Video: Samsung reveals its upcoming foldable phone (Update: Resolutions!)

Update, November 7 at 5:45 p.m. ET: During a breakout session at the Samsung Developer Conference, Android Authority learned new details about the displays on Samsung’s foldable phone. The small display — the one on the front that will be used in “phone mode” — will sport a resolution of 840 x 1960 and measure 4.5 inches, while the foldable tablet display will measure 7.3 inches and have a resolution of 1536 x 2152.

Original article, November 7 at 2:43 p.m. ET: At the Samsung Developer Conference today in San Francisco, the company finally revealed the device which has been years in the making: the Samsung foldable phone. The display technology used to create the device is going to be called the Samsung Infinity Flex Display.

The device shown on stage was a prototype and encased in a thick box to prevent us seeing what the final retail version will look like. However, the basic gist of how the device works was apparent.

In its default, folded state, the device looks like a typical smartphone, albeit a bit smaller and thinner (in width, not depth). On the front of the phone is a cover display, but when you unfold the phone, it doubles in size horizontally, making it a 7.3-inch square-shaped tablet.

Essentially, there’s a single smartphone display on the front, and then a larger display inside that folds up the center.

The Android UI automatically changes between different layouts depending on whether the device is “closed” or “open.” You can use all your apps as you normally would in its closed state, which will feel familiar as its shaped like a “normal” smartphone. When you unfold the device, everything gets expanded to make better use of the bigger display.

There’s also app continuity between the two states of the smartphone. In other words, if you are using Google Maps while the phone is closed, when you unfold the display Google Maps will still be open and will automatically resize itself to match the new layout.

Samsung also created a new system called Multi-Active Window, which allows you to run up to three apps at once while the phone is in its unfolded state. This will help you multi-task and will likely be a large part of the future marketing campaign for the smartphone.

Unfortunately, Samsung did not give us any hard details about the phone, such as a name, release date, or price. However, we now have seen the Samsung foldable phone in the flesh, so to speak, which means its proper launch can’t be too far away.

What do you think? Are you excited for the upcoming Samsung foldable phone? Sound off in the comments!

Heads Up! We talked about this on the Android Authority podcast.

NEXT: Samsung announces One UI: A newer, rounder take on Samsung Experience