Seamless Galaxy Z Fold5 display on the cards as Samsung creates its own muscular take on the waterdrop hinge

Despite the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 being one of the best phones we have reviewed (foldable or otherwise), one of the cons highlighted by our tester was the visibility of the display seam. Recently, we reported on news that one of the improvements being brought in by the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 would be a “wrinkle-free” solution for the crease in the screen. A new article on Naver has offered up some further details about how that will happen, with Samsung adopting the waterdrop hinge used in phones such as the Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 but with a durability twist.

While Samsung improved the hinge mechanism for the Galaxy Z Fold4, the device still did not close completely flat, with an open curve left at the hinge end to help reduce stress on the display. However, competitors such as Xiaomi and Huawei have used the waterdrop hinge in their foldable phones, with the main advantage of the hinge being that it allows the device to close flat and reduces seam visibility. But it was reported that Samsung originally rejected using the same mechanism because it would not offer the IPX8 level of waterproofing (continued immersion in water) that the company’s foldable products can boast of.

So, it was a trade-off for Samsung, but it appears that situation has now changed, with Samsung having knocked up its own version of the waterdrop hinge that is purportedly being called a “dumbbell” hinge to those in the know. Apparently, it retains the benefits of the waterdrop hinge, thus allowing the Galaxy Z Fold5 to fold flat and have a seamless display, and it also offers the durability and high level of water resistance that Samsung requires for its Galaxy Z Fold devices. If Samsung’s “dumbbell” hinge works as rumored, then the Galaxy Z Fold5 may finally eliminate one of the biggest gripes about the series as a whole – the noticeable display seam.

Buy an unlocked and renewed Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 on Amazon