One of the most exciting aspects of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is that it might be the most affordable foldable phone yet, but it’s still certain to come at a hefty price tag – something Samsung’s future foldables may not have.
That’s because second the electronics (opens in new tab) – a South Korean tech industry news site – Samsung is testing a new laminating process to attach the OLED module to the glass cover of its foldable phones, and that process is reportedly ten times cheaper.
It involves using a clear adhesive liquid instead of clear tape, and is said to make the process faster and cheaper.
It’s unclear exactly how much money this change could save Samsung in total, let alone whether those savings would be passed on to consumers, but it’s certainly possible that this could lead to cheaper folding phones.
That’s not the only benefit either, as this process also allows for thinner displays without top or bottom bezels. The bezels on premium smartphones – including foldable phones – are already small, but they’re still present, so it looks like their days may be numbered.
Analysis: When will foldables get cheaper?
While this technology looks promising, the report claims it’s about to be tested at a factory in Vietnam, so it looks like Samsung hasn’t yet committed to using it in phones. As such, we may be waiting a while for this change – if it ever happens.
It’s possible we could see it used in time for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 in 2023, but we wouldn’t count on that.
Either way, we might not see truly affordable folding phones until at least 2024, as another recent leak has suggested it’s the first we’ll see foldable equivalents to Samsung’s mid-range Galaxy A lineup.
In the meantime, if you like Samsung but can’t stretch to a foldable, it’s worth checking out the best Samsung phones as there are plenty of more affordable options.
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