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Samsung Says It Will Unveil a Foldable Smartphone this Year (cnbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

Samsung will unveil details of a foldable smartphone later this year, the CEO of its mobile division told CNBC, amid rumors that such a device was in the works. From the report: DJ Koh said that "it's time to deliver" on a foldable device after consumer surveys carried out by Samsung showed that there is a market for that kind of handset. Speaking to CNBC, Koh was tight-lipped on how the folding screen could work but ran through the design thinking of the upcoming smartphone, particularly how Samsung is trying to differentiate the experience from a tablet once it is unfolded. "You can use most of the uses ... on foldable status. But when you need to browse or see something, then you may need to unfold it. But even unfolded, what kind of benefit does that give compared to the tablet? If the unfolded experience is the same as the tablet, why would they (consumers) buy it?," Koh said at the IFA electronics show in Berlin last week. Further reading: Samsung Plans To Overhaul Its Smartphone Strategy at the Mid-range Price Point.

19 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. More info to come by cyberchondriac · · Score: 4, Funny

    ..as this story unfolds.

    I'll see myself out, sorry.

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    1. Re:More info to come by Nidi62 · · Score: 3, Funny

      ..as this story unfolds.

      I'll see myself out, sorry.

      A joke like that's either going to have people doubled over laughing or so angry they're bent out of shape.

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    2. Re:More info to come by cyberchondriac · · Score: 2

      At least it isn't face to face here!

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    3. Re:More info to come by bobmagicii · · Score: 1

      Samsung Folding Phones Short Circuit and Catch On Fire more news at 11

    4. Re:More info to come by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Don't get your panties in a twist, Francis...

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  2. so... back to the flip phone era? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    just a flip phone where the screen spans both halves...

    1. Re:so... back to the flip phone era? by Gamer_2k4 · · Score: 1

      Is there anything wrong with that? A flip phone is the most sensible form factor - it's compact when closed, reaches the mouth and ear when open, AND you don't need to worry about buttons being pressed when you're not using it. The only reason they fell out of style was the same thing Samsung is trying to overcome here, that it's very difficult to have a decent computer-style screen on a folding device.

  3. Introducing... by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Nintendo DS!

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  4. Sounds interesting by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    I've been hoping to see a foldable device where you could get a larger screen, I wonder if the top will fold open then flip over so as not to waste the smaller screen?

    It seems like people might like it for movies, but if there was much of a visible line where the fold was that might put people off.

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    1. Re: Sounds interesting by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      the picture i saw had it shorter and much wider than a normal smartphone, opening like a book.

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  5. Welcome back, flipphones by jandrese · · Score: 1

    I've been waiting for a couple of years for a manufacturer to bring back the flipphone, but this time with a screen on both halves. It makes a lot of sense now that we have ultra-thin bezels and ever expanding phones. Women can't even fit half of the Android phones on the market into a standard pocket. Plus the phones are so thin now that doubling the thickness isn't a problem. IMHO phablets have significant usability problems that could be solved if you could just fold the thing in half when you put it away.

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    1. Re: Welcome back, flipphones by jandrese · · Score: 1

      I'm kind of dubious that they'll be able to make a sharp crease on a large single panel, but I don't mind being surprised.

      It will be totally lame if you can only bend it a little. Sure it might fit better in a pocket if it can hug your leg but it will still be huge.

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  6. Does it unfolds from "small" to "normal"? by ffkom · · Score: 2

    Or is this again one of these ridiculously oversized phones of today that do not fit comfortably in any pocket?

    If this phone is folded not considerably smaller than the unfoldable bricks they sell today, then I'm not interested.

    1. Re:Does it unfolds from "small" to "normal"? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      that do not fit comfortably in any pocket?

      Skinny jeans aren't a good look regardless of what you think.

  7. I could conceivably go for this by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Informative

    It would, of course, depend on the implementation. And there's no way I'd be buying the gen 1 version of it.

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  8. looks interesting by renegade600 · · Score: 1

    It looks interesting but pretty thick. will make it harder to sneak into work. wonder about the fold, if it will eventually crack and/or cause dead spots.

  9. What's old is new? by bobbied · · Score: 2

    History repeats, just stick around long enough, you will see it's true.

    Now Flip-phones will be smart ones too..

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  10. The obvious answer... by laird · · Score: 1

    The obvious answer is that you have a tablet when you want a tablet (to work, watch video, etc.), and something that fits in your pocket when you're carrying it around or using it as a handheld phone, so it's more convenient.

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  11. Re:I Have Trouble Imaging This by laird · · Score: 1

    The 'touch' pressure is an interesting point! It'd have to be pretty sensitive to respond to finger-touches on a flexible screen that will bend when you press it. Or perhaps the screen could somehow harden when it's straightened out? Perhaps little inflatable tubes?

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