Samsung patent shows functionality of foldable tablet

New details have emerged about Samsung's plans for a foldable tablet. A new patent shows a design with the screen folded over one of the edges, possibly enabling users to access easily certain functions when the tablet is shut. Samsung has used a similar design with the Edge phones in its Galaxy smartphone line. The side screen might give users the ability to launch quickly the camera app, for example. These flexible screens will rely on OLED displays, which tend to be more flexible than LCDs and it is an area Samsung excels in. While there is no news on when Samsung might launch a foldable tablet, Bloomberg reported recently the company is planning two smartphones with this technology that could ship as soon as early-2017.

A lot of buzz has been building up around flexible displays recently. This year, two China companies, Lenovo and Moxi, announced smartphones that could roll around a wrist, effectively becoming smart watches. Smartphone and tablet vendors have also been requesting flexible screens from suppliers, possibly in anticipation of what is seen as the next trend in consumer electronics.

The success of a new technology similar to this relies on implementation. If Samsung's devices are successful, it could prove the value of flexible smartphone and tablet screens. Apple has its own patent for a bendable iPhone, so it is possible the company could contribute to setting the trend as well. The maker’s 3D touch, though, has not been seen as a must-have feature. Huawei actually beat Apple to market with a phone that responds to harder presses on the screen and ZTE has also implemented this technology, but that has not helped it take off.

Whether or not the feature takes off across the market might not matter. It could help justify the high prices of Samsung devices while much of the smartphone and tablet markets are locked in a race to bottom. For now, it looks like at least the South Korea company is committed to the concept of foldable smartphones and tablets. Lenovo and other China makers could soon follow when they are done experimenting with the smartphone/smart watch form factor.