The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 looks like it will fix one thing that many folding screen cellphone users have complained about. Rumors say the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will come with a screen with minimal wrinkles.
According to reports from Naver, Samsung will adopt a hinge with a 'droplet' design. This new-style hinge allows the screen to form a waterdrop shape when closed, so that the curvature of the screen is less extreme and leaves no creases.
After releasing four generations of foldable screen phones, Samsung has certainly brought a lot of improvements to minimize the folds on the main screen. But the fold is still visible on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4.
Samsung itself is currently using a 'U'-shaped hinge for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 which makes the fold angle sharper when closed. This hinge creates a more obvious crease on the screen and puts more pressure on the display.
Samsung is also the only folding screen cellphone vendor that still uses a 'U' hinge design. Other smartphone vendors including Oppo and Motorola have adopted a droplet hinge design to solve the problem of folding on the screen.
The Naver report also revealed that Samsung patented a droplet hinge design in 2016. It is not known why Samsung did not go with the design, but it is likely because the South Korean cellphone vendor wanted to wait until it could make the design support the IPX8 rating for water resistance.
The water resistance feature itself has been available since the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 which were released in 2021. This feature can certainly make Samsung's folding screen phones superior, considering that the Oppo Find N2 and Motorola Razr do not have a waterproof rating, as quoted from The Verge, Monday (16/1/2023).
In addition to the more minimal fold marks, Naver says the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will have a design that can make the two screens close more tightly. Currently, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 still has a small gap near the hinge when the screen is closed.
It is not yet known whether this new style of hinge will also be present on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. We'll just have to wait for the official information when Samsung releases the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 which is usually done in August.
