Is it a Phone or a Tablet or a Notebook?
In the middle of last month Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) applied for a patent for a ‘Display Device’, one of 9,407 under that name that Samsung has filed at the US Patent Office since 1976. This patent shows a tablet, albeit one with a rather large edge, but what the design actually portrays is a tablet that folds. This would be, if it were to become a product, the first foldable tablet from Samsung, although not the first to be shown by other brands. The concept, which includes no ‘cover’ screen, as seen in most foldable smartphones, and has a camera (one) and flash built into the hinge, keeping the bezels very narrow. In keeping with the ‘thinness’ paradigm, all buttons, connectors, and the speaker have been incorporated on the sides rather than on the display itself.
Given that Samsung’s existing foldables open to 7.6”, a foldable tablet seems a bit moot unless the size of the opened device is considerably larger, perhaps 15” or more. Since the tablet is not going to be placed in a pocket like a smartphone, the ‘folded’ dimension is less important than the utility of a 15”+ device. Samsung has been rumored to be developing a foldable tablet, and this patent design seems to fit the bill for what would be a relatively simple device that would have the ability to push foldable display sizes more toward notebook or laptop sizes, while keeping costs relatively low While the patent does not indicate a potential product, it does make sense from the perspective of filling out Samsung’s foldable line, which we still believe will eventually replace the Galaxy Note. Maybe not this year, but despite Samsung’s denial, we think the Galaxy Note will either be eliminated or will migrate to a foldable device.
Given that Samsung’s existing foldables open to 7.6”, a foldable tablet seems a bit moot unless the size of the opened device is considerably larger, perhaps 15” or more. Since the tablet is not going to be placed in a pocket like a smartphone, the ‘folded’ dimension is less important than the utility of a 15”+ device. Samsung has been rumored to be developing a foldable tablet, and this patent design seems to fit the bill for what would be a relatively simple device that would have the ability to push foldable display sizes more toward notebook or laptop sizes, while keeping costs relatively low While the patent does not indicate a potential product, it does make sense from the perspective of filling out Samsung’s foldable line, which we still believe will eventually replace the Galaxy Note. Maybe not this year, but despite Samsung’s denial, we think the Galaxy Note will either be eliminated or will migrate to a foldable device.
Samsung Foldable Tablet - Source: USPO
Samsung Foldable Tablet - Hinge View- Source: US Patent Office
Samsung Foldable Tablet - Folded View - Source: US Patent Office
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