TV Ad Reveals Samsung's Unannounced 'Galaxy Z Flip' Phone

In an ad break during last night's Academy Awards, Samsung gave viewers an unexpected first look at its yet-to-be-announced Galaxy Z Flip foldable phone, which the company is supposed to officially unveil on Tuesday.

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The look of the phone in Samsung's commercial matches up with previous leaks, with the device being shown folded up, opened at various angles as well as opened completely flat. At one point, the ad shows the phone sitting on a flat surface at a 90-degree angle while a Google Duo video call takes place on the screen.

The ad also provides a first glimpse of the phone's small full-color digital screen on the back that can show a caller's ID and includes touch sliders for accepting and rejecting calls when the phone is folded up. Two colors of phone are shown – purple and black. The commercial ends with the tagline "Change the shape of the future."

The Galaxy Z Flip is rumored to feature an ultra-thin glass screen that Samsung is said to have developed in an effort to avoid the display issues that plagued the Galaxy Fold. Even so, it looks like Samsung hasn't been able to iron out a common wrinkle of foldable phones – "You may notice a small crease in the center of the main screen, which is a natural characteristic of the screen," reads the ad's small print.

The 6.7-inch Galaxy Z Flip is expected to be more affordable than the Galaxy Fold, which costs $1,980 in the U.S. The original Fold was beleaguered with display issues from the off, and Samsung will be hoping the Flip doesn't suffer a similar fate. There have already been reports of hinge problems with Motorola's just-released $1,499 Razr flip phone.

The Galaxy Z Flip will be officially announced alongside the Galaxy S20 – of which three models are expected – at Samsung's Unpacked event in San Francisco on February 11.

There are no rumors suggesting that Apple has plans to release a foldable smartphone anytime soon, but Apple is undoubtedly looking into foldable devices and has patented some foldable display technology.

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Top Rated Comments

heov Avatar
68 months ago
Some of the comments in here lol. Just be happy for innovation. They're folding a freaking phone here... with a glass-like screen?! Don't buy it. Marvel in this new tech! I promise no one will take away your iPhone.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bobbie424242 Avatar
68 months ago

Or, in Gruber’s words:


What problems does this solve? Who has a pocket that isn’t deep enough for an unfolded phone but is thick enough for this thing folded up?
I suppose it will not solve any problem until Apple does it, which will be the time the era of the foldable is officially declared opened and revolutionary.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
68 months ago

Some of the comments in here lol. Just be happy for innovation. They're folding a freaking phone here... with a glass-like screen?! Don't buy it. Marvel in this new tech! I promise no one will take away your iPhone.
We don't want innovation. We want improvements. This is not an improvement.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fokmik Avatar
68 months ago
This is the best idea for a foldable device...from a normal by today standards 6" , fold it to be pocket friendly like 10 years ago...
Nobody wants to use the tablet in public where everyone can see what you do...like galaxy fold
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
farewelwilliams Avatar
68 months ago

Some of the comments in here lol. Just be happy for innovation.
except, we shouldn’t applaud Samsung for throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cardfan Avatar
68 months ago

I find that quite interesting. Back in the "good old days", phones like the Motorola RAZR were what everybody wanted to have. And back then, John Gruber didn't post such nonsense about the RAZR.

Maybe, just maybe, some people still just want... a phone in their pockets? And maybe, just maybe, there are still people out there who use their phone like... a phone? Could this MAYBE be the target audience for such a device?
I think maybe just maybe you’re reaching too hard along with too many maybes. This looks marketed to tweens who are hardly nostalgic about the good old days.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)