A foldable is exactly that — a folding phone. Unlike bar-type smartphones with a single body, foldables consist of a central hinge and two folding sides. The hinge serves as the central axis for opening and closing the phone. Over time, Samsung has introduced unique, cutting-edge technology into the hinge mechanism of its Galaxy Z Fold series to create a revolutionary hinge design with each release. In addition, Samsung has continued to reduce the thickness of the Galaxy Z Fold series so the phone can be carried anytime, anywhere.

Samsung Newsroom looked back at the evolution of the Galaxy Z Fold series’ sleek profile and distinctive hinge design — now thinner, sturdier and compact as ever.

[2019] Galaxy Fold

The Dawn of Foldable Phones: Folding and Unfolding

Thickness when folded: 15.7-17.1mm Thickness when unfolded: 6.9-7.6mm Weight: 276g

As user lifestyles continue to diversify, so too do their needs. Samsung has consistently introduced advanced technologies each year to meet these changes. First unveiled in 2019, the Galaxy Fold featured a ground-breaking form factor — the first to deliver a natural, big-screen experience when unfolded and a compact, portable experience when folded. The act of “folding and unfolding” emerged as a new category of mobile interaction, and Samsung applied never-before-seen hinge technology to ensure this functionality felt natural and intuitive.

The inward-folding hinge not only felt familiar and easy to use, but it also provided robust display protection. The phone could be smoothly opened like a book, yet stay flat and thin when folded. The palm-sized dimensions were key to its convenience. With the first Galaxy Fold, Samsung achieved a maximum folded thickness of just 17.1 millimetres and ushered in the era of smart foldables.

[2020] Galaxy Z Fold2

The Era of FlexMode: Hideaway Hinge and Sweeper Technology

Thickness when folded: 13.8-16.8mm Thickness when unfolded: 6.0-6.9mm Weight: 282g

In 2020, the successor to the pioneering Galaxy Fold was released. The Galaxy Z Fold2 took foldables to the next level with an all-new sophisticated and refined design. The most notable of its several innovative features was the Hideaway Hinge, which seamlessly connected the body of the smartphone while supporting stable folding and unfolding. Users could mount the Galaxy Z Fold2 at various angles with the Hideaway Hinge to easily take selfies and make video calls in FlexMode.

The Hideaway Hinge’s more than sixty parts made the innovative dual CAM mechanism a reality. The flat surface between two ridge-shaped parts, CAM helped keep the device open or closed and enabled FlexMode. By increasing the number of CAM structures and springs, the hinge could reliably support wider angles. The Hideaway Hinge was mounted on an optimal location on the Galaxy Z Fold2 for an even slimmer design and a maximum folded thickness of just 16.8 millimetres.

Since the hinge was constantly folded when the device was opened or closed, there was an inevitable gap between the front of the device and the hinge housing. To effectively minimise this gap, Samsung needed to develop a component that would be long-lasting and elastic without adding extra bulk. Inspired by the brush of a vacuum cleaner, Samsung made use of delicately cut optical fibres to address this issue: Sweeper Technology. Sweeper Technology protected the phone’s display from external dust and debris that could enter through the gap, providing a more fluid foldable device experience.

[2021] Galaxy Z Fold3

The Solution to the Foldable Phone’s Biggest Challenge: Waterproofing

Thickness when folded: 14.4-16.0mm Thickness when unfolded: 6.4mm Weight: 271g

It’s a given that today’s smartphones are waterproof. However, the hinge that opened and closed the screen on foldables would always be exposed to the elements. If liquids such as beverages or even rainwater leaked inside, the device would be at risk of immediate malfunction.

The Galaxy Z Fold3 was the first foldable to be water resistant, one of the biggest challenges that previous foldable devices faced. Samsung’s waterproofing technology was applied to two areas — the outer part of the display and the hinge. The outer part of the display was surrounded by a rubber band that prevented dust and liquid from entering, whereas the metal parts of the hinge were made of corrosion-resistant materials and coated with a long-lasting lubricant. The terminal connecting the two mainboards bordering the hinge was sealed with a silicone-based cured-in-place gasket (CIPG) that prevented liquid from entering the device. Additionally, flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) cables were used to protect sensitive components.

A robust material that withstands external shock and reduces the risk of deformities or scratches, Armor Aluminum was used to help the Galaxy Z Fold3 achieve an even thinner and lighter form factor.

Armor Aluminum was applied to the two edges that make up the exterior and to the housing that surrounds the hinge. Various components were densely packed inside the Galaxy Z Fold3’s Hideaway Hinge to enable FlexMode and ensure smooth opening and closing. To support these functions, the hinge housing needed to be made from sturdy materials.

The Sweeper Technology that closed the gap between the hinge and the body of the foldable evolved too. As the device became slimmer, the sweeper’s bristles were shortened to improve aesthetics while still keeping the hinge safe from dust and external particles. These innovations allowed the Galaxy Z Fold3 to be as thin as 16.0 millimetres when folded.

[2022] Galaxy Z Fold4

From Rotating to Linear: A Slimmer, Lighter Hinge

Thickness when folded: 14.2-15.8mm Thickness when unfolded: 6.3mm Weight: 263g

Unveiled in 2022, the Galaxy Z Fold4 saw a significant reduction in weight and thickness. At 263 grams, the device weighed nearly 20 grams less than the Galaxy Z Fold2 at 282 grams. The maximum folded thickness was 15.8 millimetres, making this foldable the thinnest in the series at the time. Once again, Samsung loaded its signature foldable with innovation — resulting in an easy-to-grip, thin and lightweight body.

Redesigned to be 21% lighter than its predecessor, the new hinge of the Galaxy Z Fold4 accommodated the wider width and shorter length of the Cover Screen. While the previous foldable in the series used interlocking gears to ensure even screen folding and unfolding, the Galaxy Z Fold4 changed the hinge motion from rotary to linear. This adjustment drastically reduced weight, thickness and the number of parts, which streamlined manufacturing and improved the device’s resilience. With the Galaxy Z Fold4, Samsung built its slimmest, lightest hinge at the time while upholding the same level of durability as the previous form factor.

[2023] Galaxy Z Fold5

FlexHinge: The Secret to a Fully Foldable Phone

Thickness when folded: 13.4mm Thickness when unfolded: 6.1mm Weight: 253g

In 2023, the Galaxy Z Fold5 introduced the world to the next generation of foldable smartphones. Moving away from the traditional Hideaway Hinge, Samsung unveiled a new type of mechanism called the FlexHinge — demonstrating a leap forward in foldable innovation. With improved flexibility and a wide range of features, the FlexHinge made it possible for the display to curl into the hinge like a water droplet using four drive shafts and a dual rail structure that allowed parts to glide along it. Thanks to this hinge technology, the two screens could be evenly folded without any creases or gaps.

This new folding mechanism resulted in the lightest and thinnest Galaxy Z Fold series device yet. More than two millimetres thinner than its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold5’s maximum thickness is 13.4 millimetres when folded. The foldable also weighs 253 grams — 10 grams lighter than its predecessor — making it more compact, portable and stable when folded. The phone’s sleek, solid shape could be appreciated from any angle.

Each year, Samsung refines the Galaxy Z Fold series by leveraging precise engineering and meticulous manufacturing processes. Every detail is studied carefully, from internal mechanisms to exterior design. Reimagining the hinges and device thickness — core attributes of the foldable — has enhanced the utility of the Galaxy Z Fold series immensely. Samsung will continue to build on its legacy of unprecedented foldables, ensuring that more people can utilise them for an even more convenient life.

Discover the next generation of Samsung’s innovations at Galaxy Unpacked on July 10 in Paris.

Sky Brown capturing her skateboarding content with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, captured by Oli Hillyer-Riley

London, UK – 27^th September 2023 – In a first for the brand, Samsung UK & Ireland has today announced a new partnership with Skateboard GB, the governing body for Skateboarding in Great Britain. Samsung epitomises the Korean spirit of ‘Tu-hon’ – a burning, under-dog spirit of grit and passion, and a relentless drive to succeed, which goes hand-in-hand with the athletes of the sport and their ‘guts to try’ mentality. When it comes to Samsung’s technology, innovative features such as Flex Mode^[1] in the new Galaxy Z Flip5 enable skateboarders to take the perfect action shot – effortlessly capturing those bold enough to get on a board, go up and down ramps, and to land that trick that would seem impossible to most^[2].

Together Samsung and Skateboard GB hope to combine their underdog mentality to nurture the next generation of skateboarding talent and inspire more participation in the sport across the country. Every kick-flip and trick will also be captured by the team on the show-stopping new Galaxy Z Flip5 – with its incredible camera and content capture capabilities. The better the quality of the content, the prouder skateboarders will feel showing off their skills, generating more kudos.

To further empower the next generation of skateboarding athletes, Samsung has brought together a team of pro skaters, uniting leading British talent with the most exciting skateboarders on the scene, to help champion the sport. Jordan Thackeray, Stefani Nurding, Rianne Evans, Ashley Mercer and Alex Decunha will be led by Sky Brown, in capturing their #withGalaxy content with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5. Sky made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games aged only 13, winning Bronze in the park event and has gone on to become Britain’s first skateboarding World Champion.

“Those that pick up a skateboard, whether at the Olympics or their local skate park, are so inspiring as it demands guts and determination to keep trying. With the next Olympics around the corner, and so much untapped talent across the UK, we’re thrilled to be supporting Skateboard GB in its development of the sport”, said Annika Bizon, Marketing & Omnichannel Director at Samsung. “We also know how important photography is to these athletes, recording their progress and capturing their skills mid-air, and our Samsung foldable devices can help do just that. Forget propping your phone up on the rails or with a shoe – Flex Mode does it for you, so you never miss a shot – no matter how many times it takes to land it.”

With Samsung’s support, Skateboard GB will use the funding to help British skateboarders ‘Skate More, Skate Better’. A campaign aimed at inspiring skateboarders around the UK to get involved through:

• Coaching opportunities: Developing and amplifying Skateboard GB’s ‘The Cruiser Awards’ to support beginner skateboarders aged 8–16-year-old within communities across the UK.
• Supporting and maintaining facilities: Protecting and supporting community skate parks and spaces all over the country.
• Elite athlete support: Financing performance pathways and competition entries for Team GB.

James Hope-Gill, CEO at Skateboard GB said “We’re absolutely delighted to be partnering with Samsung, as they look to support us in developing and growing skateboarding throughout the UK. Both organisations aim to inspire and nurture skaters in amazing skateable spaces across the country and this partnership is a key part of facilitating our desire to provide skaters the opportunity to “Skate More, Skate Better” from grassroots skateboarding through to the Olympics.”

Sky Brown, a 15-year-old Olympic skateboarding sensation and World Champion, said, “One thing I love even more than skateboarding, is seeing others try it and love it for themselves! You have to have the right attitude, and never give up – it’s all about having the guts. I can feel people in the UK getting behind our sport and I can’t wait to see where we can take it together.”

Samsung will celebrate the partnership at an event at London skatepark BaySixty6, bringing Team Samsung Galaxy Skate, a team of pro skaters, together to demo their skateboarding skills to an audience of young skateboarders from the local community, encouraging them to’ drop in’ with Samsung on the day. The team of skaters will show what’s achievable if you have the guts to try and demonstrate the capabilities of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip5, as the perfect device to ensure that when you hit the ramp, you never miss a trick.

Find out more: https://www.samsung.com/uk/skate/

[1] Flex Mode supported at angles between 75° and 115°

[2] Helmets and safety pads are recommended for skateboarders

LONDON, UK – 13^th December 2022 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd: With Christmas celebrations in full swing, ‘tis the season for filling our feeds with festive content. From family portraits by the tree to showing off your Christmas party outfits, there’s plenty of picture moments. Whilst festive feeds are high on the agenda for many, the social media other halves of the UK are feeling the strain.

A new survey from Samsung UK has revealed that the nation is spending an average of nine minutes per shot getting the perfect snap for their partner – the equivalent of 23 hours a year. What’s more, nearly half (48%) expect a rise in their camera duties during the Christmas period.

According to research, almost a quarter (22%) of Brits in relationships admit to feeling like a ‘social media widow’ – defined as the secret content creators hidden behind the lens, having lost the attention of their other half to the feed. However, this December we can expect the feeds to be flipped – a fifth (21%) of social media other halves determined that this is the year they will feature in their partner’s photos.

With the festivities fast approaching, Instagram-worthy picture expectations are high; One in ten Instagram other halves admit to reshooting their Christmas tree reveal because it didn’t look good enough, have snapped multiple boomerangs of the ‘cheers’ before taking a well-earned sip and admit to being chilled to the core in the snow to get the perfect winter portrait of their partner.

The survey also found that social media lovers love to stage scenes for the gram, with one in five (18%) having rearranged the dinner table multiple times to get the shot and 13% admitting to having put on a festive outfit especially, only to get back into pyjamas after the shot has been taken.

To help these social media other halves relinquish their photographer duties this Christmas, Samsung UK has partnered with reality TV stars (and couple) Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page, to show couples across the UK how to easily capture content hands-free. Thanks to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip4 FlexCam feature, both partners have the freedom to enjoy the festivities and perfectly snap every moment:

• Capture festive selfies or hands-free videos at various angles by partially folding the Galaxy Z Flip4 to activate Flex Mode^[1]
• Take high-quality selfies right from the Cover Screen with the upgraded Quick Shot. Start high-quality video recording in Quick Shot mode and then seamlessly switch to Flex Mode to continue recording hands-free without stopping the video – ideal for making sure you never miss a shot.

Tasha Ghouri, Love Island star and model, said: “I love taking festive snaps at Christmas, it’s literally the perfect time of year for the cute content as everything looks so pretty. This year, I’ll be giving Andrew a break from his content capture duties as we can both get in the shot with the Galaxy Z Flip4’s hands-free mode… probably the best present he could ask for!”

Social media other halves admit to having found themselves in some unusual situations:

• Having to lay down on the floor outside to get the best angle possible (8%)
• Risking their lives for a picture perfect shot by standing in front of a tourist attraction in the middle of oncoming traffic (8%)
• Getting weird looks from strangers when they are taking a photo in public (29%)

When asked what’s stopping their shots from getting the ‘gram-worthy’ stamp of approval, never catching their good angle (30%), bad lighting (30%), poor camera quality (22%) and people in the background (21%) are the most common complaints, with a quarter (26%) wishing there was an easier way to take the perfect festive snap.

Although the dedication isn’t just for the Christmas period. One in four (22%) say they spend more time taking pictures of their partner on holiday than having pictures taken together and a quarter (26%) have to put the feed first on date night, refraining from eating/drinking until their partner has finished getting pics of the table spread.

[1] Flex Mode supported at angles 75 and 115°

LONDON, UK – 27 November 2022 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd: The average Brit has almost £800 worth of unworn clothes in their wardrobes, thanks to 43% admitting that they hold onto clothes that they have bought but don’t even like. With clothing accounting for nearly a quarter of all second-hand purchases made in the UK in 2022^[1], there’s money to be made from turning pre-loved items into new-found fits.

The study by Samsung UK reveals that almost half (48%) would prefer to recycle or re-sell their clothes than throw them away, yet a fifth find it too much effort and over a third (39%) have given up on the selling process altogether because they found it too hard to do the clothes justice through photos.

Despite wanting to rehome their unwanted wardrobes, more than half of UK adults (55%) admit they have thrown wearable clothing in the bin, with a third (34%) feeling guilty about doing so.

A third of young adults who have sold pre-loved clothing online, have made an average of £350 from their efforts, with 20% bringing in £500 or more. So, what’s getting in the way of selling success for many? Unclear descriptions, poor quality pictures and price top the list of things that put off buyers when browsing second-hand sites and making purchasing decisions.

With the UK’s appetite to re-sell more clothes and the nations wardrobes overflowing with unworn yet still tagged items (30%), Samsung UK is on a mission to arm the nation with tips, tricks and tech tools to help. Teaming up with Tasha Ghouri, a huge advocate for pre-loved clothing, Samsung UK reveals top tips to second-hand selling success.

Tashi Ghouri said: “Selling clothes online is about to become your next side hustle. Putting the effort in to capture the best photos for your online listing will help you sell more items, for better prices and and at faster pace.

When I shop second-hand, I always want to see what it looks like with someone wearing it, so make sure you capture pictures with you in it to drive more interest. With Samsung’s Z Flip4, I like how I can take pictures hands-free at any angle with Flex Mode, so even if no one’s in to take my pictures, I know I can still capture the items looking their best.”

Thinking no one would want their old clothes (25%) and not being bothered (26%) also add to the reasons the eco-conscious are not giving their unworn items a second life.

Despite the obstacles putting people off, the research found that 24% do want to buy second-hand clothes and 22% want to sell more of them.

Ashrita Seshadri, Head of Brand Marketing Samsung UK, said: “People are clearly wanting to find alternatives to throwing away their unwanted clothes, but many are feeling held back by the thought and process of reselling. We want to arm everyone with the tools to get better quality pictures and videos that do their pre-loved garments justice.”

Find out more tips and tricks to on the Samsung KX Hub here

[1] Nationwide survey by Statista: https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997906/second-hand-purchases-by-category-in-the-uk