[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Samsung Electronics has filed a trademark application for "Armor Frame," which is speculated to be applied to the foldable smartphones to be released this year.
According to Dutch IT media LetsGoDigital on the 19th, Samsung Electronics filed domestic and general trademark applications with the Korean Intellectual Property Office under the name "Armor Frame" on the 13th. It is also known that the same name was filed for patents with the US and European patent offices. According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office standards, this patent corresponds to product category 9 and relates to smartphone frames. As the name "Armor" suggests, it is expected to be a highly durable metal material.
Previously, Samsung Electronics diversified smartphone frame materials over the past several years, ranging from plastic to metal and aluminum. In particular, aluminum was used in high-end models such as the Galaxy S21 series and foldable models like the Galaxy Z Fold2 and Galaxy Z Flip. However, aluminum has the drawback of decreasing strength over time, which has prompted the development of new frames.
The material of the Armor Frame has not yet been disclosed. LetsGoDigital speculated, "The Armor Frame is a very sturdy frame that meets the military MIL-STD-810G standard and is likely made of a type of carbon or titanium material," adding, "Although more expensive than aluminum, it is lighter and thinner, which can solve one of the major drawbacks of foldable smartphones?the heavy weight issue."
Samsung Electronics is expected to release both the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy Z Fold3 in August, but it has not yet been decided whether the Armor Frame will be applied to these two models.
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