Tag Archives: LetsGoDigital

This folding iPhone explores a clamshell format like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and the Moto RAZR

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Here’s what we know so far. Apple’s patents ranging back as far as a decade cover technologies revolving around folding phones. The company has even been patenting hinge details, flexible glass technologies, and people ‘close to the matter’ claim that Apple’s even created working prototypes that have been tested by Foxconn to fold and unfold as many as 100,000 times… but there’s really no guarantee whether these prototypes will really become mass-manufactured ‘folding iPhones’. Up until they do (if they do, that is), all we can do is imagine what a folding iPhone would look like, and it seems like designer and YouTuber Technizo Concept may have an idea in mind.

The iPhone Flip (created by Technizo Concept in collaboration with LetsGoDigital) shares the same nomenclature and folding format as the Galaxy Z Flip from Samsung, albeit with a few key differences. The device measures about the same size as your current iPhone 12 Pro Max, but it sports a folding line across its ‘waist’, which allows the iPhone to fold in half like a clamshell phone from the 90s. This folding structure allows the smartphone to become more compact and easier to carry (although the resulting folded form would be twice the thickness of the phone), while also giving you the option to use the iPhone as a miniature laptop by folding it halfway in an ‘L’ shape. However, the most noteworthy detail on the iPhone Flip is the presence of a secondary screen right beside the camera bump. Designed to match the camera bump’s shape identically, this secondary screen is perfect for reading notifications on the fly, or even using as a preview window while clicking selfies with the main camera module. You could even shut the iPhone Flip halfway and prop it up against a surface, essentially being able to click distant selfies without a tripod.

Notable leaker Jon Prosser mentioned that even if Apple does release a folding iPhone, it won’t be before 2023. Prosser even went on to say that the iPhone would opt for an inward-folding screen over an outward-folding one, and the likelihood of a smaller, clamshell-type iPhone was more than a larger, book-shaped iPhone inspired by the Galaxy Fold. I’m just here to say that you better start saving up money if you want to buy a folding iPhone when it drops… because there’s no way it’ll be cheap!

Designers: Technizo Concept & LetsGoDigital

Image Credits: LetsGoDigital

Xiaomi patents indicate they are working on a smartphone with a sliding display

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It seems like flexible displays have finally found their place in the smartphone world. Folding phones haven’t been their best application (because folding screens leave a crease behind, and result in thicker phones), but sliding/rolling displays seem to be an interesting approach that allows phones to have larger screens in smaller, thinner bodies. LG, Oppo, and TCL have all indicated they’re working on smartphones with rollable scroll-inspired displays, and according to a new patent discovered by LetsGoDigital, Xiaomi seems to be working on a rollable display smartphone too.

The conceptual Xiaomi phone uses the sliding mechanism and flexible display to its advantage. The design comes with virtually no bezel on the front, and the display cascades off the base (like a waterfall), transitioning to the back and turning into a secondary display that works with the main camera. Upon command (either through a voice command or a tap on the screen), the front of the phone slides downwards and reveals the front-facing camera setup on the top. It includes the selfie camera, as well as an ambient light sensor, a distance sensor, and a dot projector. The receiver is also hidden behind the slider display.

This dual-screen dual-camera opens the Xiaomi slider concept up to quite a few use-cases. The larger screen on the front can be used for selfies, facial-unlock, and even video conferencing, while the smaller screen on the back can act as a viewfinder for more elaborate group photos, videos, etc. For visualization purposes, the sliding concept contains the quad-camera module from the Mi10 Pro.

Designer/Visualizer: Sarang Sheth in partnership with LetsGoDigital

This concept was first published on LetsGoDigital. Click here to view the original piece.

LetsGoDigital gives us a look at Samsung’s Galaxy lineup for January 2021

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Based on some credible rumors and leaks, the talented Giuseppe Spinelli (also known as Snoreyn) has teamed up with LetsGoDigital to visualize the next in Samsung’s Galaxy series. Slated for a January 2021 debut, the Galaxy S21 Ultra will allegedly come with 4 main-camera lenses, a hole-punch camera on the front, and with the option to be paired up with Samsung’s S-Pen, a standard in the Note series.

The phone is rumored to come with a sprawling 6.8-inch QHD + rounded OLED screen traveling edge to edge with virtually no bezels. The hole-punch camera is perhaps the only physical element of the phone that breaks into the screen’s design, but companies are working on under-display cameras, so here’s hoping that later Galaxy models sport this tech. The rear of the S21 Ultra features a unique camera bump that integrates into the top left corner of the phone. The 4-lens camera includes a 108-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 10x zoom, and finally a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x zoom, along with a laser autofocus sensor and a flash. An alleged 5000mAh battery will provide 12 hours of use, giving you a day’s worth of phone time. According to credible leaks, Samsung plans to ship the phone without a charging brick or earplugs, a decision Apple took in November with its iPhone. The accessories, however, will be available at a reduced rate to buyers, in an effort to only supply hardware to those who opt for it, helping cut down on e-waste. Additionally, power-users can even buy the S-Pen as an addon with their S21 Ultra, helping uplift its abilities by giving it a variety of features from taking notes, marking up photos/slides, and even using the S-Pen as a trigger to click images and record videos!

The phone’s been visualized in the classic black and silver variants, with the addition of two new colors – Phantom Brown and Phantom Blue. Although Samsung has yet to send the official press invitations, it’s speculated that the new Galaxy S21 line-up will be announced on January 14, 2021.

Designer: Giuseppe Spinelli for LetsGoDigital

This Samsung concept shows us what a smartphone with a 100% screen-to-body ratio would look like

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In the pursuit of a phone that’s 100% display, this Samsung concept (designed using a patent uncovered by LetsGoDigital) makes some pretty wild design decisions that result in a phone that’s definitely interesting to look at. Meet the Samsung Galaxy Infinite Concept (at least that’s what I want to call it…), a phone with two wraparound displays that cover the front and back halves of the phone. I say halves because the phone has a minimal parting line running through it, because the Galaxy Infinite is, in fact, a slider phone!

The sliding mechanism makes up for the fact that with a 100% screen-to-body ratio (on both the front AND the back), there’s really no space for cameras… so the Galaxy Infinite concept builds the cameras into the concealed surfaces that reveal themselves when the two halves slide apart. The phone comes with a single set of cameras that serve as both front and rear-facing shooters (because with a 100% display, the phone doesn’t really have a front or back). Slide the cameras out and you can either click rear-facing shots using the opposite screen as a viewfinder, or use the same-side screen for viewing your selfies as you click them.

The 100% screen-to-body ratio results in a few obvious trade-offs. Sure, there’s no notch, or no hole-punch camera… but there’s also no volume or power button on the Galaxy Infinite, given that the screens cover the side edges of the phone too. The upper and lower edges seem to be spared, however, for critical components like earpieces, microphones, charging ports, and possibly a SIM tray. I assume the lack of buttons is replaced by a haptic-touch system found in phones like the Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha, which lets you tap to have a volume widget show up on the side of the screen.

So why would Samsung patent a smartphone with wraparound screens on the front and the back? Well, the answer is simply, because it’s possible. Xiaomi launched the Mi Mix Alpha for practically the same reason… as a flex, to show what they’re capable of producing. Similar to concept vehicles displayed by automotive companies at motor shows, I doubt these phones will really ever hit the shelves for consumers to buy (whether there’s actually demand for these phones is a completely different question). However, they’re a great indication of innovation, and also help companies really explore new avenues, while bringing the cost of expensive technologies down in the long run. I guess we can all agree that THAT’s definitely a good thing.

“The brand new patent entitled ‘Electronic device’ was applied for by Samsung Electronics at the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) in July this year and was published on October 29, 2020 and included in the database of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office)”, reports LetsGoDigital.

Designer: Giuseppe Spinelli (Snoreyn) for LetsGoDigital

Image Credits: LetsGoDigital

Samsung is rumored to be working on a dual-hinge folding Galaxy smartphone with a sliding keyboard!

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Based on a patent filed in mid-2018 at the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), which was uncovered only recently by the fine folks at LetsGoDigital, Samsung is reported to be working on a folding smartphone with a dual-hinge and a slide-out keyboard that bridges the gap between phone and laptop, but most importantly, fulfills the ‘Z’ element of the Z Fold product-line. LetsGoDigital has christened this the Galaxy Z Fold 3, and here’s what visualizations of the rumored product look like! Scroll down for a detailed look.

It’s safe to say that Samsung would eventually stumble across a dual-hinge folding phone. They’ve experimented with single-hinge phones in both vertical and horizontal formats, and it’s only natural that the company would make one with an even larger screen and with two hinges to rival Xiaomi’s efforts in this department. Meet the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 concept… It actually folds in the shape of the letter Z, and comes with one singular screen that cascades from the inside to the out, unlike previous folding models that had a dedicated external display and a folding internal one. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 works out the hinges in a way that allows you to use only the outer part of the display when in closed-mode, and the entire screen when completely opened.

When opened, the dual-hinge format gives the smartphone multiple ways to orient it. You could potentially open it out completely, turning it into a tablet, or use it in one of many shapes, allowing the phone’s flexible body to work as a stand. The most standout feature of this concept is its ability to be used as a real laptop. While earlier iterations of the Galaxy Fold phones explored the potential laptop format, none are as convenient as the Galaxy Z Fold 3, which comes with its own dedicated slide-out keyboard.

The two images below show the two different orientations for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 to be used in laptop mode. Version 1 gives you a compact device with the slide-out keyboard, and the ability to use the hole-punch front-facing camera for video-calls, while version 2 opens out into a more expansive device, allowing you to access two separate screens for multitasking. One part of the screen faces away from you, giving you the potential to even present to a client.

While the dual-hinge 3-part flexible OLED display is clearly the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s most defining feature, the slide-out keyboard really gives it meaning. Just like the Galaxy Note series comes with a stylus that clearly outlines what the product is meant to be used for, the slide-out keyboard on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 helps it bridge the gap between phone and laptop. There’s no clear information in the patent as to whether the keyboard is a dynamic display or a static one, so the concept opts for the latter, but comes outfitted with everything you’d need to get work done, from a full QWERTY keyboard to a Numpad, and even a voice-command button that lets you dictate to the phone when you don’t want to type.

The phone’s dual-hinge, three-part setup definitely results in an overall device that’s on the thicker side, but it still tries to stay within an inch in thickness, making it relatively pocket-friendly and roughly as thick as most bifold wallets. Where it lacks in sleekness, it makes up for in functionality by being your all-in-one smartphone/tablet/laptop hybrid. Like every Galaxy phone, the Z Fold 3 too sports a USB-C charging hub, and we wouldn’t be surprised if this phone was 5G capable too. A single front-facing camera sits on the screen in the hole-punch format, while the back features a 3-lens setup, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 (See Below).

The product’s been visualized in Rose Gold, although it would probably come in a range of colors catering to Samsung’s catalog. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a conceptual product based on patented files by Samsung. It’s been visualized as a collaborative effort between LetsGoDigital and Sarang Sheth and isn’t affiliated with the Samsung brand in any way.

Designer/Visualizer: Sarang Sheth in partnership with LetsGoDigital

This concept was first published on LetsGoDigital. Click here to view the original piece.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 is a Moto Razr-style foldable clamshell phone… without the nostalgia

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It almost feels like the guys at Samsung finally realized where they went wrong with the Galaxy Fold. I don’t fault them though. It’s in the tech world’s blood to make mistakes with their first release, and then fix them over time. Take absolutely any software update, which always ends up requiring a secondary security patch just to fix the problems the original update created… or the Galaxy Fold, which did take the world by storm, but fizzled almost immediately after a series of bad reviews from the tech-glitterati. Samsung’s due to announce the Fold’s successor, which people are speculating will be either called the Galaxy Fold 2, or the Galaxy Bloom. Second in Samsung’s foldable phone line, the Galaxy Bloom’s objective is to right all the wrongs done by its predecessor… and to flood the market with flexible displays so Samsung can monetize on its AMOLED business.

The Galaxy Bloom, the way I see it, is practically the same as the 2019 Moto Razr, except without that sweet nostalgic factor. It folds just like a clamshell, giving you a longer screen rather than a squarish one, and like the Moto Razr, it can still be used with a single hand. As per this visualization by Concept Creator for LetsGoDigital, the Galaxy Bloom also does away with the secondary touchscreen on the outside, replacing it with a tiny notification and clock display right beside the dual-lens camera. This move would do wonders for Samsung by A. bringing the cost of the phone down, B. doing wonders for its battery life, and C. encourage people to open their phones to use them rather than just interacting with the external display (as is the situation with the original Galaxy Fold).

Another noteworthy feature is the Galaxy Bloom’s lack of a discernible notch, which is more than welcoming. The phone does have a slightly thick bezel running along the edge, but a hole-punch camera allows Samsung to push the flexible screen as close to the edge as possible. While these are all speculations based off of leaks found online, it’d be nice to see if Samsung announces the Galaxy Bloom at its February 11 event, Galaxy Unpacked. Who knows, maybe they won’t even call it the Galaxy Bloom.

Designer: Samsung
Image Credits: Concept Creator for LetsGoDigital

Samsung’s Galaxy Smartwatch has competition… from Samsung!

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Now I’m usually the kind of guy to be excited by new tech, but this conceptual design literally has me scratching my head. Why, Samsung? Why have another device when you’ve already got so many! There’s the Galaxy S series, the Galaxy Note series, the Galaxy Smartwatch series, the newly launched Galaxy Fold, and now this. What would you even call this tech-filled friendship bracelet?! The Galaxy Bend? Sounds too much like the Galaxy Fold. The Galaxy Band? That sounds like people would confuse it with the smartwatch.

This is a conceptual Samsung smart-wristband. Created by LetsGoDigital using patents that Samsung filed just a week back, this device is clearly Samsung’s way of flooding the market with flexible displays. It’s essentially a smartphone-esque device that also doubles up as a wristband (similar to a concept that Lenovo displayed in 2016). Samsung’s modus operandi has always been “Build it and they will come”, and this gadget is no different, although if Lenovo’s test-case was any indication, this concept could be used by people with physical disabilities who have trouble holding a phone. The smartphone conveniently wraps around your wrist, allowing the phone to hold onto you, rather than needing you to hold onto the phone. The phone/band even comes with dual-lens cameras and an ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint reader.

For now, this concept exists as just a patent, and like most patents, it’s likely that Samsung just wanted to own the IP regarding a folding display mechanism, rather than build a device. A lot of companies patent ideas that look like they could potentially hold value, and those patented concepts usually never see the light of day. Let’s wait and see what Samsung’s plans for the future are!

Designer/Visualizer: LetsGoDigital