[ET NEWS] Samsung Electronics plans to launch a new folder phone with high-end features such as wireless charging, fingerprint scanning and Samsung Pay, industry sources said on May 10.

“I cannot confirm the launch date but the new phone will be launched soon in Korea,” an official of a local telecom carrier told ET News on condition of anonymity. 

Samsung's upcoming high-end folder phone SM-W2017

The new phone that is known only by its model name SM-W2017 has recently won wireless charging certification from the New Jersey-based Wireless Power Consortium.

The phone is expected to feature 4.2-inch dual OLED display screens; Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 430 processor; 64GB memory; 2300mAh battery capacity; 12 megapixel rare-facing and 5 megapixel front-facing cameras; wireless charging; fingerprint scanning Samsung Pay; Samsung Knox; and water- and dust-resistance.

These features have thus far been adopted only for Samsung’s high-end models such as the flagship Galaxy S series phones.

“The new phone will be priced higher than any other folder phones here,” the official said. “Depending on the pricing, there is a possibility that the phone will be launched as a special edition.”

Samsung also plans to launch the Galaxy Folder 2 within the first half of this year, sources said.
 
Succeeding the Galaxy Folder 1 that was launched in July 2015, the upcoming phone has recently passed the radio wave certification test. The phone, equipped with 3.8-inch screen, Snapdragon 425 processor and 1950mAh battery capacity, is estimated to be priced at about 200,000 to 300,000 won.

By Choi Jae-pil (jpchoi@etnews.com) (jylee@heraldcorp.com)
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