Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G launches in South Korea

Samsung, it seems is serious about launching foldable phones. While the company has been showcasing foldable display technology since 2013, not much movement has been seen in terms of commercial launch.

The newest in its line of endeavors is the Samsung Galaxy Fold – a dual-screen device, which stretches out to form a single display. It has an inside out form factor – it opens like a book to form a single tablet-like display. The display will have layer across the 7.3-inch display, which the company calls Infinity Flex.

The device has currently had a limited launch in the company home ground of South Korea. It is expected to launch in Cosmos Black and Space Silver versions in the US later this year, although it is not known yet if it will launch in the UK.

DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics, stated in an official press release, "Consumers have responded positively to larger screens, and the Galaxy Fold's revolutionary form factor offers a bigger, more immersive screen without sacrificing portability."

The Samsung Galaxy Fold will come 5G and LTE-ready. South Korean carriers SK Telecom and LG U+ will offer the device for pre-sales starting Thursday, while deliveries will start on Friday. It will be priced at 2,398,000 Won (around 1635 pounds).

The company will offer two new services to customers – the Fold+ Advantage service and the Premiere service. The Fold+ Advantage program will cover 70 percent of display repair costs, while the Premiere service will offer 24/7 support from Samsung experts who will provide "tailored guidance and support over the phone."

They will even help users set up their phones for the first time. However, the Samsung Galaxy Fold will launch Android 9 Pie OS, instead of Android 10 OS, which continues the company's tradition of providing late updates.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold is expected to be showcased at the just-begun IFA 2019, a consumer electronics fair, held in Berlin.

It currently seems to be one of those novelty devices that Samsung makes to showcase its tech, since it comes with an ultra-premium price. But, if the concept finds takers, chances are that we might see a S-series or Note-series version of the device soon.