Samsung may launch Mate X-like Galaxy Fold before Huawei
Samsung's second foldable could launch before Huawei's first
Citing sources familiar with the matter, The Investor today revealed that Samsung has plans to “soon” launch an entire range of foldable smartphones, one of which will fold outwards like the Huawei Mate X. Very little is known about Samsung’s out-folding alternative at the moment but people within the company believe it could reach consumers before Huawei’s own device. The latter was initially expected to arrive this month but is now on track for a release in September following a last-minute delay that should help Huawei iron out any issues and avoid negative press.
From the look of things, the exact launch date of Samsung’s next foldable has yet to be decided. Despite this, certain suppliers “have already begun mass-producing major parts, and possibly even the phone itself.” This should allow Samsung to get “ahead of Huawei” and claim another title by mass-producing the first out-folding smartphone.
A direct rival to Huawei's Mate X
It’s unclear at this stage if a separate foldable device for the second half of the year was always planned, but The Investor does highlight the fact that the launch will allow the company to capitalize on Huawei’s damaged reputation, thus suggesting the release may have been a late entry into Samsung’s roadmap.
Two other foldable smartphones are coming in early 2020
In addition to the device mentioned above, it’s believed Samsung has two other foldable smartphones in the pipeline. One of these is expected to be a direct successor to the Galaxy Fold while the other could be a Motorola Razr-like offering.
According to reports, the Galaxy Fold 2 will retain the original’s basic design but introduce some rather noticeable changes in order to meet consumer demands. Specifically, Samsung is said to be planning S Pen support alongside a larger 8-inch display that’ll replace the 7.3-inch OLED panel currently used.
In terms of when the Galaxy Fold 2 will be available, it’s said Samsung was planning a release in December of this year. However, the original’s delay has reportedly forced the company to push back its plans a little. The device is now expected to debut at “the beginning of next year” which could mean a debut at MWC in February alongside the Galaxy S11 series.
The original Galaxy Fold
Regarding Samsung’s other foldable offering, reports point towards the presence of a 6.7-inch display that can be folded vertically. Accompanying this should be a small 1-inch panel on the exterior that’ll display notifications, the time & date, and other useful bits of info.
Like the Galaxy Fold 2, this particular offering is expected to arrive during the first half of 2020. People familiar with the matter suggest Samsung will begin sourcing the necessary displays in November ahead of the start of mass production in early January. As such, this device may also debut at MWC 2020.
Despite Samsung’s multiple devices, foldable smartphones are unlikely to go mainstream next year due to the high price tags. Instead, most consumers will probably opt for the company’s usual range of flagship models. Nevertheless, the foldable products should help gauge the interest of consumers and determine which form factor is the most popular. Moreover, the releases will give the company the opportunity to gather important data that could help improve the user experience.
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