Samsung to debut smartphone with curved display

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — With high anticipation for mobile devices with a flexible screen, Samsung Electronics says it is releasing a smartphone with a curved display in South Korea.

Samsung said Wednesday the Galaxy Round has a 5.7-inch OLED screen with a vertical concave. It said the curve makes the device an easy grip despite its size.

SK Telecom, the country's largest mobile operator, will release the Galaxy Round on Thursday at 1.1 million won ($1,003) without a two-year contract.

Samsung is one of the two global display makers along with LG to have manufactured curved TVs using advanced displays called OLED.

Samsung's latest patent filings showed drawings of smart wristwatches using flexible displays. Curved or unbreakable screens are the initial step before developing flexible smartphones amid absence of flexible batteries and other components.