하지만, 이러한 기술적 완성도에도 삼성전자는 아직 시장성과 수익성에 대해 확신이 서지 않아 최종 결정을 내리지 않은 상황이다.
업계 관계자는 “관련 기업들은 3분기를 목표로 준비하고 있지만, 최종 결정은 삼성전자의 무선사업부 인사가 끝난 후가 될 전망”이라고 말했다.
삼성전자는 통상적으로 12월에 임원인사를 시행하지만, 최근 최순실 스캔들에 휘말리면서 인사가 2월경으로 미뤄졌다.
LG전자 또한 4분기에 십만 대 넘는 폴더블폰을 출시할 것으로 예측된다.
업계 관계자는 “LG는 2-3년 전부터 아웃폴더블 스마트폰 개발을 시작했기 때문에 이미 기술적으로는 삼성보다 앞서있다. 그러나, 새로운 기술을 자사에 먼저 탑재하는 삼성과 달리 LG의 경우 애플이나 화웨이에 먼저 탑재할 수도 있다”고 말했다.
시장조사기관인 SA는 최근 보고서에서 삼성이 올해 안에 세계 최초로 폴더블 스마트폰을 출시할 것이라고 전망했다. 또한 폴더블 디스플레이가 올해 270만대에서 2022년 1억 6,300만대로 늘어날 것으로 예상했다.
<관련 영문기사>
Samsung likely to unveil foldable phones in Q3Samsung Electronics is highly likely to unveil foldable smartphones in the third quarter of this year, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“Samsung is expected to roll out more than 100,000 units of fold-out devices in the third quarter,” a source told The Korea Herald.
The smartphone, whose panels face outward upon folding, may be used as a 7-inch tablet when unfolded, he said.
Samsung, had initially completed the development of fold-in phones that tuck the screen inside when folded. It began the development of fold-out technologies around August, deeming that users may find it inconvenient to unfold the phones every time they want to use them.
“Since the company already secured fold-in phone technology, it was not a big challenge to shift into the fold-out phones,” he said.
Despite technical completion, Samsung Electronics has not made a final decision about whether they will unveil the device this year because of marketability and profitability issues, multiple sources said.
“The final decision will be made after the personnel reshuffle of the company’s information technology and mobile communications unit is carried out,” the initial source said.
Samsung Electronics’ executive-level reshuffle, which is normally done in December, has been delayed to February or March as the company is currently embroiled in the political scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil.
Samsung’s rival LG Electronics is also expected to produce more than 100,000 foldable devices in the fourth quarter, one of the sources said on condition of anonymity.
LG started the development of fold-out technology two to three years ago, and currently has more advanced technology than Samsung, the source said.
Unlike Samsung, which is first adopting their new technology into its own products such as the Galaxy series, LG may use the technology for other global clients such as Apple or Huawei.
Market research firm Strategy Analytics predicted in the latest report Samsung Electronics may unveil the world’s first foldable phones this year. It also predicted the foldable display market would reach 163 million units by 2022 from 2.7 million units this year.
By Shin Ji-hye (
shinjh@heraldcorp.com)
