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Samsung Is Finally Launching Its Foldable Phone

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Samsung’s mythical foldable smartphone might actually see the light of day, according to a report from the Korea Herald.

The Herald’s source claims that the long-rumoured flexible smartphone will be launched in Q3 this year, after three years of development.  

That, however, is dependent on Samsung making a final decision on the device’s “marketability and profitability”, which could mean that it’s never released at all.

It does ring, strange, however that the Korean manufacturer would be still be deliberating on whether or not a major, game-changing device that’s awkward to manufacture will be released in 9 months. This is a rumour, though, so treat it with caution.

So what can we expect from the presumptively named 'Galaxy X'? The reports suggest a smartphone (size unknown) that folds out into a 7-inch tablet once ‘opened’. The Herald report is thin on technical details but previous patents and leaks provide a better image of what to expect.

The main thing is that the display is likely to be OLED, Samsung revealed its rollable OLED display tech at SID last year - so there's little doubt about that.

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There’s also a myriad of options when it comes to form-factor. Samsung has patented a number of different designs, and publicly shown off multiple different concepts. From cylindrical roll-out device, to a more realistic wallet-style foldout handset.

Whilst the company has a penchant for theatrics, I’d expect a design that’s partially familiar to customers. The foldable concept will blow people’s minds on its own. Adding a completely alien form-factor might be a step too far.

Samsung also will have a new battery issue to contend with: size and placement. One of the major stumbling blocks to bringing foldable smartphones to market is making a flexible battery. Samsung has made some advances in this area with its prototype ‘Band’ range, but these are designed for wearables - not power-hungry phones with giant foldable screens.

One potential way around this would be if the Korean manufacturer went ahead with its most bland foldable patent to date in the image above, (and, as such, is the most likely to be released) which I reported in May last year. The patent depicts a device that has a flexible spine where the device folds in half, but the rest of it is encased in a hard chassis, which means space for the rigid components.

If that’s the case, then Samsung’s first step into the foldable phone arena will be a trepid one.

No matter what phone you own, as of December 31st, the government will now legally be allowed to hack it. Find out more on my YouTube video about the Snooper's Charter. 

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