Samsung Display shows smartphone screen that can be folded 360 degrees

Samsung Display has shown a new variant of the Flex In & Out, an OLED screen that can be folded 360 degrees with a single fold. This screen also has a new hinge, which should make the fold in the screen less visible when flat.

The Samsung company dropped the screen according to The Verge already seen at the CES 2023 trade fair, but now comes with additional details about the foldable screen. With a Flex In & Out screen, the screen can be on the inside of the fold, as with the current Galaxy Fold devices, or on the outside of the fold.

Presumably, Samsung Display developed this screen with the idea that it can be protected when the smartphone is closed with the screen on the inside of the fold. For easy one-handed use, the device could again be expanded and collapsed 360 degrees, with the screen on the outside of the fold. Samsung’s Fold devices now have a second screen for this, but with the new Flex In & Out concept this would not be necessary.

The hinge of the Samsung Display Flex In & Out screen
compared to the hinge of a Galaxy Z Fold (above)

The new screen also has a newly designed hinge, whereby the fold of the screen should have more of a ‘water drop shape’ when it is on the inside of the fold. That fold would be less tight than on current devices, putting less pressure on the screen. That would make the crease in the screen less visible. The company has not shared any photos of the screen in its flat state.

Samsung Display has previously shown a Flex In & Out screen, but this had two folds that could both be folded up to 180 degrees, similar to the S-Foldable previously shown. The new Flex In & Out is Samsung’s first single foldable screen that can be folded 360 degrees in a smartphone. Samsung Display also showed the Flex Hybrid, a foldable screen with an extendable element, at the recent CES fair. It is not known whether and when the Flex OLED screens will appear for customers.

Samsung Display Flex In & Out