Samsung just introduced a wildly ambitious, $2,000 foldable phone - here's how it works

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Samsung just introduced a wildly ambitious, $2,000 foldable phone - here's how it works

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Galaxy Fold

Eric Risberg/AP

DJ Koh, president and CEO of IT and mobile communications at Samsung, holds up the new Galaxy Fold smartphone during Samsung's Unpacked event.

  • On Wednesday, Samsung finally unveiled its long-rumored folding smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
  • The device is billed as a two-in-one: a smartphone and a tablet. As such, it costs nearly $2,000.
  • So, how does it work? Let's see!

After months of leaks and speculation, Samsung's folding smartphone was finally unveiled on Wednesday. 

The new device is known as the Samsung Galaxy Fold, and it's promised to be two devices in one: a Samsung Galaxy smartphone and a Samsung Galaxy tablet. As such, it comes with the hefty price of $1,980. 

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So, what are you getting for all that money? And how does it work? Let's find out:

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First things first: Yes, it folds. Here's what that looks like!

The idea is simple: The Galaxy Fold operates like a normal smartphone until you open it up, at which point it becomes a small tablet.

The idea is simple: The Galaxy Fold operates like a normal smartphone until you open it up, at which point it becomes a small tablet.
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As seen here, the Galaxy Fold literally folds. Here's a look at the hinge when the device is closed, in smartphone mode:

As seen here, the Galaxy Fold literally folds. Here's a look at the hinge when the device is closed, in smartphone mode:

And here's a look at the opposite side of the phone, where it opens into a tablet. Notice the volume buttons and a fingerprint reader on one side, and a SIM tray on the other.

And here's a look at the opposite side of the phone, where it opens into a tablet. Notice the volume buttons and a fingerprint reader on one side, and a SIM tray on the other.
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Notably, the inner screen doesn't stay on all the time, nor does it turn on as you open the device (like this demonstration appears to show). This does, however, offer a good look at the screen mid-fold.

Notably, the inner screen doesn't stay on all the time, nor does it turn on as you open the device (like this demonstration appears to show). This does, however, offer a good look at the screen mid-fold.

And here's a look at the device being used as a smartphone.

And here's a look at the device being used as a smartphone.

Of note: When it's being used as a smartphone, the Galaxy Fold has a shockingly small screen — just 4.6 inches. Make no mistake, those are extremely large bezels seen above and below the screen.

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It's worth noting how large these bezels are — they're very large! In a world of flagship phones with increasingly slim (or altogether non-existent) bezels, it's hard to un-see the massive black bars above and beneath the main screen on the Galaxy Fold.

It's worth noting how large these bezels are — they're very large! In a world of flagship phones with increasingly slim (or altogether non-existent) bezels, it's hard to un-see the massive black bars above and beneath the main screen on the Galaxy Fold.

When the Galaxy Fold is in tablet mode, the bezels are far slimmer — it looks like a pretty standard tablet device.

When the Galaxy Fold is in tablet mode, the bezels are far slimmer — it looks like a pretty standard tablet device.
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Since the Fold aims to combine smartphone and tablet functionality, the tablet form of the Fold is a larger version of the smartphone side.

Since the Fold aims to combine smartphone and tablet functionality, the tablet form of the Fold is a larger version of the smartphone side.

As you might've guessed, the tablet form of the Galaxy Fold is simply a larger way to interact with the same content you would on a smartphone.

As such, if you're watching a Netflix video or using Google Maps on the smartphone side of the Galaxy Fold and you open into tablet mode, whatever you were looking at will follow you into tablet mode.

There's some added functionality when the Fold is in tablet mode, like the ability to run three apps all at once:

There's some added functionality when the Fold is in tablet mode, like the ability to run three apps all at once:

As you can see above, the Galaxy Fold can run three apps simultaneously: a web browser (that's smartly suggesting a Business Insider article), a YouTube video, and a text message, all split into three separate frames.

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Samsung says the Fold will go on sale starting on April 26, and it will cost $1,980. Here's a look at the nitty gritty specs if you're into that kinda thing.

Samsung says the Fold will go on sale starting on April 26, and it will cost $1,980. Here's a look at the nitty gritty specs if you're into that kinda thing.

No one outside of Samsung has used the Galaxy Fold just yet, but the company released two videos demonstrating it. Here's the first.

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But you wanna see it actually being used, right? Good news: It was demonstrated on stage on Wednesday, and you can see that demo right here.

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