Samsung’s new Galaxy Fold device is a smartphone and a tablet in one

Samsung has revealed the future of the smartphone with the launch of the game-changing Galaxy Fold – a foldable mobile device that will offer the convenience of a phone and the luxury of a tablet in one.

Due for release in the first half of the year, Galaxy Fold is a bold step in an entirely new direction for the smartphone market.

At its heart is Samsung’s impressive Infinity Flex Display which has been years in the making until it was strong enough to be folded but still thin enough to allow effortless touchscreen capabilities.

The device has a 4.6-inch AMOLED outer screen on the front of the device but then opens up like a book to reveal a 7.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

This aspect ratio makes the screen the same shape as the old square achieved TVs we used to have in our homes.

When folded the Galaxy Fold is 17mm thick but just 6.9 mm when opened.

There is a slight wedge shape to the device with the thicker end of the product protecting the hinge of the folding display.

The outer edge will be slightly thinner at about 13.8 mm.

Galaxy Fold opens effortlessly and also closes flat with a click thanks to numerous hidden interlocking gears.

The fingerprint reader is located on the side of the device where the users think would come to react anyway.

The idea of this device is to allow users to use their everyday and on the spot applications like phone calls and messages on the smaller outer screen but then be able to open up the device to the larger display to allow them to enjoy their images and videos on a larger scale.

The larger inside display is also ideal for multitasking.

Google has been working closely with Samsung in the development of the Galaxy Fold to ensure Android works seamlessly on the product.

If you are using an app on the outer screen and open up Galaxy Fold it will seamlessly transition to the larger inside screen without skipping a beat.

And it is likely to work in reverse as well and take the act or apps you were using inside back to the outer screen.

Samsung says the inside 7.3-inch Multi-Active Window can support up to 3 apps at once with the ability to easily switch between them and minimise the ones you’re not using at that moment.

Under the hood is a massive 12GB RAM to power those multitasking capabilities but there has been no mention of storage capacities.

Galaxy Fold has a dual battery system and also has Wireless PowerShare so it can charge itself and other devices as well.

The version of the Galaxy Fold coming to Australia will be a 4G LTE product. It is possible a 5G version of the device will be offered in other regions.

On the camera side, the Galaxy Fold will have six lenses – three on the back, one on the front and two cameras inside.

It will also be possible for your photo subjects to see themselves on the screen facing them before the picture is taken.

It will be also capable of 4K UHD video capture.

The Galaxy Fold will be available in April but it won’t be cheap. Pricing in the US will be $US1980.  Australian availability and pricing is yet to be announced.

* Stephen Fenech travelled to San Francisco as a guest of Samsung