Samsung unveils foldable phone with Infinity Flex Display

Samsung has unveiled its first foldable phone, which the company called the "future of mobile display technology". The device was shown inside a casing with dark lighting to 'disguise' its design features, ahead of launch.

The new device features a full touchscreen display which can then be unfolded to reveal what the company calls an Infinity Flex Display, a second, foldable 7.3in AMOLED screen that can show up to three apps at once.

The Korean firm briefly demonstrated the device on stage at its developer conference in San Francisco, but stopped short of confirming a name for the device or when it would be released to the public.

Samsung's Justin Denison, however, did say it would be "ready to start mass production in the coming months" and called the new display technology the "biggest leap forward in the last decade".

Mr Denison said the foldable phone would use a continuity feature so that any app being used on the smaller phone screen would automatically launch in the same place once the larger tablet screen had been unfolded.

Google, the maker of the Android operating system Samsung uses on its smartphones and tablets, appeared alongside Samsung at the event to confirm it would update its software to support the new device type.

Samsung mobile president DJ Koh said: "The foldable display lays the foundation for a new kind of mobile experience.

"We are excited to work with developers on this new platform to create new value for our customers. We cannot wait to see where the technology and collaboration takes us."

The developer conference keynote was also used to unveil a new version of Samsung's mobile interface, called One UI.

It includes a more minimal design and sees the most relevant content on screen moved to the bottom half of the display, which Samsung says will make its devices easier to use one-handed.