The Galaxy Z Fold5 and the Galaxy Z Flip5 are Samsung’s newest foldable smartphones, which were just introduced. The Waterdrop Hinge, or “Flex Hinge” as Samsung has dubbed it, is a unique feature that these devices have while not having significant specifications increases managed to attract a lot of attention.
What exactly is the Waterdrop Hinge found on the latest Samsung foldables?
An extremely creative advancement in the field of foldable smartphone design is the Waterdrop Hinge (Flex Hinge). It became well-known thanks to the OPPO Find N series. When you fold the phone, the hinge creates a smooth, teardrop- or water-droplet-shaped chamber, eliminating the very annoying gaps typically seen in standard hinges.
The internal parts and the foldable screen are protected from the harsh effects of daily use by this hinge, which also improves the phone’s visual appeal and longevity. The Waterdrop Hinge, in contrast to standard single-axis hinges, flexes in several directions, giving the phone a sleek appearance.
What makes Samsung’s Flex Hinge Revolutionary?
First and foremost, the Flex Hinge’s main benefit is that it is a “no gap” hinge.
By filling up the space left by earlier U-shaped hinges, the Flex Hinge effectively prevents dust and other debris from entering and potentially damaging the internal display. The redesigned hinge, on the other hand, has a seamless design that provides the gadget with more protection.
Additionally, it fixes the creasing problem with their previous folding devices. It lessens the strain on the display, making the experience smoother and crease-free.
The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 are more portable and compact than their predecessors thanks to their thinner design. The gadget may also lie flat thanks to the hinge’s design, which also provides a safe grasp between 75 and 115 degrees. The phones offer a typical angle between about 178.5 and 181.5 degrees when fully expanded. Third-party accessories may limit the range of motion, although problems can be avoided with cautious handling.
The Flex Hinge also allows users to explore new software apps and functions by adjusting Samsung foldables at various angles.
Users may notice a little loose feeling while opening and closing the gadget, and occasionally hear or feel some noise when it is in use, according to Samsung. These traits are not flaws but rather inherent qualities of the enhanced, more fluid motion made possible by the redesigned hinge.
How does the new Samsung Flex Hinge work?
It features a new dual-axis hinge mechanism comprising three parts:
- flexible panel
- mechanical hinge
- display surface
Although flexible OLED panels and folding mechanisms have gained widespread industry acceptance and use, the display surface still poses difficulties due to its susceptibility to contamination, which has an impact on the price and dependability of foldable products.
Both of the waterdrop’s sides have folding points in the Waterdrop Hinge design. As a result, the display’s tension is lessened. When the panel is folded as a result, compressive tension is created that prevents damage to the display panel.
The new hinge functions similarly to how paper would be folded around a pencil, to put it simply. It guarantees that the display folds cleanly, maintains its shape, and does not put the screen under any tension. The strength and dependability of foldable devices are improved by this novel technique.
What are the benefits of the Samsung Flex Hinge
Slimmer Design with Greater Portability: The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 feature a slimmer and more portable design, thanks to the new hinge technology. The Z Flip5 is thinner than the Z Flip4, measuring 15.1mm when folded (vs. 17.1mm for Flip4). Similarly, the Z Fold5 is slimmer than the Z Fold4, with a folded thickness of 13.4mm (vs. 15.8mm for Fold4). The updated hinge contributes to a more compact and convenient form factor for both devices.
Improved Motion: The Flex hinge technology provides a smoother and improved motion compared to previous models in the Z series. This may result in the hinge feeling slightly looser when opening and closing the device.
Reduced Gap when Closed: The new hinge technology allows the screen to close completely, virtually eliminating the gap between the two halves of the device.
Flex Mode: The Flex mode is designed to function within a standard range of 75 to 115 degrees. Operating the hinge outside of this range may impact its ability to securely hold its angle.
Reduced Screen Crease: The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 have a revised hinge design that can make the screen crease on their screens appear a little bit larger in comparison to earlier models. When the screen is unfolded, the crease appears flatter because the depth of the crease has been decreased.
Fully Opened Angle: The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5 have a standard angle that is between 178.5 and 181.5 degrees when fully opened. To avoid exerting excessive force when opening or shutting the device, care should be taken when using any third-party covers or accessories since they may limit the range of motion.
New Requirements for Foldable Phones
It’s interesting to note that the Waterdrop Hinge uses some older technologies. It originally appeared on the Motorola Razr 2019 and was subsequently employed by several Chinese businesses. In fact, OPPO made this hinge popular by using it on their Find N series foldable, and today, practically every company is introducing a foldable with this hinge.
Despite having the patent for the Waterdrop Hinge since 2016, Samsung took its time incorporating it into its products. The business appears to have spent the time to observe and absorb what others did. Although it initially had issues with the U-shaped hinge and eventually improved it, it appears that the Waterdrop Hinge’s smaller profile was also problematic.
Samsung has now kept up with the trend by including the Flex Hinge in the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5. The Waterdrop Hinge is a significant advancement toward a more seamless foldable experience since it offers a smoother display and a slimmer body. As we wait for the next wave of Samsung foldables, we may anticipate additional technical advancements and enhancements.
The creation of the Waterdrop Hinge is a perfect example of how dynamic the smartphone business is, where innovation and competition are constant forces advancing advancement. Foldable smartphones are becoming more sophisticated, robust, and user-friendly as technology advances.