Samsung’s folding phone gets a release window and warning
Samsung’s folding phone is certainly shaping up to be one of the most interesting devices of 2019 and while the company isn’t showing the device off at CES 2019, they have been speaking about it to press and industry executives, which has unearthed some new details.
In a meeting with Digital Trends, Suzanne de Silva, Samsung’s Director of Product Strategy and Marketing, indicated that the phone is due out in the first half of 2019. She did also confirm that the phone will be using the Infinity Flex Display that was shown off at its developer conference back in November. Nothing more specific than that at the moment and we are naturally still missing an official name for the product or any information on pricing which has speculatively been placed around a somewhat shocking $1,800.
Moving into the rumor category we also have a report from the Korean site, The Investor, based on details from an anonymous executive that was part of a private meeting with Samsung. The most attention-grabbing claim was that “completely folding the device will lead to breakage. For this reason, Samsung is testing the device so that the sides remain slightly lifted when folded.” So be careful how much you fold your foldable phone. On a more positive note, the executive also indicated that there is no crease visible when the phone is unfolded and that while there is one present in the prototype when folded, that will reportedly be resolved in the final version.
If this executive is to be believed it sounds like Samsung has a fair amount to work out by the time this device launches, which would suggest we could be looking at a May to June launch window rather than the earlier claim of March. That would slot in nicely in between the expected Galaxy S10 launch at the end of February and presumed Galaxy Note 10 launch in the fall.
Source (Release timeframe): Digital Trends
Source (Executive rumors): Tom’s Guide