SEOUL: Samsung on Wednesday unveiled a smartphone that folds open to be atablet, becoming the first major manufacturer to offer the feature as itstrives to stoke excitement in a slumping market.
The South Korean giant also appeared to get the jump on rivals byannouncing the first smartphone for fifth-generation — or 5G — wirelessnetworks, while stepping up its efforts in artificial intelligence andwearables.
The Galaxy Fold, unveiled at a San Francisco event, serves as a smartphonewith a 4.6-inch display and opens like a book to become a 7.3-inch tablet.
“We are giving you a device that doesn’t just define a new category, itdefies category,” said Samsung’s Justin Denison at the event.
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The Fold will be available April 26 starting at $1,980, the company said.
The launch comes as the smartphone market experiences its worst-everdecline with consumers keeping devices longer and waiting for newinnovations.
