Samsung will debut new foldable phones once per year, says

Image: ERIC RISBERG/AP/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

Foldable phones aren’t going away anytime soon. 

Samsung’s head of mobile, D.J. Koh, said that the company plans to release a new foldable phone every year in select markets, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News.

The report claims that the first foldable Samsung smartphone will be released in the first half of next year. Notably, it will not be part of the company’s popular Galaxy S or Galaxy Note series. Instead, the company will launch a brand new series for the foldable phones called the “Galaxy F” series.

Samsung’s foldable phones were long-rumored to be one of the company’s greatest innovations in the increasingly saturated smartphone market. The phone is rumored to be vastly different — and certainly more intentionally bendable — than anything available from chief rivals Apple and LG.

It sounds a little screwy, but this type of device might actually be really helpful if it works as intended. The device would essentially work like a tablet that folds in half. When folded, the front pane of glass will be a regular smartphone-sized display. 

But, when users want to indulge or use their phones for more serious work tasks, they could then unfold their phones into a full-sized tablet. The mobile front display would become inactive to reveal the tablet-sized display in all it’s glory. Plus, it’s worth noting that the display would not have any breaks on the binding. It would, indeed, be one large display.

Koh says that Samsung’s first foldable smartphone will ship in the first half of 2019 “no matter what.” The yearly unveils, and that determination, indicates that Samsung views this new device as another flagship — not just a gimmick.

Production will reportedly start with 1 million units. That means Samsung thinks 1 million people want to walk around with a double-decker phone in their pants. And Koh reportedly insisted that that was just a start, and expects to increase production should the need arise, which it definitely, totally will.

The phone will also reportedly cost $1,770 — more expensive than the most pricey iteration of the iPhone XS Max. Smartphones really were becoming too cheap, frankly. Too many affordable, simple, and intuitive smartphones out there. Thank goodness someone has finally introduced a premium entry into the market. Since we’re all so rich, you know? Us millennials are totally down to buy a foldable phone in lieu of saving for a mortgage on a house we can’t afford.

But that price really is a steal, considering you’re getting both a phone AND a tablet in one device. Just think — you could use your phone in a vertical aspect ratio. And — then — you could use your phone on a screen that’s double the size.

Who doesn’t absolutely, positively need that?! With yearly updates to boot!

Maybe this phone will be worth bending over backwards for, after all.