Samsung unveils the Flex Hybrid, a very compact device with a foldable and extendable screen. Deployed, it delivers a diagonal of 12.4 inches. But for what use?
After unveiling an extendable display in September at the event IntelIntel Innovation 2022, Samsung take advantage this time of the CES of Las VegasVegas to present the Flex Hybrid. This prototype adds to the foldable function of a screen this additional expandability. Small in size, the device therefore first opens in two, like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, to deliver a diagonal display of 10.5 inches in a 4:3 ratio.
It is by pulling on the right side that we enlarge this diagonal to 12.4 inches to obtain a ratio of 16:10. We thus have the equivalent of a large tablet that can practically be stored in a jacket pocket once folded. One can imagine that this format could make it possible to design an ultraportable PC that it would be possible to enlarge more or less according to the constraints or needs of the moment. But, in this case, the question of the presence of a possible keyboard remains to be settled. physiquephysique so that it does not come to reduce the surface of the screen.
Origami at Samsung
The builder could also intend to create a smartphonesmartphone convertible into a large surface tablet such as the iPad Pro. As with the arrival of Samsung’s range of foldable smartphones with the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip, if the technology allows these screen extensions, it remains difficult to know if it really meets a public expectation and what is the ideal form that must be retained in order to exploit it.
Again, Samsung is wiping the plastersplasters through experimentation. The Korean also presents on its stand two versions of its extendable screen already unveiled in September. We thus find the Flex Slidable Solo which expands on the left side (see article below). Another version, the Flex Slidable Duet, extends the display on both sides from 13 to 17.3 inches diagonally.
Samsung’s Flex Slidable Duet display bends and stretches. © SamsungDisplay
Samsung unveils the first laptop with an expandable screen
At this year’s Intel Innovation event, Intel and Samsung showcased an expandable display. It can reach a diagonal of 17 inches. In the future, this type of innovation could well be invited in portable PCs to extend the display capacity while reducing the size for transport.
Article by Sylvain Biget published on September 22, 2022
A screen that can be enlarged, as if it extends when you pull on its sides, here is what Intel and Samsung unveiled at the event Intel Innovation 2022. This 17-inch sliding screen prototype was presented by Joo-Sun Choi, head of Samsung’s screen division. By pulling on the edges of the screen, the frame of the left part slides and unrolls the rest of the screen to obtain a diagonal extended to 17 inches. A way to think big in use, while reducing screen size for storage and transport. According to the two partners, this screen prototype could foreshadow what future laptops will be. However, they remained stingy when it comes to technical characteristics, because everything we know about this screen is based on this visual demonstration alone. We can imagine that the screen rolls up and unrolls in the frame.
Apart from the demonstration that was made at the Intel Innovation 2022 event, we don’t know much about this extendable screen which increases to 17 inches by pulling on it. © Intel, Twitter
No technical characteristics revealed
If Intel has linked up with Samsung on this adventure, it is the Korean who is in charge of developing the roll-up screen for this prototype. It must be said that he is far from being a novice in mattermatter foldable or extendable screen. Samsung has been marketing its foldable screen smartphones in its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip ranges for several years, and we are now far from the prototype. From year to year, the folding systems are improving and the price is gradually falling. As for roll-up screens, the Korean is not the only one to have presented this kind of innovation. We remember LG with its LG Rollable smartphone, admittedly smaller in size. Now, it remains to be seen if this kind of model could actually invite itself into theuniverseuniverse PCs and especially at what price.
