Samsung’s foldable prototype smartphone production to start this year: Report

Samsung is getting closer to making its foldable smartphone a reality. The South Korean tech giant will start manufacturing prototype units of the handset in Q3 this year, according to ETNews website has claimed.

The company will be making thousands of units that will be supplied to partners, including carrier companies, to feedback. Based on that, Samsung will further tweak the device before starting mass production.

The report further suggests that mass production of Samsung's foldable smartphone could begin by next year, if everything goes without any problems. The South Korean tech giant is expected to be keeping a close eye on its display-manufacturing rivals from China, such as BOE, Visionox and AUO. These have reportedly close ties with companies like Lenovo , Oppo and Vivo.

Furthermore, Samsung plans to put its foldable handsets "one-step higher than regular flagship smartphones," claims the report. This indirectly means that the device will be priced more than the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+, which are due to be launched in a few days.

Samsung is not the only smartphone brand rumoured to be working on flexible smartphones. Apple, LG and Microsoft, too have applied for similar patents in the past few years, indicating that they may be working on something similar. Lenovo showcased its wearable devices with flexible displays at the Lenovo Tech World show last year.

It is also rumoured that the company could unveil its flexible smartphone by the end of this year, around the same time as the Galaxy Note 8 launch. While Samsung will be showcasing a flexible smartphone, rival Apple may unveil its iPhone 'Edition' or iPhone 8 with an on-screen fingerprint sensor.

Samsung is all geared up for the launch of its flagship duo - Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The company will be launching the two smartphones at its 'Galaxy Unpacked' event, scheduled for March 29 in New York, United States.