Flexible displays and the hinges assembled to them are at the heart of foldable phones, and why the concept was even conceived in the first place. But what about foldable phone cases? How exactly would one be able to fit something like a Galaxy Z Flip without restricting their biggest gimmick, or any of their hardware features for that matter?
Well, you either make your own swiveling component, or bypass it completely.
Type 1: Split Covers
The easiest, laziest way to cover foldable phones is to just have two separate smaller covers for each half that bends. It is fairly self-explanatory, and does not require any elaboration to explain how it works. In fact, you probably already know its inner workings the moment you saw those two words above and the feature image.
It’s slick, easy-to-install, intuitive, and best of all, mechanically simple. Materials are generally the same as typical cases too. The primary drawback is that given its simplicity, it doesn’t really offer anything else apart from a baseline level of protection. Which we suppose is really anyone that would ever need for daily casual use.
Our best example for this would be any classic leather flip cover from any Galaxy Z Fold model.
Type 2: Overlapping Covers
The next step after split covers is to have them still separate, but one has a bigger area that overlaps with another. The extra area is usually set smack in the middle of the hinge component, providing a somewhat fair degree of coverage, at least when compared to being directly exposed.
Again, because complexity is almost negligible for this type of case, installation is easy, and there is zero chance that the case would hinder any intended physical changes to the unit. And while rudimentary, the overlapping section can provide adequate cover so that the foldable is protected from most basic elements while it is closed.
Probably the most common seen overlapping foldable case would be the default leather case for the Galaxy Z Flip series.
Type 3: Wide Spine
If the two halves are directly connected together, the form factor ends up as something that is very similar to the spine of a traditional notebook. So when opened, the part that protects the hinges simply juts outward as the foldable phone straightens out.
Unlike the first two types, installing this type of cover almost always requires the foldable to be opened first, as the stretched-out spine wouldn’t allow for a… more elegant way of putting it in.
Quite a number of lower-end third-party cases, like this one for the China-exclusive Huawei P50 Pocket, can have spine-type faux leather ones, whether it covers the whole hinge, or just on its edges.
Type 4: Fully Hinged
And of course, what flashier way to provide protection than by adding a second separate hinge on top of the actual phone hinge itself? These cases tend to be of the solid type, either made of a combination of metals, carbon fiber, or plastic. The designs are also quite gaudy as well, significantly more stylized than the subdued cases of the previous types.
Do take note that assembly might differ depending on the product. Some might have two separate parts that simply connect together, others just one big, completed piece. Additional locking mechanisms or features may be added to the top portion and sides as well.
The most popular fully hinged ones in the market today would unarguably be from the mainline case products. Like for example, the Galaxy Z Flip versions of the Supcase Unicorn Beetle or the Otterbox Defender XT.
