Samsung News And Rumors: Two Bendable Smartphones To Finally Debut Next Year? [VIDEO]
Back in 2014, Samsung released a promotional video featuring a device which could fold into a phone and unfold into a tablet. Though the concept was extremely innovative and well-received by the public, the device never really made it to consumers. That is, of course, until now.
According to sources, who have opted to remain anonymous, Samsung is planning on finally introducing devices with bendable screens next year, possibly on the Mobile World Congress (MWC) that is set to be held on February 2017.
The two devices are alleged to be two smartphone models that would comprise a completely different line of Samsung devices. Thus, as much as the technology is revolutionary, the bendable devices would not ship with the esteemed "S" branding.
Nevertheless, bendable screens on devices are something that has never been introduced to the mainstream market before. Plus, the two smartphones which are alleged to feature the technology seem to be pretty nifty as well. The sources alleged that one of the devices would fold in half, much like a cosmetic compact, while the other would be a 5-inch smartphone that could stretch to an 8-inch tablet.
Indeed, the concept of the devices is enough to get many tech aficionados excited. Lee Seung Woo, an analyst at IBK Securities Co. in Seoul, believes that the introduction of the bendable devices could very well spell victory for Samsung for a few years, at least until competitors catch up to the technology.
"This product could be a game-changer if Samsung successfully comes up with a user interface suitable for bendable screens. Next year is a probable scenario. Their biggest obstacle was related to making transparent plastics and making them durable, which seems resolved by now," Lee said.
Samsung's fascination with bendable phones since 2008. During that year, the South Korean tech giant unveiled a prototype of a device that utilizes two tiled screens. After that brief demonstration, Samsung's bendable devices showed up again in the famous 2014 promotional concept video. Since then, however, the tech giant has been quite silent about the development of its (literally) flexible devices.
If the sources are correct, 2017 could very well be the year when devices with flexible screens make it to the mainstream market.