Samsung reveals its design approach to its foldable phones

All our mobile phones are designed differently and we’re sure that at least some of you might be curious as to how a company approaches the design of their phones. What is the inspiration behind a particular design? Why did they choose the design that they did?

If you’re a Samsung fan and you’re looking forward to the company’s upcoming foldables, Samsung’s mobile chief, Dr. T.M. Roh, recently penned a blog post on the company’s website where he reveals the thoughts and the process that goes into designing the company’s foldables.

According to Roh, the company’s products are guided by three “Design identities”, which are “Essential, Innovative, and Harmonious”. This means that each product design needs to prioritize the purpose of the product and ease of daily use, while also being innovative by being original. It also needs to be designed in a way that ensures that all the design elements work together while also aligning with “societal, environmental and ethical values.”

“Take, for instance, the act of folding and unfolding a smartphone. It seems simple. However, that simplicity users feel is only achieved through a rigorous focus on what is most essential and intuitive. The minimal, sleek appearance housing specialized hinge functionality emphasizes our commitment and the inherent beauty of essential design.

We’ve raised the standards for foldable smartphone ergonomics. A difference of millimeter in a device’s thickness may not sound like a big change, but every gram and millimeter in a foldable device requires an engineering breakthrough. It demands craftsmanship with passion. When done well, the benefit to users is huge. That’s why we’ve innovated to make our latest foldables slimmer and lighter than our previous generations.”

Samsung’s upcoming foldables are expected to incorporate new design elements. For example, the hinge on the new phones are rumored to adopt a waterdrop design that reduces the gap when the phone is closed, and the Flip 5 is also said to sport a new and larger external display. Both devices (and other devices) will be announced next week, so check back with us then for the official details.

Source: Samsung