Last year, we exclusively reported that Samsung was developing a foldable smartphone that had been internally codenamed Project Valley. Shortly after, a report was published claiming that the handset would hit the shelves towards the end of this year. However, it doesn't look like that's going to be the case as Samsung Mobile chief D.J. Koh has explained to The Korea Times that the firm isn't rushing to release its first foldable smartphone and is, instead, going to take its time in ensuring that the technology is ready to be distributed to consumers.
“We need more time to provide meaningful innovations and convenience considering the current status of technology. We need serious changes in software and user experience to build foldable smartphones and this will certainly take time,” said Koh. He then went on to reveal that he expects bendable devices to have a “ripple effect in the industry”, but refuses to “distribute the technology until the accompanying software has been developed to make it worthwhile.”
So there you have it, folks. It doesn't look like we're going to be seeing a foldable smartphone from Samsung this year. We're still extremely excited to see what the firm has come up with, and if it's anything similar to the patent that were spotted back in June, we're going to be in for a treat. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Project Valley is going to launch in every market, though. Instead, it's expected to make its initial debut in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, South Korea and the UK.
