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.”

*Galaxy Fold 5G availability may vary by market

Samsung Malaysia Electronics today announced the pre-order of the Galaxy Fold — a completely new category of mobile technology will be available starting 9^th October 2019!

The Galaxy Fold was designed to inspire new experiences: When closed, you can access your essentials on the cover display comfortably with one hand, and when opened, you can explore new ways to multitask, watch videos, play games, and more, on its immersive 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display.[1]

For the past several months, Samsung has been refining the Galaxy Fold to ensure it delivers the best possible experience. Not only did Samsung improve the Galaxy Fold’s design and construction, but it also took the time to rethink the entire consumer journey.

“The category-defining Galaxy Fold is a device that defies the barriers of traditional smartphone design. Now, we’re excited to release this pioneering mobile technology, and allow consumers to experience it for themselves,” said Yoonsoo Kim, President of Samsung Malaysia Electronics. “From the moment you pick it up, to the moment you close it, Galaxy Fold unlocks a completely new way for you to use your mobile device. It’s designed to have a seamless experience folded or unfolded and optimized for the Android ecosystem,” he added.

First-of-its-Kind User Experience

The Galaxy Fold combines users’ favorite smartphone and tablet features to deliver a new kind of mobile device and a first-of-its-kind user experience—from a new form factor and materials to its unique foldable UX, versatile camera and premium performance. Samsung worked alongside partners to create an entirely new UX that will change the way we use our mobile devices and takes full advantage of the foldable design with its cover and main displays. As a result, the device opens up new possibilities for users.

The Galaxy Fold transforms how you capture, share, and edit mobile content. When closed, you can shoot a quick video, and then simply open the device to watch it on a larger screen—with App Continuity, the video seamlessly transitions from the cover display to the main display.[2] With Multi-Active Window, you can run multiple apps at once in real-time and effectively multitask: Edit footage, browse through the photo gallery for still shots, and read emails from friends and co-workers, all at the same time.[3]

Every Galaxy Fold comes with exclusive access to specialized customer care services – including one-on-one access to Samsung experts, and a 24/7 support hub online or over the phone. Samsung will elaborate on plans in each market to ensure every aspect of the Galaxy Fold experience is as extraordinary as the device itself.

The Galaxy Fold’s pre-order are available for purchase at selected Samsung participating stores and participating chain store retailers with the recommended retail price of RM8,388, offered in Cosmos Black and Space Silver.

For more information about Galaxy Fold’s pre –order and product, please visit https://www.samsung.com/my/offer/mobile/galaxy-fold-preorder and https://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-fold/.

Galaxy Fold Product Specifications

[1] Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners and the upper cutout. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the upper cutout.

[2] Certain third party applications may not support app continuity.

[3] Certain third party applications may not support Multi-Active Window.

*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 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.

Samsung Electronics today announced the launch of the Galaxy Fold—a completely new category of mobile technology—available in Korea on September 6, followed by select countries including France, Germany, Singapore, U.K., U.S., and more, in Cosmos Black and Space Silver. With a 5G-ready option in select countries, consumers will be able to unfold the future on the fastest network speeds available.

Galaxy Fold was designed to inspire new experiences: When closed, you can access your essentials on the cover display comfortably with one hand, and when opened, you can explore new ways to multitask, watch videos, play games, and more, on its immersive 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display.¹

During the past several months, Samsung has been refining the Galaxy Fold to ensure it delivers the best possible experience. Not only we improved the Galaxy Fold’s design and construction, but also took the time to rethink the entire consumer journey.

“The category-defining Galaxy Fold is a device that defies the barriers of traditional smartphone design. Now, we’re excited to release this pioneering mobile technology, and allow consumers to experience it for themselves,” said DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “Consumers have responded positively to larger screens, and the Galaxy Fold’s revolutionary form factor offers a bigger, more immersive screen without sacrificing portability. This is what we call innovation of new mobile experience in action.”

First-of-its-Kind User Experience

The Galaxy Fold combines users’ favorite smartphone and tablet features to deliver a new kind of mobile device and a first-of-its-kind user experience—from a new form factor and materials to its unique foldable UX, versatile camera and premium performance. Samsung worked alongside partners to create an entirely new UX that will change the way we use our mobile devices and takes full advantage of the foldable design with its cover and main displays. As a result, the device opens up new possibilities for users.

The Galaxy Fold transforms how you capture, share, and edit mobile content. When closed, you can shoot a quick video, and then simply open the device to watch it on a larger screen—with App Continuity, the video seamlessly transitions from the cover display to the main display.² With Multi-Active Window, you can run multiple apps at once in real-time and effectively multitask: Edit footage, browse through the photo gallery for still shots, and read emails from friends and co-workers, all at the same time.³

With a 5G-ready option, Galaxy Fold users in select markets can take full advantage of their carriers’ fastest speeds. The Galaxy Fold 5G harnesses the full power of next-generation connectivity for streaming and downloading high-resolution videos and other content, as well as graphics-heavy games, at super-charged speeds.⁴ By allowing us to do more with the 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display, the Galaxy Fold is changing the way we consume content and multitask.⁵

Every Galaxy Fold comes with exclusive access to specialized customer care services – including one-on-one access to Samsung experts, and a 24/7 support hub online or over the phone. Samsung will elaborate on plans in each market to ensure every aspect of the Galaxy Fold experience is as extraordinary as the device itself.

For more information about Galaxy Fold, please visit news.samsung.com/galaxy, www.samsungmobilepress.com or www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/galaxy-fold.

Galaxy Fold Product Specifications

*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 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 Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners and the upper cutout. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the upper cutout.

² Certain third party applications may not support app continuity.

³ Certain third party applications may not support Multi-Active Window.

⁴ Requires optimal 5G network connection. Actual speed may vary depending on country, carrier, and user environment.

⁵ Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners and the upper cutout. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the upper cutout.

The Galaxy Fold has a 4.6-inch cover display and, when unfolded, the device reveals the world’s first 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display, offering endless multitasking possibilities. The Galaxy Fold is also equipped with six versatile cameras from cover to cover, allowing you to snap a photo whenever, wherever and offering you flexibility in function, as well as form. With a next-generation AP chipset and 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy Fold can achieve powerful performance.

Take a look at the infographic below for more details about how the Galaxy Fold goes beyond the limitations of a traditional smartphone.

Updated on September 5th, 2019

Samsung subjected the device to several rounds of extensive tests in its state-of-the-art reliability labs to make sure that the Galaxy Fold is ready to come to market.

Naturally, given the smartphone’s design, a Folding Test was a pivotal part of the Galaxy Fold’s durability assessment. This test, which examines whether the Galaxy Fold can outlast 200,000 folds and unfolds (or around five years of use, if used 100 times a day), takes a full week to complete. While the extent of the test may seem like overkill to some, Samsung viewed it as vital to ensuring the durability of device’s hinged design and Infinity Flex Display.

Watch how Samsung ensures that the Galaxy Fold will be up to the task with each and every fold and unfold.

Hark-sang Kim, Senior Vice President, Head of Visual R&D Team, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics

In light of modest global sales recently, some observers say that smartphone innovation has hit a bottleneck, as new devices bear more iterative upgrades instead of groundbreaking features. Others even predict that the smartphone era may be coming to an end soon.

But with mobile technologies like 5G, AI, and AR maturing rapidly, users will be able to do even more with their smartphones soon. Instead of losing relevance, the next wave of technological innovation will make the smartphone more central to our lives than ever before. Whether it’s leveraging increased connectivity or harnessing next-generation mobile intelligence, a larger display will be key to accessing future smartphone experiences.

Despite current trends, we are still living in a world where the size of the smartphone display can only be as large as the device itself. At Samsung, we began to ask ourselves how we can overcome this limitation and expand the possibilities of what users can accomplish on the go.

The Shape of Things to Come

Smartphone displays can’t get any larger without compromising portability – this was the orthodoxy for a long time.

Instead of accepting the status quo, resolving the contradiction between screen size and portability and developing a new form factor became the central focus of our innovation efforts.

The recent unveiling of the Infinity Flex Display at SDC 2018 signaled the start of this new chapter. But building a foldable device was no mean feat. After the prototypes of the flexible display debuted at CES in 2011, it took another seven years to perfect the technology and deliver a truly meaningful experience to users. From developing new materials to overcoming mechanical challenges, the foldable screen demanded a total reconfiguration of the smartphone from inside out.

Preparing for the New Era

We expect to see a sea change in the smartphone form factor in the coming years. From rollable and stretchable devices to the devices that can fold in multiple ways are no longer beyond the realms of reality. Samsung is ready to usher in this future and create meaningful experiences for consumers that help them do more of what they love.

To build the new foldable device, we made significant investments to create a new material that completely changes the anatomy of the smartphone display. We also created a natural and durable folding experience that users can appreciate from the very first time they unfold the device and crafted an innovative mechanical technology that can withstand hundreds of thousands of folds. We also had to rethink the placements of the battery, cooling system, and camera so that they can be placed inside the slim body efficiently. Last but not least, we developed an intuitive UX to ensure apps can transition seamlessly between the smaller and larger displays. We are committed to continue pushing the limits of possibility and lead the mobile industry into a new era.

Smartphone innovation is at the cusp of the next major transformation. The arrival of the Infinity Flex Display is just the beginning. We will continue pushing the limits of possibility and shape the future as it unfolds.

The development of Samsung’s cutting-edge mobile display is a prime example of this user-centric approach to innovation. As the conduit between the user and the smartphone, the display brings hardware and software together to deliver a holistic mobile experience.

This is why Samsung has always aimed to deliver the best display experience by listening closely to what users hope to achieve with their mobile devices. From the Super AMOLED Display to the cutting-edge Infinity Flex Display, user feedback has helped us to break new ground in mobile display technology consistently.

Check out the infographic below to learn more.