Samsung Galaxy Fold announced: Samsung unfolds the story surrounding its foldable phone

Samsung today revealed the Galaxy Fold, its first foldable phone. The device, which it provided a peek of late last year, can switch between phone and tablet form factors thanks to the bendable display. Are hybrid devices like this the next big thing in mobile computing. Only if Samsung nails the use case.

Don’t miss: Samsung Galaxy Fold price and availability

Design

Samsung says the Galaxy Fold doesn’t create a new category, it defies category.

The phone unfolds like a book. It has a metal chassis around the outer edges and a foldable seam in the middle. It acts as a phone when closed thanks to a 4.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED external screen, and as a tablet when unfolded thanks to the 7.3-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED Infinity Flex display. Samsung says it engineered the hinge and Infinity-Flex display to handle hundreds of thousands of folds and unfolds.

The internal screen features three-app mutli-tasking. Each screen works separately on its own, but the displays work together to create a seamless device. Users can switch between the screens without missing a beat. The software transitions from the small display to the large display without interruption or hesitation. This is called app continuity.

When multi-tasking, users can drag apps between the windows. One app is featured prominently, while two are smaller and to the side.

Also read: The full list of Samsung Galaxy Fold specs

Apps run as normal on the external display, including multi-tasking and switching between apps as everyone its accustomed to on Android phones. Samsung says its Bixby personal assistant is aboard with support for Bixby Routines. The Galaxy Fold also includes Samsung’s Know security suite for business users. The device can paid with Samsung DeX for a desktop experience when needed.

Samsung Galaxy Fold specs

The Galaxy Fold has a 64-bit 7nm processor and 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The processor has eight cores. Samsung did not say if the processor is from its own Exynos line or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon line. It has flash 3.0, meaning the memory is much faster than previous versions of memory. Two batteries totaling 4,380mAh are inside the Galaxy Fold, one on each side of the phone. Samsung did not provide details about battery life, though it noted the Galaxy Fold supports Wireless Power Share to provide power to accessories such as the Galaxy Buds. Stereo speakers were tuned by AKG.

The Galaxy Fold features six total cameras: three on the back, one on the front, and two on the inside. The device will always be able to capture a picture no matter which way it is being held. A fingerprint sensor is located on the side edge for security.

Three cameras appear on the back off the phone and mirror those of the Samsung Galaxy S10 series. It includes a 16MP ultra-wide camera, 12MP wide-angle camera, and 12MP telephoto camera. The dual front cameras (on the inside of the fold) are carried over from the Galaxy S10 Plus. There’s a 10MP selfie camera and an 8MP depth camera. Last, the selfie camera has a 10MP sensor.

Read: Galaxy Fold spotted in hands-on video complete with screen crease

It comes in four colors, including Cosmo Black, Space Silver, Martian Green and ASTRO Blue. Moreover, the color of the seam can be customized.

Samsung says the Galaxy Fold will be available on April 26. It is going to come in 4G LTE and 5G versions. The LTE variant starts at $1,980.