Samsung’s Balancing Act When It Comes To Making Great Foldables

Foldables are more than just a product segment for Samsung. They signal the next evolutionary step forward for smartphones. Though critics consider technology a gimmick, it’s also a logical solution in the fight to keep phones practical enough to hold without compromising screen size.
But the folding screen technology is only half of the story. The user experience or UX is equally important.

Samsung sees a folding screen as two parts, instead of a single block. As such, the UX needs to be more fluidic to compensate for these moving parts. This has to be done by taking into account that the device will be used for photography, gaming and general multitasking. The challenge was to achieve this without creating a steep learning curve for its users.

This is evidenced by the different ways in which both the Z Flip4 5G and Z Fold4 5G operate. At first glance, both phones exhibit a familiar user interface that’s present in most Samsung phones. Fold has a PC-like taskbar and useful, dual-screen functionality for added multitasking work.

The Flip on the other hand, is a funky, pocketable companion for the fashionistas. As such, it features more customizable options for its main screen UI and Cover Screen UI to complement their style and accessories.

Useful widgets are readily accessible on the Cover Screen for better convenience. It can also be used as a preview window for that spur of the moment, selfie shot. The Main Screen on the other hand, when contorted to certain angles can be used as a FlexCam (reminiscent of old school video cameras) or dual screen windows for video calls.

As such, Samsung had to work with improving and simplifying usability at the same time. This has resulted in eliminating steps in activating settings, redesigned menus and layouts as well bringing action buttons closer together.

The company has also given more flexibility in how apps can be viewed with finger gestures for split or pop-up windows. One-finger swiping at a corner makes the current app show up on a pop-up window. A two-finger swipe on the right, left or bottom of the currently used app split in half.

Samsung has also collaborated with Google to bring better features and technologies for folding phones. The joint effort has made Android more friendly to said devices. Apps like Chrome and Gmail have also been reworked for better usability.

Partnerships with the likes of Microsoft and Meta have allowed apps like Outlook to make use of larger screens for better productivity and optimization of the FlexCam for social media platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook.

Samsung’s balancing act between adding features and maintaining a good UX has been fought with challenges. However, the effort has somewhat paid off because its 4th gen foldables are no longer considered mere gimmicks but useful devices that could replace traditional smartphones.