Samsung’s foldable phones have been stuck in the rumor mills phase for years now, with small tidbits of information about the futuristic handsets coming out periodically. Now a new report alleges that the company is moving full steam ahead with the smartphones by pledging to produce working prototypes starting from the third quarter of 2017.
ETNews claims that Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display have closed in on the final stage of development for the bendable devices. The corporation is apparently competing against rival Chinese OEMs in a race to see who can clinch the title of ‘world’s first foldable smartphone.’
Samsung’s game plan for 2017 involves manufacturing thousands of prototypes, testing it internally for quality and performance, and then handing it over to major customers like mobile network players to get an idea of market response. Once all this has been over and done with, the brand is apparently going to mass produce it officially.
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This mass production will likely happen in 2018. The timeline raises the possibility that Samsung will show off or tease prototypes of its foldable wonders at the IFA 2017 which is scheduled to take place from September 1 to 8 this year. The brand usually unveils its latest Galaxy Note at the trade show, but may just make room for the bendable phones as well.
Samsung supposedly did something similar at the recently concluded MWC 2017, introducing the folding devices to a small group of customers under heavy security. As for the smartphones itself, the company is making sure it’s luxurious and elegant as befitting ultra premium offerings.
Samsung’s reportedly delayed its production schedule for this very reason, investing more time into raising the overall quality and making sure it’s one step higher than standard flagship phones.