberg had claimed that Samsung had created mock-ups of a vertically folding phone and was in the process of fine-tuning the design. The device was also said to have an extra screen on the outside.
Today's report describes a device that's quite similar to the one that was talked about previously. The 6.7-inch OLED panel will fold around a horizontal axis, much in the way that clamshell or flip phones do. When this device is folded, it will have a 1-inch display on the front to display simple information.
If Samsung does end up releasing such a device, it would be a more toned-down approach compared to the one it took with the Galaxy Fold. It's essentially a smartphone/tablet hybrid with a 7.3-inch foldable display and a 4.6-inch cover display on the front. With a 6.7-inch display when folded out, the new device won't be any bigger than a flagship smartphone in this day and age.
The 1-inch external display will present its own set of limitation, though. It will essentially be impossible to get anything real done without unfolding the phone. That was Samsung's entire premise for the cover display on the Galaxy Fold. You can get a lot done on the external display and only open up the main display when you need it.
However, it's possible that these changes will allow for a foldable smartphone that doesn't cost $1,980 like the Galaxy Fold. It would thus go a long way in enabling more customers to get their hands on a foldable device. Of course, many would be happy to get their hands on the existing foldable smartphone, but Samsung is still yet to confirm when the Galaxy Fold will be released.
