Samsung’s Foldable Concept Could Make Gaming 2X More Portable

Samsung showcased an innovative concept at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, exploring how foldable screen technology could revolutionize portable gaming consoles. Thinking about the future of gaming, Samsung believes potential exists for standard handheld consoles to shrink into thin, compact shapes using flexible display technology.

Samsung’s Foldable Concept Could Make Gaming Consoles 2X More Portable, Offering a Glimpse Into the Future

At MWC, the company’s screen technology division, Samsung Display, showed off a Switch-like foldable gaming device. The goal with this prototype is pretty straightforward: a console that can be folded in half to make it easier to take around while also having a big display when using it. However, all foldable devices come with concerns regarding the durability of the screen itself since repeated folding could result in visible creases over time. But the concept gives an intriguing glimpse of what the next stage of gaming hardware may look like.

Meanwhile, current handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and the alleged Nintendo Switch 2 all have regular screen designs. Although these models don’t currently include foldable screens, the manufacturers may choose to include the tech going forward for portability. For now, carrying cases is the best way to transport gaming consoles safely.

Otherwise, there are still retro handheld consoles to consider, including something like the Game Boy, Nintendo DS, or even the PlayDate, which are all still nice and compact. Modern smartphones, however, have continued to blur the lines between handheld and console gaming. Others are aimed squarely at mobile gamers, like the ASUS ROG Phone, while console experiences that integrate with smartphones, like the Backbone controller, are also available.

Foldable gaming consoles remain still technology of tomorrow, but this Samsung concept shows it can match the flexible, portable gaming hardware of tomorrow. Whether this technology will be widely adopted remains to be seen, but it’s clear that innovation in gaming hardware is far from slowing down.

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