Check out the video below to hear Samsung experts break down the intricacies of the Hideaway Hinge and sweeper technology.

*Subtitles are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Korean

* The images shown are for illustration purposes only, and may differ from the actual product. Product specifications may vary by country, region, model, and carrier.

Keeping internal components clean is essential for maintaining the performance of a smartphone. The challenge of keeping dust and dirt out is even greater for foldable devices, as their designs include microscopic gaps between the body and the hinge.

Sweeper Technology

In designing the Galaxy Z Flip’s hinge, Samsung engineers not only had to account for the spaces between the body and the hinge, but also meet three specific conditions: Elasticity (to account for shifts in the gap size); long-lasting flexibility (the hinge is tested to withstand 200,000 folds1); and slimness (to keep the device’s sleek form factor).

Finding a solution that protected against particles and met those conditions meant dozens and dozens of failed prototypes. But then, one of Samsung’s top engineers noticed that the way fibers were used in vacuum cleaners was similar to what was required for the Hideaway Hinge. The sweeper fibers were not only pliable enough to cover all the gaps as the smartphone folds and unfolds, they also remained flexible after long-term usage.

Now let’s take a look at how Samsung engineers overcame all those challenges and what the outcome of their efforts looks like.

When you hear the word hinge, you probably think of the simple component that lets a door open and close. The Hideaway Hinge on the Galaxy Z Flip is so much more than that. It’s an innovation marvel and the backbone of the device – it quite literally holds the entire smartphone.

Designing the hinge was no easy feat. Samsung had to tackle some huge problems to ensure that it was ready for consumers.

First, Samsung had to invent a hinge that is strong, stable and offered a smooth experience, without adding any extra bulk. Second, Samsung had to come up with a way to prevent small particles, like dust and sand, from entering the tiny gap between the hinge and screen.

To solve both of these problems at once, Samsung engineers developed a patented Hideaway Hinge technology that combines two completely new, groundbreaking innovations: the dual CAM mechanism and sweeper technology. In this first instalment of a two-part series, we will explore the first innovation of the Hideaway Hinge: the dual CAM mechanism.

Hideaway Hinge’s Dual CAM Mechanism

The ridge-shaped dual CAM mechanism is a key component of the Galaxy Z Flip’s Hideaway Hinge and revolutionary, gradual folding experience. Because of this innovative technology, the Galaxy Z Flip can open, close and stand on its own at different angles. It’s the difference between a light switch that can only go on and off and a dimmer that offers many more degrees of control.

In addition, the precisely crafted dual CAM mechanism keeps the Hideaway Hinge slim, and the Galaxy Z Flip small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.