Samsung has received a patent for a smartphone with a vertically sliding screen, which working documents tentatively call the Galaxy Z Slide. Application US 2026/0333595 A1 was published on 22 October 2026. The device consists of two body sections: the lower one stays in the hand, while the upper one rises upward and reveals additional area of the flexible display.
The main difference from the Galaxy Z Fold is the absence of a hinge. The foldable model opens like a book, whereas here the screen simply extends upward. When folded, the phone keeps its usual compact shape and fits easily in a pocket; when unfolded, it becomes noticeably taller and roomier. The cameras are mounted on the movable upper section, and there is a cutout in the lower part: you can shoot even when the top is not extended, and you don't have to wait for the screen to open fully.
The screen is held by a lattice plate that supports the flexible display. According to the patent description, the guides and support elements must keep the panel from crumpling as it moves — this is the main engineering challenge of the entire design. The closest solution in spirit was shown by Samsung Display at MWC 2026 in Barcelona: the Mobile Slidable concept stretches from 5,1 inches (16:9) to 6,7 inches (22:9), with a resolution of 1080×2640 and a density of 426 ppi. The patent does not state the exact dimensions of the future phone, but the lifting scheme noticeably resembles this prototype.
The company has long been experimenting with sliding and rollable screens. In 2022, Samsung Display showed the Flex Slidable prototype, in which the screen extended at the push of a button, but it never went on sale. Now, according to SammyGuru, this year Samsung has also published another patent application with a different sliding design. This means the company appears to be protecting several variants at once and has not yet chosen the final one.
A patent is not a product. Samsung has confirmed neither the Galaxy Z Slide name, nor a launch date, nor specifications. Insider timelines also diverge: some sources cite the third quarter of 2027 and a joint launch with new foldable models, others cite late 2027 or early 2028. So for now, any dates should be treated as approximate.
The main price for a sliding screen is mechanical complexity. The sliding mechanism adds moving parts that must withstand repeated cycles, and the flexible display must endure constant motion without losing quality. The patent discloses neither battery and processor data, nor camera details, nor price. For now, the Galaxy Z Slide exists as patent drawings and a screen prototype, and it is wiser to wait for official confirmation from Samsung.
