it’s here: samsung galaxy fold opens up from smartphone to tablet

eighteen hours ago at the galaxy unpacked event, samsung unfolded actual demos and plans — not just conceptual teasers — of its longly anticipated foldable smartphone appropriately named, galaxy fold. after years of experiments and months of foreplay, the phone that peels open to become a tablet has a name, a release date (april 26) and a price-tag starting at $1,980.

all images courtesy of samsung

galaxy fold opens up the world’s first 7.3-inch infinity flex display. when closed, its a tall and narrow 4.6 inch display with a 12:9 ratio. together, the smartphone/tablet pioneers a new, unnamed category. 

a lot of tech has gone into folding a smartphone since samsung’s first flexible display prototype in 2011. here, a samsung-bespoke polymer layer and an extremely thin display (50% thinner than ‘typical’ smarphones) allows galaxy fold to not just bend, but fully open and close like a well bound book with a satisfyingly mechanical click. its henge, with multiple interlocking gears, hides from sight for a seamless experience. 

galaxy fold also packs a 12-megapixel camera on the back and a 10-megapixel cover camera facing the user/selfie-taker. time will tell if the folding display trend carries on to other developers, but for now the galaxy fold has no rival in its class.