Samsung Developing Four-Panel Foldable? Patent Application Shows Design, Hinges

Even as Samsung gave a sneak peek of a tri-fold smartphone at the Galaxy Unpacked in January, the South Korean tech giant is yet to launch a tri-fold smartphone that can get into the ring with the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design.

However, Samsung appears to be taking it one notch up in the foldable space with a device that folds up into four panels. According to a patent application, Samsung may be developing a gadget with three hinges connecting four folding panels that extend to create a single, long display, as shown in the patent document. 

As per the patent application found on the WIPO website (via SamMobile), Samsung is developing a foldable gadget with four panels. Three hinges link these panels, as shown in the application. The smartphone seems to form a much larger display when it is unfurled. A more intricate hinge connecting the second and third panels enables the farthest panels to fold inward.

The document is titled "Electronic device including bendable display" and includes sketches of Samsung's most cutting-edge folding design to date. Although the company has displayed other foldable phone prototypes with three folding panels and even a "rollable" display, the gadget in this application could end up giving an incredibly large screen space.

The two inner panels of the device appear to fold towards each other, while the outermost panels fold on top of the inner ones utilising two hinges. The gadget can be folded again along the centre hinge once it is in a partially folded position. The four panels combine to create a fairly thick bar when folded.

It is, however, unknown whether Samsung intends to make the four-panel foldable commercially available. The company has in the recent past teased foldables that have yet to go into commercial production. 

According to a different Samsung patent application, the company may be developing a gadget that can be folded both inwards and outwards, a prototype of which was unveiled in 2023. Additionally, Samsung has reportedly been developing a tri-fold phone that supports the S Pen and has two hinges.