Samsung has been rumored to be working on a smartphone with a foldable display for a while now, but according to a new report, that hardware could finally see a public release in 2017.
Sources speaking to Bloomberg say that Samsung could launch two smartphones with bendable screens in early 2017. Codenamed “Project Valley,” the first would fold in half like a cosmetic compact, while the second would feature a 5-inch screen when used as a phone and then extend to 8 inches when rolled out like a tablet. Both devices will reportedly use OLED screens.
These phones aren’t expected to come to market under the Galaxy S brand. As for when they could make their official debut, it’s said that they could be revealed as soon as Mobile World Congress in February 2017.
Smartphones with bendable screens would certainly be technically impressive, as the screens on current phones are made of rigid glass. With a bendable screen, you could make a device more compact and easier to carry around, then unfurl it when you’re ready for use.
Today’s report also suggests that Samsung will name its next Galaxy Note smartphone the Note 7, skipping the Note 6 in favor of more consistent branding with the Galaxy S7.