Smartphones that fold out into a tablet are one of the many awesome inventions the creators of Westworld promised we have to look forward to in the future. But according to a new rumor, Samsung might make them a reality in 2017.
Samsung is working on the final steps of development for its foldable smartphone, reports Korean site ETNews. Thousands of prototypes are expected to be ready by the third quarter of this year, however, Samsung won’t be selling them commercially yet.
The Foldable Future
The foldable smartphones will be given to partners and tested internally to gauge the response. Unless you work for a mobile network provider or one of Samsung’s supply partners, you probably won’t be able to get your fingers on one until 2018.
Samsung supposedly showed off some rough prototypes in secret during Mobile World Congress last month. Mass production for the foldable smartphones is currently set for 2018 but Samsung could change its decision.
Production on the device has been delayed because Samsung reportedly wants to make it appear more luxurious and elegant. Originally the company wanted to produce prototypes during the first quarter of 2017, but has delayed so it can raise the quality of the device.
Adding a folding screen to its smartphones could give Samsung a big advantage over Apple. The device would be able to provide more screen space while taking up less space in owners’ pockets.
Samsung is set to unveil its new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8, at an event later this month. Sadly, it will only have a curved screen and not a folding display.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
6 responses to “Westworld-style folding phone might get real this year”
“Smartphones that fold out into a tablet are one of the many awesome inventions the creators of Westworld promised we have to look forward to in the future. But according to a new rumor, Samsung might make them a reality in 2017.”
Everything after now will be the future, Bst3r.
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Naw. I’ll pass on a folding smartphone. I think it’s one of those cool, but not practical designs.
Sorry, but in “Earth Final Conflict” They had a way cooler Nokia phone that folded out and expanded.
Why would Apple copy this…? It doesn’t seem all that compelling.
It’s a combination of a phone and a tablet without making the phone as big as your head and making it look ridiculous when you use it.