The latest Samsung foldable smartphone patent makes it look like a sleek Nintendo 3DS

With the Galaxy S9 rumor mill continuing to pick up steam, one smartphone that continues to be shrouded in mystery is Samsung‘s foldable smartphone, believed to be called the Galaxy X. That mystery has been peeled back little by little, but a recent Samsung patent continues to show us what the device looks like and what it can do.

Originally uncovered by Dutch site LetsGoDigital, the patent, which was registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), shows a device that looks like a significantly thinner Axon M. Similar to ZTE’s offering, Samsung’s smartphone features a hinge that connects the two screens, though the hinge also allows the phone to be closed.

Unlike the Axon M, which keeps the screens exposed, Samsung’s attempt protects the screens when closed. Interestingly, the smartphone looks to include a sensor that calculates the angle between the first and second screen. This allows the phone to know when the second screen is not in use, with the display turning off to save battery life.

Elsewhere, the patent shows the phone’s two displays each featuring a camera and speaker, though it’s possible that there is a third camera and speaker on the rear. Also possible is the inclusion of a stylus, which would make sense for those keen on drawing on a larger canvas than what is afforded on the Galaxy Note 8.

Finally, the patent shows off gaming controls on one screen while gameplay runs on the other screen, à la a no-button take on the Nintendo 3DS. The implementation of such a feature will depend on how developers take to it, and there is reason to be skeptical about that — it’s not like they flocked to the Axon M, did they? I doubt this phone will sell like gangbusters, which will turn away the bigger developers, though I’m sure a handful might still give it a try.

Editor's Pick

Report: Samsung Galaxy S9 to launch in February 2018 (Updated)

91 Mobiles Update (12/17): Bloomberg is now also reporting that Samsung intends to introduce both the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus sometime in late February, ahead of an official sales launch in March. This would …

Much like the last time we caught wind of the supposedly-called Galaxy X, today’s news did not reveal when it might be announced. The earliest Samsung might mention the phone is during CES 2018, which is right around the corner. Whenever it is announced, we expect it to live alongside the Galaxy S9.

Would you be interested in picking up the Galaxy X? Let us know in the comments below.