Samsung to Unveil Foldable Smartphone Later This Year

BY Rajesh Pandey

Published 4 Sep 2018

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

It looks like after years of teasing, Samsung is finally set to release its foldable smartphone to the public or at least provide more information about it. The company’s CEO DJ Koh told CNBC that the company will provide more details on its foldable smartphone later this year.

There have been plenty of rumors claiming that Samsung will release its first foldable smartphone this year.

DJ Koh said that “it’s time to deliver” on a foldable device after consumer surveys carried out by Samsung showed that there is a market for that kind of handset.

Samsung’s mobile chief, however, failed to provide any more information about the foldable smartphone and how the foldable display will function. He only said that while the development process of the foldable smartphone is “complicated,” Samsung is nearly done with it.

Samsung is now expected to provide more details about its foldable smartphone at its Samsung Developer Conference in November. However, it is entirely possible that we will only see Samsung provide details and a glimpse at its foldable smartphone at its developer conference. The company can also do a limited launch, with the device being available in limited quantities and only in certain markets. Samsung used a similar tactic with the Galaxy Note Edge before the curved OLED technology became a part of its flagship Galaxy S and Note handsets.

At IFA 2018 last week, Koh said that the foldable smartphone should offer a meaningful experience otherwise it will not find any takers. It remains to be seen how Samsung’s first foldable smartphone is going to be like and how the foldable display will be implemented.

“You can use most of the uses … on foldable status. But when you need to browse or see something, then you may need to unfold it. But even unfolded, what kind of benefit does that give compared to the tablet? If the unfolded experience is the same as the tablet, why would they (consumers) buy it?,” Koh said at the IFA electronics show in Berlin last week.

Are you excited about Samsung’s first foldable smartphone? Do you think it will live up to the hype or it is just going to be a gimmick?

[Via CNBC]