Samsung explores a Xiaomi-like dual folding phone design

• Samsung has applied for a patent on a Xiaomi-style dual folding phone design.
• It could serve as a laptop while remaining small enough to carry all the time.
• It’s not certain Samsung will use this in a shipping product.

Samsung’s ambitions in folding phones could extend well beyond the tablet-like Galaxy Z Fold 2 or the Galaxy Z Flip clamshell. LetsGoDigital has discovered a recently published Samsung patent application in South Korea for a dual folding phone reminiscent of Xiaomi’s efforts.

Although the exact mechanisms would change, the basic concept would remain the same as with Xiaomi: you’d have one expansive display where both ends could fold around to improve portability or add functionality. Samsung envisions using the phone like a laptop (albeit a small one) that you could fold up to carry around — possibly in your pocket.

Patents don’t necessarily reflect product plans, and it’s not certain if Samsung is seriously considering a dual folding phone like this. The company originally applied for the patent in 2018, and Samsung’s foldable strategy has changed between then and now. If there’s ever a production double fold design, it might be significantly different from what you see here.

It might be a challenge to build. Companies like have experimented with touch-driven laptop-like designs that usually haven’t fared well, such as Lenovo’s Yoga Book.  A folding screen might change the equation, but it’s far from a guaranteed hit. Even more phone-like offerings akin to the Surface Duo have struggled.

Still, the application shows that Samsung has been exploring a variety of foldable designs that could be useful beyond typical phone purposes. That’s not completely shocking. Bendable screens could not only help Samsung’s mobile and display divisions stand out, but open the possibility for crossover devices that could grab buyers from other device categories.