Samsung might launch a bendable smartphone with a flexible display, which can be unfolded like a piece of paper, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) next year in Barcelona.
According to a report in Bloomberg, which quotes people familiar with the project, Samsung is planning to launch two new smartphones, which will have the bendable display. Both devices will have an OLED display, and an early 2017 launch will give them an edge over Apple’s next iPhone, says the report.
One device will have a 5-inch screen when used as a mobile, and then “unfurls into a display that’s as large as 8 inches,” notes Bloomberg.
This is not the first time that reports have spoken about a Samsung smartphone with a bendable display. Earlier this year a report in Korean news website ETNews claimed something similar, stating that Samsung’s bendable device will function as 5-inch smartphone or 7-inch tablet when opened.
The report said the company has finished making “a prototype of foldable display” and is looking at mass production in the second half of 2016.
“Development of foldable OLED is taking place according to our plan. We are planning on mass-production and release of this product by discussing with our partners,” Lee Chang-hoon, director of Samsung Display, was quoted as saying in January by the website.
Samsung has not commented on the Bloomberg report. The South Korean technology company had showcased its bendable display technology at CES in 2013.
