Global tech giant Microsoft has announced to file a new patent application that demonstrates a unique foldable display on a mobile device. According to the company, this unique display on the device can fold without creating an angled gap and can also reverse-fold it 360-degrees for a single-display mode.
The company has already outlined the details of this new foldable display technology in the patent application which also shows “examples and methods for folding a display device through a range of degrees at a folding portion.”
As per the latest reports, the drawings show the intentions of the device which can fold in every direction without any gap when fully closed. The patent application is mostly about the methods in which the display folds, the hinge, gears, and overall design. The report also suggests that a glass display that can do what Microsoft wants is expected to be interesting.
At present the Microsoft Surface Duo is dependent on two displays instead of one and this new foldable display tech might solve multiple perceived issues related to the device. It is important to note that the Surface Duo can reverse fold into many different postures, including a single-screen mode.
However, the gap created by the two displays can be annoying for users who prefer a large, single-screen experience, especially while streaming content. Google’s Android 12L is also expected to act as software fixes that will mimic the dual-screen experience. With these software fixes, OEMs won’t need to “hack it” themselves like Samsung.
The report also suggests that LG demonstrated some of its new display technology at SID 2022 Display Week, held earlier this week. The South Korean tech giant unveiled a new 8.03-inch foldable OLED display that can fold inwards and outwards at any angle from 0 to 360 degrees, among other innovations at this event. The report claims that this is the same technology that Microsoft would need for its patent application.
The LG’s new foldable display tech uses UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass) and even has an anti-fingerprint material to keep the device smudge-free. The display supports a 2480 x 2200 resolution with 413 PPI pixel-density that offers a peak brightness of 600 nits and delivers 109.9% DCI-P3 color gamut. The company also claims that the display can withstand up to 200,000 folds.
On the contrary, the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 sports an 8.3-inch OLED display that supports an 1892 x 2688 resolution with 401 PPI pixel density which is not very different from what LG demonstrated.
The report also mentions that Microsoft has no plans to release the Surface Duo 3 in 2022. Instead, the tech giant will focus more on software, which includes integrating Android 12L with the original Surface Duo and current Surface Duo 2, in the coming months.
