When Samsung Electronics revealed its first prototype of a flexible display back in 2011, few people realized they were witnessing a glimpse into the mobile industry’s future. Now, a decade later, Samsung has shipped 4 times more foldable devices in 2021 than in 2020, exceeding the three-fold market growth that analysts expected.¹

Consumer enthusiasm for Samsung foldables is exemplified by the success of the Galaxy Z series. In the first month since launch, the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 exceeded total accumulative sales of Samsung foldable devices in 2020.

With foldable smartphone shipments predicted to grow tenfold by 2023,² let’s take a look at the key moments, top innovations and important partnerships that have helped make foldable devices the next big thing.

Bringing Foldables to Consumers Around the World

Samsung may have first introduced the concept of foldable displays in 2011, but it would take over a decade to bring foldable devices to consumers around the world.

The next major milestone came in 2019, when Samsung finally brought its foldable vision to reality with the Galaxy Fold, its first foldable device. Soon after that came the Galaxy Z Flip. A sleek clamshell design – a throwback to flip phones of yore – made the Galaxy Z Flip an instant icon.

After a decade of progress and three generations of innovation, the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 brought enhanced durability and an improved user experience to foldables. Not only have they set a new standard in the industry, but they rekindled consumer interest in smartphones in general.

Innovations Behind the Technology

From creating new materials and methods to overcoming mechanical challenges, creating the foldable category required Samsung to reimagine the smartphone from the inside out.

From the onset, Samsung engineers understood that the key to creating a new category would be inventing a range of new technologies to ensure the devices would meet the expectations of global consumers.

The Infinity Flex Display and Samsung UTG, for example, enabled the world’s first folding glass display. While its screen may be a continuous piece of glass, a foldable’s body features two distinct components. This unique structure meant that in order to maintain a design slim enough for daily use, engineers would have to completely rethink the placement of internal components. That challenge included designing a new internal cooling system as well as a dual-battery system with technology that optimizes multiple power sources as one.

To ensure that the devices would be capable of withstanding hundreds of thousands of folds, a Hideaway Hinge mechanism was designed with Sweeper technology to help keep out dust and dirt particles. The hinge also added a new layer of functionality to Samsung foldables, allowing them to stand on their own, which makes them perfect for watching content, making video calls, or taking hands-free selfies.

Samsung’s dedication to creating new foldable innovations enabled it to achieve yet another major milestone in 2021 with the release of the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 – the first foldables to receive an IPX8 water resistance rating.

But the features that set Samsung foldables apart aren’t all hidden beneath the surface. With App Continuity – a responsive UI that delivers seamless transitions between folded and unfolded modes – and features like Multi-Active Window and Flex mode, Samsung foldables have unlocked new ways for us to work, play and express ourselves.

Driving Consumer Demand for Foldable Devices

This unprecedented push in innovation has sparked a surging demand for foldable devices, bringing more users to the Galaxy family than ever before. Compared to the Galaxy Note20, Samsung has seen a 150 percent³ increase in consumers who switched smartphone brands for the Galaxy Z Flip3, and a 140 percent increase compared to the Galaxy S21.

A simple explanation for this massive increase is that both Galaxy Z series devices offer distinct features that appeal to specific customer groups in ways that no other smartphones have before.

A buyer survey conducted by Samsung revealed that a stylish design, portability and an innovative folding form factor were the top drivers behind purchases of the Galaxy Z Flip3. The ability to use the cover screen without opening the device was another important factor for those who value privacy, as well as those who want to regulate their screen time to manage their mental health. Buyers of the Galaxy Z Fold3, meanwhile, reported being drawn to its large screen for viewing content, multitasking capabilities and productivity features, including the S Pen.⁴ At the end of the day, it’s clear that both devices are giving consumers more incentive than ever to switch to a foldable, even if it means changing brands or operating systems.

Pioneering the Foldable Future

As more consumers become aware of foldables’ incredible potential, interest in the category will continue to grow. With a variety of innovations set to make their way to consumers in the coming years, Samsung will continue to lead the foldable category with even more pioneering technology.

To achieve this goal, Samsung is heavily investing in R&D while openly collaborating with app developers and industry partners such as Google.

For years, Samsung and Google have been collaborating to make the foldable experience scalable by providing Android developers with the necessary framework and resources. In 2021, the companies announced guidelines for creating apps for large-screen and foldable devices, building on Google’s work to optimize its most popular apps – such as Gmail, YouTube, Duo and Maps – for foldable form factors. Going forward, Samsung will continue to work with partners and developers to develop technologies that will steer the future of the mobile industry.

In establishing an entirely new mobile category a decade ago, Samsung raised the bar for mobile innovation. As it looks toward the next decade and beyond, the company will continue to reinvent the mobile experience to change what’s possible as they unfold.

¹ According to figures from Counterpoint Research

² According to figures from Counterpoint Research

³ Samsung Big Data Center

⁴ Only Galaxy Z Fold3 main display has S Pen capability. Compatible only with the S Pen Fold Edition or S Pen Pro, sold separately.

“We understand how busy modern life can be, as our work becomes more flexible and blends with our personal time. Consumers need a versatile device that can integrate seamlessly into their everyday lifestyle,” said Woncheol Chai, SVP and Head of Product Planning Team, Mobile Communication Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and the new S Pen are packed with the latest technology to help people stay organized, multitask and capture ideas effortlessly, allowing them to spend time on what matters most to them.”

Create More and Stress Less With the Redesigned S Pen

Whether you are using your tablet for work, study, or just during downtime at home, the updated S Pen is the perfect notetaking and multitasking assistant. The new S Pen has a refreshed design that makes it as practical and comfortable to use as a traditional pen. Weighing only 7.03g, the S Pen is light and easy-to-use, and its improved pen latency and 0.7mm pen tip deliver greater precision for notetaking and drawing. When you’re finished capturing your ideas, the S Pen snaps magnetically onto the right side of the tablet, or to the optional book cover case, making it easy to use without the concern of misplacing it. The S Pen on the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is also battery-free, so you never have to worry about losing charge when using your S Pen.

Using the S Pen and Samsung Notes, you can transform handwritten notes into typed text instantly.¹ Categorize and search your notes with ease through tags, highlight important passages and enlarge the content on the notes with the 300% zoom feature. All your notes can be easily exported as a PDF, JPEG image, text file or Microsoft Word document.

Inspired Design That Won’t Weigh You Down

With a 10.4-inch screen and narrow bezels, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite benefits from a wide and immersive display. The lightweight and compact design makes it the ideal tablet for multitasking, notetaking and watching videos or movies. Equipped with the latest version of One UI, optimized for the larger tablet screen, Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a more intuitive visual interface and simplified navigation tools, making switching between multiple applications smooth and effortless so that you can focus on the task at hand.

Available in three beautiful colors,² Oxford Gray, Angora Blue and Chiffon Pink, with a matching S Pen and optional book cover, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a stylish accessory as well as a powerful productivity device.

Enhanced Entertainment Features

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is packed with clever, helpful and entertaining features that make listening to music, streaming content, shopping online or connecting with friends easier and more enjoyable. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite includes dual speakers with sound by AKG and Dolby Atmos 3D surround sound for outstanding immersive audio, so whether you’re watching a YouTube video, streaming your favorite show or listening to a great playlist, you’ll experience premium quality sound.

Samsung has partnered with YouTube and Spotify so you can get even more out of your favorite apps on the Galaxy range. Galaxy Tab S6 Lite users can enjoy ad-free YouTube videos, the ability to download and watch videos offline and free access to YouTube Music and YouTube Kids with YouTube Premium for 4 months.³ Spotify seamlessly integrates into the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite’s user interface, so you can easily search for music and podcasts, or even set your favorite song as your alarm.⁴ The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite can also wirelessly connect to your home speaker⁵ setup, so you can play your favorite playlists from Spotify on another device or speaker around your home, all controlled by your tablet.

The Galaxy Experience at Home

Put the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite at the heart of your home to stay productive and organized. You can take calls and send and receive text messages⁶ through your Samsung account on your tablet, even when your smartphone is out of reach or in another room, or stay connected with friends and colleagues using Google Duo video calls on Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.⁷ Use the improved Daily Board display to control music, view your calendar, check the weather and write quick memos and reminders. The new Bixby features and capabilities such as Bixby Voice, Bixby Vision and Bixby Routines will also enhance your overall productivity and entertainment experiences.

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a device that can be used by the entire family. With Samsung Kids,⁸ you can set daily playtime allowances, restrict access to certain apps and introduce your kids to the digital world safely with a range of exciting, colorful learning apps and games.

For more information about the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, visit news.samsung.com and samsungmobilepress.com. 

Product Specifications

* All features may differ by market and mobile operator.

**All specifications and descriptions provided herein may be different from the actual specifications and descriptions of the product. Samsung reserves the right to make changes to this web page and the contents herein, including without limitation, functionality, features, specifications, GUI, images, videos, benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, capabilities, and any other product information, without notice. 

¹ Text export function supported on Samsung Notes app, feature availability may vary by language.

² Availability of colors may vary by market.

³ YouTube Premium is only available in select markets. Only new subscribers to YouTube Premium are eligible for this offer.

⁴ Devices should be registered with Spotify Connect at the first use.

⁵ The speakers need to support Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection.

⁶ Call and text on other devices availability varies by country and service provider.

⁷ Google Duo supports video calling with up to twelve other users.

⁸ The availability of Samsung Kids may vary by country, device, and features. Please refer to more information at the website, https://www.samsung.com/kids.

⁹ Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners.

¹⁰ Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 7,040 mAh.

¹¹ These accessories are available to purchase separately.