Looks like Samsung is planning to launch its first foldable smartphone later in the year. DigiTimes reports that sources from Taiwan’s handset supply chain claim Samsung is going to start a small production of its first foldable phone in Q4 2017. The South Korean company is allegedly developing a clam-type smartphone and it will feature a flexible AMOLED display.
The report further claims Samsung won’t be able to begin mass production of its foldabale smartphones until the second half of 2018 due to a number of technical issues. One of the technical issues could be related to the inability to produce the PI (polyimide)-based plastic cover, an important component for the production of foldable smartphones.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of Samsung being serious about foldable smartphones. The company has been working hard to bring the phones with unique form factors for quite sometime. Rumours in the past have indicated that Samsung might release the “Galaxy X” smartphone this year.
Earlier this week, a report from South Korea’s ET News claimed that Samsung is ready with the prototype device and the company will likely to showcase it in private during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) later this month. Evidently, Samsung has prepared a number of in-fold and out-fold type of foldable devices, but only the latter have a greater chance to be commercialized.
Last month, a report from Korean Herald said that Galaxy X will be announced in the third quarter of 2017 and the reveal could take place at IFA in Berlin. The report also said that the phone will be fold out and transform into a 7-inch tablet. Meanwhile, Bloomberg claimed in 2016 that the Galaxy X would be a 5-inch phone that can be used as an 8-inch tablet. The report said the device would arrive in 2017. Previously, a report from The Korean Herald also said Samsung may launch the smartphone with a flexible display this year.
Samsung won’t be announcing the Galaxy S8 at this year’s MWC. However, the company will unveil the Galaxy Tab S3. The tablet has already been certified by the FCC and Wi-Fi Alliance, and a prototype of the device has been leaked, revealing the full specifications in advance.
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