Samsung’s future foldables could bring back notification LEDs in a big way
- Samsung is experimenting with an LED strip on the hinges of its future foldable phones.
- The strip would act as a notification light, but also as a boss, defining the design feature for Samsung’s leaflets.
We don’t see too many notification LEDs on modern smartphones, and it’s a shame. The handy little flasher provided important, instant information for users without turning on a screen. Now it seems that this could bring a great return on investment with the next generation of Samsung leaflets.
After a lengthy patent from the Korean company (via LetsGoDigital) Could Samsung add a notification LED strip to the hinge of its foldable phones. The patent in question uses the Galaxy Z Fold 2 as a model model, but that technology could theoretically be used on the next iteration of the device, the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
The hinge of this device could contain a series of red, green, blue, and white LEDs wrapped in a translucent cover that covers most of the length of the foldable device. This would allow Samsung to display a wide range of color combinations and visual effects. As with traditional notification LEDs, users can likely customize these too and set specific colors or patterns for apps or specific notifications. LetsGoDigitalThe renderers also imagine the notification LED as a visual extension of the phone’s background image, similar to a mood light or “visual decoration” as Samsung calls it.
Samsung’s design is an intelligent use of space in an area largely reserved for structural rigidity. However, it is unclear whether this design could compromise the strength of the hinges. The LEDs would have to share some space with Samsung’s hinge design.
It’s worth noting that the design doesn’t put practicality first, although the hinge is the best place to put a notification light as it’s almost always visible. However, Samsung could just as easily attach a small LED to the hinge of the leaflet instead of a strip. It is evident that a strip extending the length of the foldable would serve as a defining and instantly recognizable design feature.
It could be a large patent application with realistic use cases, but don’t expect Samsung to immediately announce a product with such a feature. The company can simply lay claim to the technology to prevent its competitors from implementing something similar. We hope, however, that the notification LED will also be available again at some point in conventional glass sandwiches.
We may have to wait a long time if Samsung plans to offer it for an upcoming leaflet. If the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s launch window is any hint, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 could debut in the third quarter of 2021.
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