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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

A new patent from South Korean tech giant Samsung suggests that the company may be tinkering with a potential handheld gaming console.

That's not all, though. The patent suggests that such a device may follow in the footsteps of the company's Z Flip and Fold phone lines and boast its own foldable screen. As reported by 91Mobiles (thanks, Tom's Guide), the patent was registered earlier this month via the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), showcasing some pretty clear cut images of a device that closely resembles the Switch in design, but with a few obvious differences.

The biggest one is, of course, the foldable screen. Samsung has been utilising this tech for a few years now, implementing small, but welcome improvements with each iteration of its foldable phone devices. We've also got what looks to be recessed analogue sticks and buttons on either side of the screen, but it's not super clear exactly what these are or how they would function. We're also stumped as to how a foldable screen would actually be beneficial to a handheld console, but then we're not as smart as those tech boffins over at Samsung.

It's worth noting that Samsung itself might not be looking to enter the gaming industry, but could rather be producing foldable screens for other companies. Samsung Display collaborated with Nintendo to produce the screens for the Nintendo Switch - OLED Model, so it's entirely possible that it could be acting on another company's behalf.

Whether this device actually makes it to market is up in the air at the moment, but it's certainly an intriguing prospect. Based on the information that's been leaking out regarding the 'Switch 2', it's unlikely Nintendo is looking to implement foldable screen technology into its own consoles anytime soon; especially considering how darn expensive those fold phones still are.

Patent Suggests Samsung May Create Its Own Foldable Handheld Console

Samsung Flip Switch

www.nintendolife.com

 

[Calico345]

 

[panda-zebra]

A folding xbox. wow.

 

[LectureMaster]

Watch some jerryrigeverything videos, you'll never want to own a foldable device, lol.

 

[near]

If it folds on a hinge that’d be nice, Nintendo DS Lite is still one of best designed handhelds ever. But if it folds the actual screen, no thank you.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

Ngl, it’d be a huge plus for portability. I wish we could get something with the GBA SP’s footprint, but with a big screen. I can’t go back to small screens. I’ve seen foldables irl, and they’re better than I was willing to give them credit for. Motorola’s screens look better than Samsung’s, though.

But this is Samsung. Meaning, whatever they put out is gonna be ridiculously expensive, riddled with unnecessary software, full of caveats and corner cuts, and supported for a limited time before they move on to something else. Samsung is a company that just has to flood any market they enter with a slew of models with ephemeral shelf life.

Also, this would probably be an Android-based system. Which could make it the ultimate handheld emulation machine (provided not too many corners are cut) and… little more, really. Which would make it an instant flop at the expected Samsung premium price, when you have a ton of Chinese Android handhelds that can give you a lot for $200 right now.

 

[IAmRei]

Foldable screen is not yet without trouble, my friend screen is broken and he is using phone with mouse currently, because the main foldable screen is broken and aint cheap to be repaired with...

 

[Magic Carpet]

Watch some jerryrigeverything videos, you'll never want to own a foldable device, lol.

Seriously, My old parents got swindled into foldable phones and they didn't make it through the summer. Not even 3 months.

 

[Nelly_Nel_7.1.3]

I can see a law suit coming from this foldable system due to the broken screen from dropping it.

 

[killatopak]

Foldable?

$1000 minimum.

 

[rodrigolfp]

?
What makes them think it is a console?? I bet on handheld PC.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Seriously, My old parents got swindled into foldable phones and they didn't make it through the summer. Not even 3 months.

Gotta ask...were they taking care of them well? I don't have a foldable fun but I'd imagine they're like a laptop, and you can't ruin a laptop in 3 months unless you're just being careless.

Although, I guess it depends on the build quality too. These foldable phones are pretty expensive, I'd assume that extend to the build quality but it's always possible they cheapened out to increase margins.

 

[Tams]

Watch some jerryrigeverything videos, you'll never want to own a foldable device, lol.

Typing this on my Fold 6, and I had (still have) the OG Fold.

They're good devices, so shut ya mouth.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Gotta ask...were they taking care of them well? I don't have a foldable fun but I'd imagine they're like a laptop, and you can't ruin a laptop in 3 months unless you're just being careless.

Although, I guess it depends on the build quality too. These foldable phones are pretty expensive, I'd assume that extend to the build quality but it's always possible they cheapened out to increase margins.

No my Dad is hard on phones. He will just toss them on the counter when he gets home with a clunk. They also drop them all the time.
Foldable was never going to last for them. But they need the bigger screens for eyes.
That’s why I think a gaming system with a foldable screen is going to suffer in kids hands.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Bad idea. As a Galaxy Fold user I will tell you that the folding tech is very fragile.

 

[MacReady13]

But why? Microsoft said that Samsung phones are already Xboxes so they already have a console as a phone!

 

[Putonahappyface]

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

This is almost spiteful innovation at this point. Companies foisting garbage portables on us and calling it the future. Either way, this probably won't go anywhere because it's Samsung and they don't know what the hell they're doing in gaming at the best of times.

 

[IFireflyl]

Gotta ask...were they taking care of them well? I don't have a foldable fun but I'd imagine they're like a laptop, and you can't ruin a laptop in 3 months unless you're just being careless.

Although, I guess it depends on the build quality too. These foldable phones are pretty expensive, I'd assume that extend to the build quality but it's always possible they cheapened out to increase margins.

I had the Galaxy Fold Z3 5G (or something stupid like that). After 10 months the inside screen was coming off of the phone. I got it repaired under warranty, but the guy told me he was getting a ton of those repairs, and it would keep happening as it was a design flaw. I actually do treat my phones well, and I keep them in protective cases. I have no desire to get another fold phone.

 

[ap_puff]

A folding xbox. wow.

But the current xbox is already folding?

 

[LavitzSlambert]

 

[ReBurn]

Nice! Just what I never wanted!

 

[IDKFA]

Typing this on my Fold 6, and I had (still have) the OG Fold.

They're good devices, so shut ya mouth.

I have a Z-Flip 6 and it's the best phone I've ever had. Had it for a few months and not one issue.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

No my Dad is hard on phones. He will just toss them on the counter when he gets home with a clunk. They also drop them all the time.
Foldable was never going to last for them. But they need the bigger screens for eyes.
That’s why I think a gaming system with a foldable screen is going to suffer in kids hands.

Hmm...when you put it that way I can see what you mean. Kids can be kind of reckless with electronics, sadly.

Maybe they'll have screen guards or some feature to protect the screen from damage when it's not in use. But that could be hopeful thinking.

I had the Galaxy Fold Z3 5G (or something stupid like that). After 10 months the inside screen was coming off of the phone. I got it repaired under warranty, but the guy told me he was getting a ton of those repairs, and it would keep happening as it was a design flaw. I actually do treat my phones well, and I keep them in protective cases. I have no desire to get another fold phone.

That sucks. Maybe it's more of a gimmick than it's worth.

 

[IFireflyl]

That sucks. Maybe it's more of a gimmick than it's worth.

It was actually incredibly cool to flip open the phone and watch a movie on the larger screen, and things like YouTube TV had functionality that when you partially folded the phone, the bottom part laying flat on the table could have game scores while the top part of the screen had the football game playing. That was freaking neat. The issue is with durability, and we are so completely not there yet. Not for the price the phones are, anyway. If it's $500 bucks and lasts 1-2 years that would be one thing. But these things are $1,500 to $2,000. That's not a price point that should require worrying about durability issues. Not for a phone, anyway.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

No thanks Samsung.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

It was actually incredibly cool to flip open the phone and watch a movie on the larger screen, and things like YouTube TV had functionality that when you partially folded the phone, the bottom part laying flat on the table could have game scores while the top part of the screen had the football game playing. That was freaking neat. The issue is with durability, and we are so completely not there yet. Not for the price the phones are, anyway. If it's $500 bucks and lasts 1-2 years that would be one thing. But these things are $1,500 to $2,000. That's not a price point that should require worrying about durability issues. Not for a phone, anyway.

Yeah I can agree with that. Great tech, potentially amazing, but if you can't count on it long-term for dependability the it's still mainly a gimmick for now.

They'll probably get there with much better durability within the next 5-10 years, tho.

 

[DKPOWPOW]

Finally we get our Switch Pocket Edition. About time.