Versatile, compact and stylish, the Galaxy Z Flip is made for fast-paced, modern lifestyles and for those who aren’t afraid to make a statement. Built to inspire creativity, the device packs everything you need for content creation and sharing into a form factor that fits in the palm of your hand.

Flex Your Creativity

The Galaxy Z Flip’s unique form factor is designed to provide hands-free experiences, making it easy for you to create content no matter where you are.

Thanks to its Hideaway Hinge, the device can stand on its own at various angles. Simply pop open the device, place it on a desk or on the floor, and you can start filming your latest dance challenge video without extra accessories or stands.

With Flex mode, you can easily snap hands-free selfies for your social media feeds or capture steady, stunning Night Hyperlapse videos with just the Galaxy Z Flip. The feature also lets you easily set up live streams to connect with your followers or instantly collaborate with other creators via video call.

Capture the World Differently

From spontaneous selfies to hilarious GIFs of funny moments, the Galaxy Z Flip gives you new ways to capture your experiences.

The Quick selfie feature uses the device’s powerful rear cameras to create high-quality self-portraits. Double click the power button when the phone is folded and the cover display will transform into a selfie viewfinder. You can then click the volume button to capture a shot. If you are taking a groupie with your friends, you can tap on the cover display to switch to the Ultra Wide lens.

With so many ways to create photos and videos, it can sometimes be difficult to decide which one to go for in the moment.

Single Take on the Galaxy Z Flip is a dream tool for digital creators. The feature is especially useful for shooting action-packed scenes.

Just hold down the shutter button and the camera will capture the moment in a wide range of formats. What’s more, the feature even recommends the best shots, which means you don’t need to scroll through your gallery to find the perfect post.

Elevate Your Content

Ask any digital creator and they will tell you that taking photos and videos is just the start of the creative process. From image editing to caption writing, there are many steps when it comes to producing engaging content.

Equipped with quick and easy image editing tools, the Galaxy Z Flip is a mobile creative powerhouse. As soon as you take a shot, you can start polishing your image, try out different filters, and put your next post together on the device. The Multi-Active Window feature also allows you to run two apps simultaneously on the main display. With the ability to edit photos on the top half of the display while writing captions or responding to comments on the bottom half, you can multitask and manage your platform on the go with ease.

Fashion Meets Technology

Featuring a bold and playful design, the Galaxy Z Flip is perfect for those who see technology as a way to express themselves. Available in various luxurious color options, including Mirror Purple, Mirror Black, and Mirror Gold for the Galaxy Z Flip, and Mystic Gray and Mystic Bronze for the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, the device will turn heads and bring individuality to your outfit.¹

¹ Color availability may vary depending on country or carrier.

From improved productivity capabilities to unique camera experiences, the latest update¹ promises to take the Galaxy Fold to the next level. Here’s everything you need to know about the update.

Power Up Your Productivity

Whether you are multitasking or working on the go, the latest update helps you get things done faster with the Galaxy Fold.

Instead of spending time finding the apps you need, App Pair lets you launch up to three of your favorite apps together in your preferred split screen layout.

This feature can be accessed via the Edge Panel, which combines the Multi-Window Tray with Edge Panel for improved convenience. All you need to do is swipe the side of the screen² to see up to 22 of your favorite apps. The arrangement of the Multi-Active Window layout can now also be done horizontally, giving you more flexibility for multitasking.

If you need more screen space to work with, the updated Samsung DeX lets you easily connect the Galaxy Fold to a Smart TV wirelessly.³ All you need to do is tap on the Samsung DeX icon in the quick panel.

Once the two devices are connected, you can customize the second screen to suit your needs with screen zoom and various font size options. You can even use the Galaxy Fold as a touch pad to control the second display with multi-finger gestures.

Maximum Flexibility for Your Shoots

The Galaxy Fold’s unique form factor is designed to help you capture photos and videos exactly the way you want. The latest update brings even more flexibility to this innovative camera experience.

Shooting with Auto framing is like having a dedicated cameraman always by your side. Depending on how many people are in front of the camera, the feature automatically zooms in or out to ensure the Galaxy Fold captures everything. It can even track motion to keep the subject centrally framed.

Capture View Mode gives you the option to check your shots as you shoot. It shows you up to five of the latest photos or videos on the left side of the Main Screen, while giving you a preview of your next shot on the other half.

Dual Preview enhances collaboration between the subject and the photographer by showing a preview of the image on both the Cover and Main Screen of the Galaxy Fold. This feature also works with video and can be activated in Pro Video mode.

The latest update lets you maximize the power of the Galaxy Fold’s rear camera, even when you are taking selfies. Simply open the Camera app on the Cover Screen and activate Rear Cam Selfie. This feature allows you to use the high-resolution rear camera and its wide range of advanced functions for selfies.

Pro Video Mode on the Galaxy Fold now comes with more shooting (21:9 ratio and 24fps video) and assistant functions (histogram, focus peaking), while Single Take lets you capture up to 15 seconds of content to deliver a selection of best moments in photos and video.

Stay Seamlessly Connected

Forget about repeating long, complicated Wi-Fi passwords to your friends and family. With the Galaxy Fold, you can now directly share the password of the Wi-Fi you are connected to trusted Galaxy devices that are near you.

The updated Wi-Fi feature can also show you the speed of nearby connections (Very Fast, Fast, Normal Slow) to help you easily find one that’s suitable.

¹ Specific launch date and available features may vary by market and region.

² The Edge Panel is placed on the right side of the screen by default but can be changed to the opposite side in Settings.

³ Samsung DeX wireless connection is available on smart TVs that support Phone Screen mirroring only. (For the optimal experience, use on Samsung Smart TVs launched 2019 or later.)

Luxury meets powerful productivity and flexibility in Samsung’s most ambitious foldable smartphone yet, delivering unparalleled multitasking in a true 2-in-1 experience. Designed with features that empower users to do more, achieve more, and explore more, the Galaxy Z Fold2 brings entirely new experiences to mobile.

Here’s a close-up look at how to get the most out of multitasking on the Galaxy Z Fold2.

Open Three Apps on One Screen

Work doesn’t always come at the most convenient times – sometimes we’re on the go, or right in the middle of another important task, when the boss sends an email with an urgent question. Multi-Active Window on the Galaxy Z Fold2 makes it easier to manage those moments and stay organized by allowing you to keep multiple app windows open on the same screen. You can get that email from your boss, check the answer on the web, and answer via messenger all on the same screen without ever closing a window. Even when you have multiple apps open, they still function smoothly in their resized configuration.

Multi-Active Window is easy to use. While one app is open you can drag and drop a second app icon to the screen, and it will automatically open in a second window. From there, you can tap the divider to customize the layout and arrange your apps as you like. The feature supports up to three apps, or you can run the same app in different windows simultaneously – particularly handy when you’re comparison shopping online and want to compare prices on different websites.

Make an App Pair to Fit Your Needs

Multitasking isn’t just easier and more powerful on the Galaxy Z Fold2 – it’s customizable. Multi-Window Tray saves you time by allowing you to create presets for Multi-Active Window using App Pair with up to three of your favorite apps. Not only can you launch the apps at the same time, you can launch them in your preferred Multi-Active Window layout. So, if you like starting your day with a coffee while you view your schedule, check emails, and catch up on the latest news, you can do it all with the tap of a single button from the app tray. To save your favorite app combinations and layouts, select the option menu from the divider while in Multi-Active Window Mode.

Drag Here, Drop There

Whether you want to drag and drop a graph from Excel right into PowerPoint, or take an image from your gallery and drop it into a message to send a friend, the Galaxy Z Fold2 makes multitasking more seamless with drag and drop functionality between apps. While using Multi-Active Window, you can drag and drop images, tables, hyperlinks, text and other content between supported apps. So, if you’re writing a work email and need to attach an image, it’s as easy as dragging the image from the Gallery app into the email – no need to exit and relaunch the apps or fiddle with settings.

Share It as You See It, Without Cropping

Sharing screenshots from the Galaxy Z Fold2 is smooth and painless. When using the device in Multi-Active Window mode, Split Screen Capture takes an individual screenshot of every app open. So, when you’re sending an updated presentation slide to your team, you can quickly grab a screenshot, then drag and drop it to the messenger without having to crop, edit, or exit and re-open apps. Split Screen Capture provides a seamless, uninterrupted experience.

See More, See Bigger

With the ability to customize the size of your text and icons, the Galaxy Z Fold2 has a layout for every Galaxy user. Whether you’re looking to maximize your device for productivity or entertainment, you can optimize your mobile experience with three different UI layouts and text size options: See More, See Bigger, and See Even Bigger. See More takes full advantage of the Galaxy Z Fold2’s large display, while See Bigger and See Even Bigger offer a more traditional phone UI experience that makes reading your screen easier on the eyes. Tweak the layout and view to optimize your experience with your most frequently used apps for multitasking that is completely tailored to your needs.

Samsung Electronics flipped the smartphone world on its head with the launch of its second foldable device, created to offer users a convenient and versatile foldable experience: the Galaxy Z Flip. Featuring a first-of-its-kind glass display that folds into a compact and stylish form factor, the company’s latest groundbreaking smartphone offers a whole new mobile experience. One that demands an equally inventive UX.

Follow along as we examine how Samsung optimized the Galaxy Z Flip’s UX to make it easy for users to get the most out of the device.

So Long, Smartphone Stands

Picture this: While on vacation, with your smartphone mounted on your tripod, you carefully frame a shareworthy photo, only to find that the angle of your just-snapped shot isn’t quite right. So you find another spot, set up again, and hope that you take your pick in time to capture that scenic sunset in all its glory.

With Flex mode on the Galaxy Z Flip, you can forget tripods. All you need to do to set up a spectacular photo or video is fold your smartphone to the angle you need and place it wherever you like. It’s capable of sitting upright on its own, and stays open at various angles. So there’s nothing holding you back from finding the perfect perspective for capturing the moment. When posing for a photo in front of a magnificent skyline, open the device to a wide angle. For portrait photography, narrow the angle to place your subject front and center.

The stability provided by the Galaxy Z Flip’s freestop folding system, together with the camera’s Night mode, makes the smartphone a game-changer for low-light photography. Capturing vivid nighttime shots is simple when you have a camera that’s capable of standing perfectly still, and minimizes noise to bring out details in dark settings. The camera also makes it easy to record mesmerizing hyperlapse videos after dark with its Hyperlapse function and Night mode.

Add Some Flex to Your Phone

Designed exclusively for the Galaxy Z Flip’s unique form factor, Flex mode completely reimagines the mobile experience to allow users to do more, from multiple angles, hands-free. It’s activated as soon as the user folds or unfolds their phone, and when the device is free-standing, it automatically splits the display into two four-inch screens. Content is visible on the top half, while controls are presented on the bottom.

The Galaxy Z Flip features several Flex mode-optimized apps¹ right out of the box, with plenty more on the way. Take the camera, for example. When the user launches the Camera app, they’re instantly presented with a preview of their shot on the top half of the screen, with controls to switch cameras and modes and manage settings accessible at the bottom. When viewing photos and videos in the Gallery, your content is displayed on top, while the bottom half of the display acts as a touchpad of sorts that lets you zoom in and out and cycle through photos with a simple pinch, swipe or flick.

Content creators can utilize the Galaxy Z Flip’s camera in Flex mode to make sure that their photo or video is the perfect aspect ratio for the type of content they’re producing. The top half of the screen lets users view their shot or recording in a wide range of aspect ratios, including 1:1, 9:16, 3:4, 9:22 and 16:9.² The Galaxy Z Flip supports to record 16:9 video, which, when recorded while the device is free-standing, is presented on the top half of the screen. The ability to take immersive 16:9 video from virtually any position makes it easy to record shareworthy clips and upload them online.

It’s not just photography that benefits from Flex mode’s versatility. The ability to place your phone upright and video chat hands-free adds a new layer of comfort to connecting with friends. Samsung worked closely with Google to optimize Google Duo for the Galaxy Z Flip to make users’ experience with the video chatting app even more convenient. As a result, the device allows users to instantly initiate video calls with people they’d like to contact, simply by tapping on the Google Duo icon in the Phone, Contacts or Messages app. When making their call, they’ll also be able to do things like send fun AR Emojis and switch to wide-angle mode.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Going forward, Samsung will continue to collaborate with developers and partners to dream up new ways to optimize apps for Flex mode, and unlock ever more convenient and creative uses for foldable devices.

A Multitasking Machine

The Galaxy Z Flip’s unique form factor and foldable UX make multitasking seamless. The ability to fold the device’s spacious 6.7-inch screen in half adds a whole new dimension to managing two apps with Multi-Active Window. Enjoy easy access to your go-to apps by swiping left from the right side of the display and launching the completely customizable Multi-Window Tray.

The possibilities are endless. Thinking of testing out a new recipe? Watch a cooking video on the top half of the display while taking notes on ingredients and instructions on the bottom. Got your eye on a new piece of tech or clothing? Make sure you’re getting the best deal by simultaneously comparing prices from multiple sellers. The bottom half of the screen is also perfect for, for example, searching for info online on the new show you’re watching, or typing out particularly inspiring passages from the e-book you’re reading.

A Convenient Cover

One of the Galaxy Z Flip’s most versatile features is its cover display, which allows you to manage notifications, take quick selfies and more, all without unfolding your phone.

Double tap the display or press the side key to instantly view the date, time and battery status. A swipe to the left will pull up music controls, while a swipe to the right accesses the notification panel. Once the user taps a notification and unfolds the device, they’re able to pick up precisely where they left off on the main screen.

A double press of the power button will launch the Camera, which is perfect for prepping your pose before snapping a selfie. Once you and your friends have landed on a look you like and adjusted your position and background accordingly using the cover display, you can snap your shot with a press of the volume button, or by simply showing your palm to the camera. Unfolding the phone will take you straight to the Gallery, where you’ll be able to take a closer look at your photo on the main screen.

¹ At launch, Flex mode-compatible apps include the native Camera and Gallery (image and video viewer) apps, as well as the Always-On Display (AOD) and Google Duo. Compatibility with more native and third-party apps will be introduced in the near future.

² Not all aspect ratios support both images and video.

Samsung began the task of designing the Galaxy Fold with the goal of making users’ mobile lives more convenient, taking into consideration how a new folding mechanism would accommodate people’s daily experiences. Read on for a closer look at how Samsung brought the Galaxy Fold to life.

Encountering New Form Factors

As the day-to-day lifestyles of consumers have become more diversified, so too have their needs, and the technology they use, of course, must keep up. The Galaxy Fold features an all-new form factor with its Infinity Flex Display, which provides the most natural holding experience yet for the user. The Galaxy Fold design team started with the very basics of ‘folding’ and what that action means in everyday life, studying how various things fold and unfold as well as what advantages each folding process offers. People in fact fold and unfold all manner of objects in their day-to-day lives, from their books to their wallets.

The design team worked closely with the engineering team in order to find the most convenient and aesthetically pleasing design for a folding device. The team constructed over 1,000 prototypes using a wide array of materials, including foam board and various fabrics, and eventually settled on an in-folding design.

Optimizing for the Foldable Experience

The Galaxy Fold features design elements that offer consumers a user experience that is as familiar as it is convenient. When incorporating the device’s proprietary new technologies, from the Infinity Flex Display to the hinge, Samsung developed a design that would ensure easy one-handed operation, as well as a comfortable and immersive full-screen experience.

Design elements of the Galaxy Fold ensure this seamless ease of use. The device’s large Infinity Flex Display, measuring 7.3 inches when unfolded, was designed to be the optimum size for carrying around when folded. The inward-folding hinge not only provides an intuitive and familiar folding sensation, but also helps protect the display. Additionally, with a total of six lenses across the device, users are able to take pictures no matter how they are holding the device.

The Galaxy Fold’s slim and ergonomic design provides users with a comfortable grip. The device’s size and ratio has been optimized for one or two-handed use, aligning with the unique capabilities of the Galaxy Fold, such as multitasking with Multi-Active Window. The front and back of the device, when folded (or, the entire back of the device when unfolded) have the same volume, shape and dimensions, with even distribution of weight across the left and right sides of the device so it feels balanced and natural to hold. Furthermore, the placement of the fingerprint scanner on the side of the Galaxy Fold is aligned with where the user’s thumb falls, so unlocking the phone is as intuitive as unfolding it.

Future-Proof Design, Eco-Friendly Packaging

Not only is the Galaxy Fold designed with a unique foldable usability, it has a premium appearance, too. Samsung refined its design precisely. In order to create a seamless look for the device’s cover from the display to the edge of the device itself, Samsung applied to sophisticated process to the front metal frame.

Finally, in line with the Galaxy Fold’s philosophy of providing users with a premium lifestyle experience, the design process does not stop at the device itself. As a finishing touch, the packaging that the Galaxy Fold comes in has been created using eco-friendly materials – the first Samsung product to have this applied to all packaging parts. In another first for a Samsung product, the box has a multi-layer design, so that the full-screen experience of the Galaxy Fold can begin from the moment the user opens the box.

Samsung looks forward to further innovating in the foldable space and seeing what the next trends in foldable designs will be.

When it comes to managing both our work and personal lives simultaneously, two screens are definitely better than one. With the Galaxy Fold, a category-defining device featuring both a compact cover display and a large display of 7.3 inches unfolded, you can get things done one-handed while on the go and enjoy the immersive experience and ultimate productivity when unfolded.

To help users better experience this latest category of mobile device, Samsung Newsroom has put together a guide to using the Galaxy Fold, so that from the moment of unboxing and experiencing its new form factor for the first time, the device’s innovative user experience is wholly yours.

1. First Introductions

The premium package your Galaxy Fold comes in is made entirely from eco-friendly materials, and from the moment you open the box, your experience with the device begins. The device is laid out flat for your first folding experience with your Galaxy Fold.

But ahead of getting completely hands-on with the product, be sure to check out the product usage instructions that come attached to the display. These provide you with an introduction to the Galaxy Fold’s innovative folding mechanism and outline how to make the most of the device’s groundbreaking two displays.

2. Getting a Grip

As with any mobile device, a key part of being able to enjoy your Galaxy Fold comfortably is being able to grip it properly. The Galaxy Fold has been developed with an ergonomic design that lets you easily use with one hand when folded, and is narrower than conventional smartphones – 62.8mm in width and 160.9mm in length – for maximum ease of use. An identical volume and design have been applied to all four sides of the device to provide the best grip whether you are holding it folded or unfolded.

You will notice that the volume keys, power key and fingerprint recognition sensors are located on the right side of the device for convenience. These keys can be customized according to your own usage preferences – pressing the power key twice defaults to launch camera, and long pressing the power key launches Bixby. These settings can be changed to open your preferred apps (Settings > Advanced features > Bixby). You can also register up to four fingers or thumbprints for unlocking the device for ease of use from any angle, whether you are right or left-handed.

One of the bonuses of having two displays in one device is that you can set two custom home screens for both the cover display and the main display, so that the most useful apps for one-handed use and also for multitasking use are always at your fingertips when you fold or unfold your device. The location of the screen’s navigation bar can also be set to the middle, left or right-hand side of the unfolded display for a personalized user experience (Settings > Display > My navigation bar > Adjustment).

3. Learning How to Switch Seamlessly

Once you’ve customized the Galaxy Fold’s user settings to your own needs and usage preferences, it is time to take advantage of the phone’s pioneering user experience and begin seamlessly switching apps and content from the cover display to the main display and back again.

App Continuity, part of the brand new UX developed specifically for the Galaxy Fold, means that you can check an email notification on the front screen and open up the main display to reveal a large keyboard for easier replying. This works both ways between the two displays; if you’ve read an e-book or e-mail on the cover display, you can open up the device to its unfolded, expansive main display and continue reading seamlessly. Similarly, you can take an in-depth look at a navigation app on the main display to work out directions, then fold the phone and have your route switch over without interruption to the cover display for easy reference while walking (Settings > Display > Continue apps on front screen).

4. Mastering a Versatile Camera

When it comes to taking photos with your Galaxy Fold, you are able to take great photos at any time thanks to the six cameras it has on its front, back and main display. For taking a quick selfie, the front camera on the cover display is the perfect choice, and then when you’re looking to capture a memory with a larger number of people, the dual cameras of the main display are able to capture everything and everyone in a live focus selfie – all without a selfie stick.

Furthermore, users can enjoy an expansive, immersive picture-taking experience when harnessing the Galaxy Fold’s rear triple camera thanks to the size of the viewfinder on the Galaxy Fold’s unfolded screen. For effortless picture-taking regardless of the orientation of your device, the Galaxy Fold’s shutter button will automatically move to an optimized location when you turn your device to and from portrait or landscape – you can even press and drag the button to place it somewhere else yourself.

5. Harnessing the Power of an Immersive Display

When it comes to enjoying your favorite content, be sure to test out the immersive gaming experience the Galaxy Fold provides if that’s your thing, and try out watching high-quality videos on the unfolded main display to experience just how expansive it is.

With the Galaxy Fold, your viewing experience is taken to another level thanks to the real estate of the main screen, but the device’s size is not the only thing bringing you such a cinematic dynamic experience. The Galaxy Fold features a Dynamic AMOLED Display, with HDR10+ color and Dynamic Tone Mapping for heightened contrast. Furthermore, while immersing yourself in your favorite content and games, the Galaxy Fold’s TÜV Rheinland-certified Eye Comfort display reduces blue light emissions without sacrificing picture quality.

You can make your viewing experience even more immersive by dragging down the upper notification window and switching on the Dolby Atmos feature; the Galaxy Fold provides crisp, clear sound by AKG thanks to its dual balanced stereo speakers.

6. Multitasking Like a Pro

Multitasking has become part of our daily lives as we constantly find ourselves switching between apps in order to get everything done. The Galaxy Fold lets you enjoy this experience all on one screen device thanks to its Multi-Active Window feature, which allows you to use multiple active apps simultaneously on the display for the first time on a smartphone.

By swiping the right-hand side of the main unfolded display, you can access the Multi Window Tray, which lists both your recently used apps as well as a ‘View All’ button to see all apps that support Multi Window. You can also customize your most-used apps within the Tray (Settings > Advanced features > Multi window tray). You can then drag and drop up to three apps into the desired position and order on the display, and even then toggle the size of the app’s window by pressing the handle at the top each window for further customization.

But this PC-like multitasking experience does not stop there for the busy user. As well as three Multi Windows, the Galaxy Fold also supports up to five pop-up windows, meaning that on days where there’s a lot to be done, you can work on up to eight applications simultaneously. To access these pop-up windows, open up the Multi Window Tray, drag the app you need to the center of the display. These pop-up windows can be made transparent so as not to hinder your use of the Multi-Active Windows behind it.

7. Next-Level Productivity

Now that you’ve mastered multitasking like a pro on your Galaxy Fold, there are a few other next-level features those who need to use their device for both work and play. The Galaxy Fold comes with dual messenger feature, meaning that you can keep your work and personal messages in separate windows thanks to the multi-window functionality of the Galaxy Fold.

Alarms and notifications can be customized for new windows by dragging them while multitasking, meaning that once a notification message appears at the top of the screen, you can easily and quickly drag it down into a Multi-Active Window to seamlessly reply without interrupting your other app activity (Settings > Advanced features > Smart pop-up view).

Finally, you’re sure to be able to keep multitasking as and when you need to thanks to the Galaxy Fold’s premium performance, powered by a next-generation AP chipset and 12GB of RAM for stronger computing power.

And with that, you’re set to use your Galaxy Fold like a pro and make the most of Samsung’s latest category-defining mobile device that harnesses the productivity of a PC with the usability of a smartphone – for everything you need to get done.

To learn more about the Galaxy Fold and how it establishes an all-new user-experience platform, Samsung Newsroom spoke with Jisun Park, Vice President of Strategic Partner R&D Group, and Sally Jeong, Vice President of Framework R&D Group at Samsung Electronics’ Mobile Division.

(From left) Jisun Park, Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Strategic Partner R&D Group, and Sally Jeong, Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Framework R&D Group

Bigger is Better

The Galaxy Fold’s spacious, 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display is proof of the old adage that “bigger is better.”

As Jeong explained, one of the biggest realizations that the Galaxy Fold’s development team came to when testing the device was just how transformative a foldable device can have on the mobile experience.

“Before the development of the Galaxy Fold, I had a smartphone and a tablet, but the combination of the two created an entirely new experience,” said Jeong. “The larger screen completely changed things like watching movies, checking email and catching up on the news, to the point that I could no longer be satisfied with a smaller screen.”

Park also discussed the experience of using the Galaxy Fold, remarking that it is not only the presence of the big screen that makes the new device special, but the ways in which it has been optimized according to its shape and size.

“With the Galaxy Fold, it’s not just that the screen is bigger, but that the device has been optimized for two-handed use. One example is that the split keyboard feature allows the user to type comfortably when they are holding the wider device in two hands. What’s more, the camera button changes position fluidly when the phone is switched from portrait to landscape mode, and the home key can be aligned to either side of the screen so that the user doesn’t have to reposition their hand to reach it.”

With the Galaxy Fold’s official launch on September 6^th in Korea, users can now experience firsthand what makes the device such a game changer.

A Multitasking Machine

Unfolding the Galaxy Fold’s Infinity Flex Display opens up a world of possibility in terms of multitasking. This is possible thanks to innovations like App Continuity and Multi-Active Window, which make it easy for users to take full advantage of the Galaxy Fold’s versatility.

According to Park, Samsung had been prioritizing enabling users to launch and utilize up to three apps simultaneously since the earliest stages of the Galaxy Fold’s development. Multi-Active Window makes this possible, allowing users to take their multitasking, entertainment and content consumption to the next level.

When gaming, for example, Multi-Active Window enables users to launch an app like YouTube and simultaneously watch walkthrough videos of the game while they’re playing. It also makes balancing multiple tasks, including messaging friends, browsing the web and viewing multimedia, a breeze.

A Bold Vision

The Galaxy Fold is a bold device with a bold vision for the future of the smartphone. It’s a vision that’s built on hardware and apps that power richer content consumption, superior multitasking, and that opens the door for users to enjoy new mobile experiences.

To help carry out that vision, Samsung’s developers have been working closely with Google and other major partners to enrich the Galaxy Fold’s ecosystem with popular apps and services available today. And their efforts have paid off. The development team has optimized hundreds of the most frequently used apps for the Galaxy Fold – including popular apps like YouTube, Facebook and Microsoft Office.

Both Jeong and Park described Samsung’s partnership with Google as key to establishing a smooth and efficient app-optimization process for the Galaxy Fold. “We formed a collaborative taskforce with Google at the very beginning of the development process,” said Jeong, “and we’ve been building this foldable ecosystem together ever since.”

They pointed to the Galaxy Fold’s App Continuity feature as a notable example of this collaboration. Realizing this feature, which enables apps to seamlessly transition between the cover and main displays when users open and close the device, required Samsung’s developers to completely rethink conventional app operations. The challenge was the fact that the Galaxy Fold not only has two screens, but that the aspect ratios of the screens are so drastically different. What’s more, developers needed to create a seamless transition where the user opens their device, and the app they were using on the front screen transitions in its optimized form to the larger screen without stopping or restarting. Fortunately, the development team were up to the task.

Another challenge that the team faced stemmed from Android’s traditional method of managing multiple apps. As Park explained, “With ‘standard’ Android, once two apps are activated, one of them is inevitably stopped.” To solve this issue, Jeong said, the team collaborated with Google to build an all-new multi-window system that was optimized for the Galaxy Fold’s larger screen.

Assisting Developers

With each component of the Galaxy Fold’s foldable UI in place, Samsung and Google started developing the framework necessary for developers to test and optimize their apps for this new device.

Test labs were set up in Korea, the U.S. and China to offer Android developers a chance to familiarize themselves with the device’s foldable UI and update their apps. To open the door for more developers to innovate within this foldable ecosystem, Samsung released a number of easily accessible online resources, including a ‘remote test lab,’ which was supported by Google, and allows developers to test-run apps on their PC using a virtual Galaxy Fold device, and an emulator.

Together, these resources offer developers the tools they need to optimize their apps for the interface of the future. And according to Park, plenty of developers have already jumped on board.

“Our partners and developers have shown tremendous interest in developing apps for the new form factor,” said Park. “We plan to expand our test labs soon to create more opportunities for developers to enrich the Galaxy Fold’s ecosystem with dynamic apps.”

The Future for Foldable

Several of the innovations created during the development process, including App Continuity and Multi-Active Window, have not only made the Galaxy Fold’s user experience more seamless and intuitive; they’ve also set a standard for foldable phones to follow.

As a result of Samsung’s close collaboration with Google, beginning with Android’s newest version, Android 10, both of the aforementioned innovations will be included as standard features for foldable phones. “When Android 10 rolls out and becomes the new standard for Android devices,” Jeong explained, “it will lead more developers to keep foldable-phone users in mind when developing apps.”

Ongoing partnerships with Google and major app developers will help Samsung enrich the Galaxy Fold’s app ecosystem with even more dynamic services – services that will only get better with the latest 5G network.

“The combination of the Galaxy Fold’s large display and 5G’s rapid speeds will revolutionize how we utilize everyday apps and enjoy a wide range of content,” said Park. “That also includes services like 4K streaming, which means that, for instance, users will be able to comfortably view multiple video streams at the same time on their Galaxy Fold’s spacious display.”

Jeong notes that the development process to optimize apps is happening quickly. She remarks that this “rapid optimization” is accelerating the company’s ability to bring a well-rounded foldable experience to users.

If an app has not yet been optimized for the Galaxy Fold, she continued, the smartphone’s built-in app-optimizing technology will help ensure that content is displayed in a way that makes full use of the device’s large display and foldable form. “With a tap of a button, the device automatically converts the app’s size and ratio to fit the display, so users don’t experience any discomfort.”

As Park noted, through app optimization, extensive testing, and by the forging of exciting partnerships, Samsung is “laying the foundation for a seamless and diverse foldable ecosystem – with the Galaxy Fold leading the industry forward.”

“Our ultimate goal is to inspire users with a new and innovative mobile experience,” added Jeong. “Going forward, we will continue to support the development of apps that leverage the foldable UX in incredible ways, and power all-new experiences within this growing ecosystem.”

Samsung Electronics has announced the launch of its category-defining new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, set for release in Korea on September 6 and in select countries shortly after. At IFA 2019, which opens its doors on September 6, visitors will be able to have the unique opportunity to experience the Galaxy Fold for the very first time.

For those not able to stop by the Messe Berlin Exhibition Grounds this year, the video above provides a look at what a hands-on experience of the Galaxy Fold looks like for users.

The Galaxy Fold’s unique design and foldable form factor, providing you with two options for screen size in one device, provides a brand-new user experience. When closed, you can comfortably access all your essential apps with just one hand. But when opened, the 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display offers a truly immersive viewing experience, allowing you to get lost in videos on a screen that’s so big, you won’t believe you can fit it in a pocket. From the camera to the gallery to the latest gaming apps, users can enjoy next-level experiences with their favorite content on the spacious screen of the main display just by opening up the device.

In order to facilitate maximum productivity and ease of use when switching between the Galaxy Fold’s two displays, Samsung developed two features especially: App Continuity and Multi-Active Window. With App Continuity, you can switch between using an app on the cover display and using it on the main display seamlessly. For example, you can check an email when the device is folded, and then, when you open the device to reply, a version of the email app that is optimized for the expansive screen will open, allowing you to comfortably view the full contents of the email. Following the uninterrupted screen transition, you can then reply to the email using keyboard, which is optimized for placement near each of your hands.

Multi-Active Window allows you to take advantage of the increased screen real state of the main display, as you can open multiple apps simultaneously and easily use them at the same time thanks to an optimized UX for next-level multitasking. Whilst reading an email, you can easily drag and drop your Calendar as well as Google Maps from the device’s side panel into the Multi-active Window to work in three windows simultaneously and coordinate a meeting quickly and efficiently. You can also easily adjust the dimensions of each app window so as to see more, or less, as you require.

To learn more about how the Galaxy Fold came to be and the powerful effect it is set to have on consumers’ lives, Samsung Newsroom sat down with Eui-Suk Chung, Executive Vice President and Head of Software and Artificial Intelligence at Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business during the MWC19 in Barcelona.

Q. The potential Galaxy Fold has for the way we use our smartphones is immense. What motivated such a development?

“Our understanding of consumer needs – in particular, demand for a larger device screen that is comfortable to hold – led us to create this revolutionary device. Samsung had already pioneered category-defining innovation with the Galaxy Note series, the ‘phablet’ hybrid, but we had noticed that a demand for even larger screens to keep up with content consumption has still not wavered. We debuted the prototypes of a flexible display technology in 2011, but it took another eight years to develop the technology to deliver this product in a truly meaningful way for users as a direct response to the way people are currently using their phones.”

Q. Which is?

“In brief, all the time and for all things. With the Galaxy Fold, we are bringing greater device mobility, an expanded screen and a versatile camera into one device that can slip into your pocket. Galaxy Fold is for those who want it all on a bigger screen, but without the bulk – a ‘phone plus more’.”

Q. So what can users expect from the Galaxy Fold?  

“Galaxy Fold provides a completely new way for consumers to use a smartphone and get the best out of both of the worlds it draws upon, smartphone and tablet. It is a compact device that unfolds to reveal Samsung’s largest-ever mobile display, optimized for the Android ecosystem and applications on it.

The Galaxy Fold’s software was designed to provide streamlined usage for various scenarios. When the user folds it, they can take a quick look at smartphone notifications and other essentials. Then, when it is unfolded, the user can use the larger immersive display for higher quality viewing on the apps they require and in-depth multitasking.”

Eui-Suk Chung, EVP and Head of Software and AI at Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business

Q. Can you expand on the Galaxy Fold’s multitasking capabilities?

“With the Galaxy Fold’s Multi-Active Window, the multitasking possibilities are virtually endless. For example, a user can open up to three apps simultaneously on the main display to surf, text, share and watch without missing a beat. We developed this main display to allow multitasking with three apps because users can already use two at once, if they wish, on existing smartphones. The Galaxy Fold provides the best possible experience of three apps at once, all in a very comfortable way.

The Fold also makes app usability even easier – the app in use on the cover display with automatically transfer back to the main display when the device is opened, and then transition seamlessly back to the cover display when closed. Users will find that the experience of shifting from the cover to the main display and vice versa is, thanks to the inward fold, as satisfying, as natural and as easy as reading a book.”

Q. Do all apps support App Continuity and Multi-Active Window?

“The Galaxy Fold features UX functionality unlike other devices thanks to the partnerships we have with Google and app developers in the Android developer community. We worked very closely with Google on developing app-compatible software to the end of creating not just a Samsung proprietary solution, but general Android solutions.

We continue to work with the Android developer community to ensure apps are optimized for the Galaxy Fold and that user experience only continues to improve. Support for App Continuity and Multi-Active Window will vary based on the application and the developer’s adherence with Google policies and guidelines.

As more apps are developed to be compatible with foldable-specific features, Samsung will continue to provide the best possible experience for apps not yet optimized for a foldable device thanks to the Galaxy Fold’s app compatibility software.”

Q. What has this collaborative development process been like?

“We wanted to ensure that users’ favorite apps and services were optimized for the Galaxy Fold’s unique UX. Working closely with our partners, we set up a test lab so that we could directly engage and work with top companies to bring the best services to our foldable smartphone. In particular, Samsung and Google have a rich history of close collaboration, and our work together on this foldable device is another example of that.”

Q. Finally, could you elaborate more on the experience of developing a foldable mobile device?

“The making of a foldable smartphone was a large undertaking – from creating materials and methods to overcoming mechanical challenges. From the start, we were focused on achieving the best user experience. All the new elements we had to create – hardware, software, app compatibility – are all layers that have come together to form a device with optimum usability at its core.

We also broke barriers to create the Galaxy Fold. It features a UX functionality unlike other devices made possible by our app developer and Google partnerships.

We are proud to have introduced Samsung’s first-ever foldable smartphone, and we are excited about what’s next – from ‘foldable’ to ‘roll-able’ and even to ‘stretch-able’. New device designs that can be folded in multiple ways are no longer beyond the realm of possibility and Samsung is ready to usher in these options and create meaningful experiences for consumers that help them do more of what they love.”

Stay tuned to Samsung Newsroom for the latest on the Galaxy Fold and other Samsung devices.