The first curved display smartphone is here. Samsung today announced Galaxy Round featuring a 5.7-inch full HD Super Flexible AMOLED display. As earlier rumoured, Samsung Galaxy Round seems like variant of Galaxy Note 3 with flexible display and absence of S-Pen slot being the only differences.
Samsung Galaxy Round will begin selling on Korean telecom operator SK Telecom as soon as tomorrow in luxury brown colour option for around 1 million won (around $1,000). There is no word on release elsewhere.
“Samsung has been a mobile display innovator by introducing color TFT-LCD, AMOLED, and Super AMOLED flexible display for its mobile product. With this pioneering curved display technology, GALAXY ROUND blends the latest smartphone screen innovations with unique design features,” Samsung noted in a press release.
Coming to the smartphone specifications, Samsung Galaxy Round is powered by 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor. It features 3GB of RAM, 13MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, 2800 mAh battery, and LTE support.
Samsung has included quite a few tweaks to tap in the curved display potential and here are some of them:
- Roll Effect: Enables user to check information such as date, time, missed call and battery easily when home screen is off
- Gravity Effect: Creates visual interaction with the screen by tilting the device.
- Bounce UX: Enables users to control their music. When the Galaxy Round’s display is off while the music player is running, a short press to the left of the device will play the previous track while a short press to the right will play the next track.
- Side Mirror: Enables users to gain access to list of the album content with a left and right tilt.
How does it enhance the usability and functionality of the device. Seems the curved phone will be a nightmare to carry in pocket. The curved display are of no use till they are mounted on fixed frames. Until we get an actual flexible display which can be folded or if it allows manipulation of shape, these are just gimmicks
exactly