Samsung patents first phone which is actually a brick

Folding screens are resulting in a Cambrian explosion of phone designs, but none have been as bizarre as the latest patent by Samsung, uncovered by LetsGoDigital.

Published on 7 May 2019 by the USPTO and the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) it shows a device with not one or two, or even three, but 4 panels and 3 folding edges.

Seemingly designs to be folded up into a baton, the device would unfold into a tablet of sorts, apparently with a USB port and headphone jack.

In its folded state the different surfaces could deliver information such as date, time and messages on each of its surfaces, and then unify into a tablet interface when unrolled.

It is not clear if this is a serious device, but given that Samsung decided to patent it in Korea, USA and Worldwide it does suggest Samsung may be looking to go square in the future.