Samsung’s next foldable could end up using a lot more glass

According to a recent report out of Korea, it has been suggested that Samsung is apparently exploring the idea of using glass for the backplanes for its future foldable phones. This is due to a variety of reasons, such as costs and also political reasons.

For those unfamiliar, the backplane in a foldable phone is a part of the phone that acts as a support between the foldable panel and its hinge. Samsung has relied on a variety of materials in the past, ranging from steel, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, and in the case of the Galaxy Z Fold FE, titanium.

So what’s with the potential shift to glass? Like we said, there are a variety of reasons. One of those reasons could be political. The re-election of US President Donald Trump could escalate the trade war between the US and China, where Samsung’s use of titanium is primarily sourced from.

Another reason is cost and ease of manufacturing. Titanium has been known to be a difficult material to work with, not to mention it can be expensive. This is versus glass which is easier to work with and cheaper. This could potentially lead to cheaper foldables, or at the very least hold Samsung back from increasing prices for the next few years.

This doesn’t mean that glass is the perfect solution. Unlike metals like steel or titanium, glass is a poor conductor of heat, which could cause overheating issues if not addressed properly. Either way, take it with a grain of salt for now but we’ll have to wait and see if Samsung goes through with their plans.