Samsung’s
upcoming
Z
Flip
clamshell-style
foldable
may
have
a
different
kind
of
ear
speaker
to
help
users
answer
calls
privately
even
when
folded.
Currently,
users
can
only
answer
calls
on
the
Galaxy
Z
Flip
6
using
the
phone’s
speaker
when
closed,
which
does
not
allow
a
call
to
be
private,
requiring
the
user
to
flip
open
the
foldable
in
order
to
answer
the
call
privately.
Samsung
and
LG
are
reportedly
working
on
a
new
solution
which
will
hopefully
circumvent
this
hindrance
and
help
create
more
space
for
other
smartphone
components.
According
to
Korean
news
outlet,
Sisa
Journal,
Samsung
is
working
with
LG
to
develop
a
new
kind
of
display
which
will
replace
the
usual
ear
speaker
found
on
all
types
of
smartphones.
However,
the
development
is
mainly
aimed
at
foldable
devices,
especially
clamshell-style
models
which
currently
need
to
be
opened
up
fully
in
order
to
answer
calls
privately.
The
new
display
which
is
currently
in
development
will
reportedly
use
piezoelectric
technology
to
vibrate
the
screen
in
order
to
produce
sound.
The
tech
should
ideally
work
well
enough
to
replace
the
ear
speaker
which
is
present
behind
the
hole-punch
displays
on
all
smartphones
today.
This
piezoelectric
speaker,
according
to
the
report,
will
be
embedded
into
the
display
in
layers
and
thus
will
not
require
any
additional
equipment.
As
the
two
components
are
fused
together,
it
is
said
to
reduce
the
need
for
a
dedicated
ear
speaker
that
can
take
up
space
behind
the
display
at
the
top
of
the
smartphone.
This
would
make
room
for
other
components
which
is
always
good
to
have
given
the
space
restrictions
inside
most
clamshell
foldables.
Researchers
explain
that
integrating
this
speaker
technology
into
the
cover
display
enables
two
distinct
audio
sources,
allowing
users
to
place
their
ear
directly
on
the
cover
display
and
answer
calls
privately
for
the
first
time.
The
use
of
piezoelectric
technology
isn’t
new.
Xiaomi’s
Mi
Mix
was
the
first
brand
to
introduce
the
technology
in
a
production
smartphone
back
in
2016.
The
device
(which
only
went
on
sale
in
China)
used
a
piezoelectric
acoustic
ceramic
earpiece
speaker,
as
well
as
the
ultrasonic
proximity
sensor
rather
than
the
traditional
front-facing
infrared
sensor
in
its
quest
to
go
bezel-less
(at
least
around
the
top
of
the
smartphone).
The
selfie
camera
was
oddly
placed
into
a
thick
bezel
at
the
bottom
to
provide
a
distraction-free
viewing
experience
up
top.
The
phone
also
had
a
ceramic
rear
panel.
The
phone
finally
made
it
to
India
in
the
form
of
the
Mi
Mix
2,
which
sadly
skipped
on
the
new
speaker
technology
and
went
with
a
traditional
one.