Samsung may be looking to launch a foldable handheld gaming console. A newly discovered patent application from the company shows a gaming device with a foldable display. If the Korean behemoth is serious about this product, it could launch it in the coming years.
New patent reveals Samsung’s flip-style gaming device
After a brief slowdown, the handheld gaming market is starting to bloom again as companies are showing more interest. Samsung might be considering stepping into this portable gaming device industry, capitalizing on its popularity. However, unlike other firms, it could debut with a unique, folding model.
Samsung recently registered an international patent for a foldable gaming device. The patent documents and sketches suggest that the device has a flip-style foldable design flanked by gaming controls. When unfolded, the device reassembles into a handheld gaming device, complete with an offset analog stick, directional pads, shoulder buttons, and upward and downward-firing speakers.
The display on the top could sport Samsung’s Ultra-Thin Glasses (UTG) found in the folding phones. The design may include external controls and a secondary screen on the outer shell, enabling gameplay when folded. It could also have features like inner controls for a flat closure and a hinge system to protect the foldable display.
If the device launches in the market, it will compete against existing products like Nintendo Switch, Asus ROG Ally X, and the Steam Deck. Samsung already offers the Gaming Hub for smart TVs, premium gaming monitors, and cloud gaming services. A foldable handheld gaming device could nicely fit into this gaming ecosystem.
All this said, many patents often remain in the conceptual phase, so we can’t confirm whether this product will ever be realized. If Samsung moves forward with its production, the device could create a new category of portable gaming featuring foldable display technology.
