Samsung announces Galaxy Round with 5.7-inch curved display

By Trevor Mogg October 8, 2013

samsung unveils galaxy round smartphone — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The folks working in Samsung’s R&D department must love it there. With the huge range of products the tech giant pushes out – not forgetting the multitude of variations of each of those products – it seems that an employee only has to vocalize a fleeting half-baked idea during after-work drinks on a Friday for it to be on a computer screen Monday and a production line soon after that.

Today the company unveiled the Galaxy Round.

Galaxy Round in hand — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Recent leaks and rumors relating to the new handset pretty much hit the target. The Galaxy Round does indeed feature a gently curved display, a design feature that you’d think would’ve led to the device being called the Curve rather than the Round, but I suppose BlackBerry had a hand in that.

Naming aside, the new smartphone comes with a 5.7-inch full HD Super AMOLED display (did we mention that it curves?), a 13-megapixel camera, a 2.3GHz quad core processor, 3GB of RAM, and runs Android 4.3. In fact, it’s very similar to Samsung’s new Note 3. Except that it’s bent.

samsung galaxy round — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Round is 7.9mm thick, weighs 154 grams, and is available not in brown but in “luxury” brown (more colors, presumably of a luxurious nature, coming soon). It can be yours for 1.09 million won (around $1000) plus the cost of a plane ticket to South Korea – that’s right, the concave handset is set to launch with the country’s SK Telecom carrier, with no word yet on a worldwide release.

Not one to miss a trick, its designers have made full use of the curved design, with Samsung’s marketing team promoting the handset on the idea that users will be able to enjoy a number of “round integration experiences”.

These include various phone-tilt maneuvers performed when the device is resting on a flat surface with the screen off.

So the Roll Effect, for example, allows you to check the date, time, and any missed call information simply by pressing gently on the side of the phone, as demonstrated in the video below.

In addition, the Round’s Bounce feature lets you control your music with the display switched off – “a short press to the left of the device will play the previous track while a short press to the right will play the next track.”

So how about it? Fancy the curvy look, or prefer the more traditional flat option?

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Samsung

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Mobile

5 smartwatches you should buy instead of the Google Pixel Watch 2

The main workout screen on the Google Pixel Watch 2.

It's no secret that we weren't fans of the first Google Pixel Watch. However, Google heard all the criticism of its smartwatch debut and made amends, coming back with the Google Pixel Watch 2. Its second attempt was much better, adding strong performance, exceptional comfort, and a solid battery life to the fitness tracking of Fitbit. While it still has some issues, it's now a product we can recommend buying.

But just because it's now good doesn't mean there aren't alternatives to be had. There are a number of smartwatches that are better suited for those looking for a longer battery life, a focus on fitness, or a simpler experience. Some are just flat-out better. If you're considering buying a Google smartwatch, you need to know about these five smartwatches you should buy instead of the Google Pixel Watch 2.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Mobile

Something odd is happening with Samsung’s two new budget phones

A person holding the Samsung Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 (left) and Galaxy A55 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy A55 for almost two weeks and have now swapped my SIM card over to the Samsung Galaxy A35. These are the latest entries in Samsung's budget-minded Galaxy-A series. In all honestly, I can barely tell the difference between them.

Mobile

Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals: Grab the foldable phone for $700

A person holding a partially open Galaxy Z Fold 4.

While the more recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has turned attention away from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Z Fold 4 is still an incredibly capable smartphone. Newer tech releases often make previous generations much more affordable, and that’s certainly the case with the Z Fold 4. While much of what’s available out there are refurbished models, there’s some huge savings to be had on a Z Fold 4. Retailers like Amazon and Back Market offer great ways to save, and we’ve got all of the information you need to do so. Reading onward you’ll find links to the best Samsung Z Fold 4 deals you can shop right now, as well as a little information on what each retailer has to offer with a purchase.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Best Buy
The Unlocked 512GB model of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is on clearance at Best Buy. The popular retailer is really showing up with this deal, which sees the Z Fold 4 marked down to $700 and makes for nearly $1,300 in savings. Even more savings are available if you have an eligible device trade-in.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Amazon
Amazon may currently have the widest variety of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals. You’ll find both the 256GB and 512GB models discounted there, as though much of what's available are renewed models. Don't hold back because it's renewed, though, as Amazon has a great return policy should you receive something that doesn't live up to its condition. You can save even more when purchasing a Galaxy Z Fold 4 at Amazon if you have an eligible device to trade-in.