Samsung’s next big smartphone innovation will be devices with a flexible, foldable displays, according to reports on Tuesday.
Bloomberg sources (via VentureBeat) say the world’s leading phone maker is plotting to unleash a device that folds in half, onto itself, rather like a make-up case.
A second device would be a 5-inch smartphone that would “unfurl” into an 8-inch tablet, according to the report.
The sources say the initiative, codenamed Project Valley, will be unveiled as soon as Mobile World Congress 2017 next February.
See also: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review
Samsung has been at the forefront of display innovation for years, thanks to its AMOLED tech.
For years now we’ve seen concepts of rollable bendable displays, but so far Samsung has only used its curved screen technology with devices in the Galaxy Edge range.
The plan, according to the sources, would be give Samsung a headstart over Apple’s rumoured deployment of OLED screens for the iPhone 8 in late 2017.
The devices would be a new line for Samsung, and not be named under the Galaxy S or Galaxy Note lines according to the report on Tuesday.
“This product could be a game-changer if Samsung successfully comes up with a user interface suitable for bendable screens,”Lee Seung Woo, IBK Securities analyst, told Bloomberg.
“Next year is a probable scenario. Their biggest obstacle was related to making transparent plastics and making them durable, which seems resolved by now.”
Are we finally approaching the next big thing in mobile? Share your thoughts below.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
