Galaxy Fold 2 to be released with larger display, bendable glass cover
That’s an awful lot of new developments around foldables for just two days worth, but we are now also learning about the actual Galaxy Fold successor. Around the news that Samsung will switch to local supplier for the cover glass of the Fold 2, Korean media is reporting that it will sport a larger, 8″ display, compared to the 7.3″ panel on the OG Fold.
That last one is made by the Japanese from Sumitomo out of durable polyimide (PI) and has fallen under said trade restrictions. Comprising the top layer of the Galaxy Fold’s flexible display package, it is actually an integral part of the screen. That wasn’t quite clear on the preview units Samsung sent out, and some tried to peel it off, ruining the handset’s display in the process.
Galaxy Fold 2 – an 8″ glass sheet that bends
The so-called Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) is, needless to say, tougher than the “regular” polyimide protective film that the Galaxy Fold now uses. How can glass bend without breaking, though? Well, the key word is thin, apparently, as the DoInsys creation has proved surprisingly durable and the company, which planned to start mass production in 2020, has been getting better yields than planned, removing one more hurdle before the Galaxy Fold 2 plans.
Galaxy Fold 2 release date
The move to a cover glass instead of a PI film for the Galaxy Fold successor has been planned before the drama with the Japanese export restrictions unfolded. It is now proving doubly advantageous for Samsung, as not only will it circumvent the Sumitomo export restrictions to Korea, but will also avoid issues like the “screen protector” look that the PI cover had on the Galaxy Fold.
As for the Galaxy Fold 2 release date, the first DoInsys cover glass batches for its 8″ display were supposed to be supplied by the end of the year, likely resulting in a spring 2020 announcement, but with the Fold release five months behind schedule, Samsung is reportedly biding its time on the ultrathin glass order. Oh, well, at least the foldable phones category is getting more exciting by the day.