Samsung Confirms Folding Phone Coming This Year

Samsung Mobile CEO DJ Koh has confirmed in an interview that we’ll see the company’s long-awaited folding phone this year. That’s right, this very year, 2018. Now, whether we’ll get to actually, you know, buy it, remains to be seen. However, Koh was clear that Samsung plans to unveil the device before year’s end, claiming that it will revolutionize smartphones.

Photo Credit: BGR

Why a Folding Phone?

During the interview with CNBC, Koh claimed that the device is foldable for many reasons. The first, he stated, is for variation of purpose. “When you need to browse or see something, then you may need to unfold it,” he said. The phone will have number of uses while still folded, however. Tasks like answering calls, texting and the like will be completely doable while folded.

Speaking on the difference between the foldable experience and tablets, Koh said they were working to make them distinct. “If the unfolded experience is the same as the tablet, why would they (consumers) buy it?” Koh stated. “Every device, every feature, every innovation should have a meaningful message to our end customer. So, when the end customer uses it, (they think) ‘wow, this is the reason Samsung made it’.”

Our Take

The foldable design seems unusual, at the very least. We’re not saying we’re going to dismiss it out of hand, but we’re skeptical. While Koh seems convinced that the foldable aspect is distinct from tablets, we’re not so sure. If the folding action is satisfying and the phone works equally well folded and unfolded we’ll be intrigued, at least.

However, rumors of the folding smartphone have been rumbling about for years. If you’ve been following this technology, it’s been announced and delay no less than four or five times since 2013. The necessary technology to allow a high-resolution display to fold without compromising its structural integrity seems to have been more complex than anticipated.

Potential Announcements

In any event, we’re cautiously optimistic about any announcements regarding this technology. That goes double for announcements that would have it being shown off in as short as four months. If the device is to be announced this year, it’ll likely be in November. That’s when the annual Samsung developer conference takes place.

With Apple leading the innovation in smartphones once again with the iPhone X, this could be a big moment for Samsung. If their folding phone proves to be popular, they could have a chance to pull back in front. The ongoing rivalry between Samsung and Apple has created no shortage of smartphone innovation. We certainly hope this foldable screen technology follows suit!