While we are seeing
the reports of foldable phones since 2011, the tech giant last year presented the foldable phone prototypes, it is clear that folding smartphones are no longer being taken as a gimmick.
Not exact matches
According to a
report from ETNews, Samsung intended to begin production
of a prototype
phone in the third quarter
of 2017, in order to «verify quality
of foldable smartphone by producing thousands
of prototypes.»
The specs and features
of the Galaxy X
foldable phone are still unknown at present because Samsung hasn't responded or confirmed any
reports or leaks pertaining to the device.
Bloomberg
reported earlier this month that the next version
of Android will support
phones with «multiple screens» and «
foldable displays», and we also found signs
of that the update would support a call recording tone feature.
Reports also claim that LG is going to launch 100,000
Foldable Phone in the 4th quarter
of this year.
Bloomberg's
report from 2016 claimed that Samsung was working on two types
of foldable devices: one that folds inwards like a clamshell
phone, and another that folds out to turn into a 7 - inch tablet.
Lenovo, Oppo, and Vivo might be working on
foldable phones, the
report notes, with the help
of local display makers including BOE, Visionox, and AUO.
It's understandable why Apple might want to keep Samsung out
of its
foldable phone business, especially in light
of rumors about the Galaxy X. That's the
reported name
of the
foldable phone that looks likely to appear in 2018 after years
of rumors that Samsung was on the cusp
of releasing such a device.
One
of the latest
reports also confirmed that the production
of Samsung's
foldable phone Galaxy X could begin later this year.
On Wednesday, Patently Apple
reported that Samsung is launching a «
foldable phone» in China at the end
of this month.
A device that's much closer to the general expectations associated with the concept
of a «
foldable phone» is currently being developed by Samsung and should be commercialized early next year, according to recent
reports.
There have been so many rumors
of «bendable» and «
foldable»
phones being ready for prime time in the last couple
of years that it's foolish to put stock on
reports until we see something more substantial than «information from industry sources.»