Galaxy X: Samsung "secretly" unveils foldable smartphone at CES 2018!
What's the story
After years of rumors and speculations, it looks like there's finally a solid word on Samsung's much-awaited foldable smartphone - dubbed the Galaxy X. According to The Korea Herald, the device-maker has unveiled its first foldable phone at the CES 2018 - but in secret, during a private meeting. The device is "almost finished" and the production would begin later in 2018. Here's more.
Details
Foldable phone to go on sale in 2019
While showing off the foldable phone, Samsung reportedly shared a timeline of the device's launch. Samsung's display-manufacturing-arm, Samsung Display developed a huge 7.3-inch foldable screen; it plans to start production this year. The phone would be released in 2019. Samsung showcased two versions of its foldable device. Both have a 7.3-inch OLED screen, but one folds towards the inside while the other folds out.
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Raising expectations for phone's launch
The report quoted a source as saying: "Samsung attracted more clients to the private meeting (where the foldable smartphone was unveiled) compared to last year. The phone development seems to be almost finished, raising expectations for the phone launch."
In-folding, Out-folding
Can be used both as a phone and tablet
The foldable device becomes a phone when folded. It can be unfolded for operating as a tablet, somewhat like a gaming-console similar to Nintendo's DS range. The report said: "The in-folding type has a more drastic curvature rate. But due to the durability issue, the out-folding type is considered a more advanced next-generation technology." However, Samsung is likely to adopt the in-folding variant.
Timeline
Mass-production of smartphone to start in November itself
Samsung has been long expected to launch a radical "foldable" device - rumored to be called the Galaxy X. Meanwhile, Korean site ETNews also claimed Samsung would develop the foldable displays by March this year. The display panels would be manufactured in September, and the company will start making the foldable phone in November itself so that it could be released in early 2019.
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Samsung has to overcome several hurdles: Koh Dong-jin
President of Samsung's Mobile Business, Koh Dong-jin, earlier said they would release "the holy grail of smartphones" with a bendable-screen in 2018. He, however, said they need to overcome several hurdles, adding, "When we can overcome some problems for sure, we will launch the product."
Patent Drawings
Patent leak also shows device with two screens
In 2017, LetsGoDigital spotted some patent drawings of a Samsung device codenamed "SM-G888N0"; the drawings showed a foldable, book-style device with two display panels, one of which would be flexible. LetsGoDigital also claimed that a hinge would hold both the screens together; they can also be folded inwards or outwards. The Korea Herald's report is in line with the LetsGoDigital's leaks to some extent.
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A second foldable device by Samsung?
LetsGoDigital had also claimed: "In addition to the Galaxy X foldable smartphone we believe Samsung may also work on a Galaxy foldable tablet." Also, Samsung earlier announced that it wants to bring a foldable device under the "Galaxy Note" brand.