Samsung's Foldable Smartphone Tipped to Launch in March, Priced Upwards of Rs. 1,20,000

Samsung plans to launch its first foldable smartphone in March, along with 5G-enabled Galaxy S10, a report claimed on Monday, citing industry sources. The report also tips the price of the foldable smartphone, and also cites the company's mobile chief to claim its initial production volume.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that Samsung plans to unveil its Galaxy S10 flagship in February, followed by the recently confirmed foldable smartphone - expected to be called the Galaxy F - in March. The foldable smartphone will be launched alongside a 5G variant of the Galaxy S10, the report adds.

The report adds that the price of the foldable smartphone has not been decided by Samsung, but cites industry watchers to claim it can be expected to cost around KRW 2 million (roughly $1,770 or Rs. 1,29,100). The steep price is expected to limit sales.

This information was rumoured after Samsung Electronics President Koh Dong-jin, who heads the mobile business, said last week that the company will release a foldable smartphone within the first half of 2019. Koh said the shipment volume of the foldable smartphone will be at least 1 million.

Yonhap adds that Industry watchers said Samsung is expected to showcase the upcoming foldable smartphone in the Mobile World Congress in February, ahead of the official launch in the following month. The foldable smartphone is not expected to support the 5G network however, unlike the 5G variant of the Galaxy S10 rumoured to launch in the same time-frame.

To recall, Samsung unveiled a foldable smartphone prototype at its Samsung Developer Conference keynote last week, and Google also tipped that it would arrive in early 2019 - this time-frame matches what Yonhap is reporting. Samsung had revealed the upcoming foldable smartphone will fold inward and will sport a 7.4-inch screen when unfolded and have a 4.6-inch display like a regular smartphone when folded.

Written with inputs from IANS