Will Samsung release a foldable smartphone this year?

Samsung’s fabled foldable smartphone might actually see the light of day.

The Korea Herald has now reported that the South Korean tech giant may release the foldable smartphone in the third quarter of the year. “Samsung is expected to roll out over 100,000 units of fold-out devices in the third quarter,” a source told the publication.



The smartphone is reported to feature a booklet design with a seven-inch display panel when unfolded, similar to what Samsung showcased in a concept video three year ago.

PHOTO: SAMSUNG

Samsung commenced work on a foldable smartphone in August last year targeting users who may find it inconvenient to unfold the phones every time they have to use them. “Since the company already secured fold-in phone technology, it was not a big challenge to shift into the fold-out phones,” the source said.

Samsung is not the only firm working on a foldable smartphone design. Rival LG will reportedly produce over 100,000 foldable devices in the fourth quarter this year. LG is said to have been working on a similar device for the past two to three years and may possess more advanced technology than Samsung, sources said.



The South Korean tech giant is yet to take a call on whether the device is unveiled this year or not due to marketing and profitability issues, sources said.

This article originally appeared on The Korea Herald.