Samsung is expected to launch a range of foldable smartphones, including an outward folding one, ahead of the Huawei Mate X, a Korean publication has claimed. Citing sources familiar with the matter, The Investor reported that the production of this particular device has already begun. “The launch date has yet to be unveiled, but it’s likely to be earlier than the date set for Huawei. Samsung has already begun producing the outward folding phone,” the sources was quoted as saying. It should be noted that the South Korean company is yet to announce the re-launch date of its first folding phone, the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
In contrast, Huawei has already announced that the Mate X will be launched in September. This leaves a short period of two months – July and August – for Samsung to hold a launch event. If Samsung launches the Galaxy Fold next month, the company will only have August to unveil the new foldable device. Further, It has already been reported that Samsung is likely to launch the Galaxy Note 10 Series of phones in August. So it might be possible that the company may uncover the phone that folds outwards along with the Note flagship.
Kim Seong-cheol, Vice President, Samsung Display recently said that the company has resolved “most” of the issues related to the Galaxy Fold phone, and that the device is ready to hit the market. Samsung Display, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, is the main supplier of the folding screen. The Galaxy Fold was initially scheduled to hit the shelves in April in the US and in May in Korea. However, it didn't happen because a number of reviewers in the US reported several display-related issues in the phone.
Meanwhile, Vincent Peng, Senior Vice President, Huawei said that the company is doing extensive tests on the device and this could be the main reason for the company to delay the Mate X launch to September. In addition to that, the recent Huawei fiasco with the US government is already fuelling the speculation of hiccups in the launch of the phone. The Huawei Mate X was announced alongside the Samsung Galaxy Fold.