Samsung confirms Galaxy X foldable phone release date

Samsung has given the biggest hint yet about its plans to launch its foldable phone, expected to be called the Galaxy X.

The South Korean electronics giant has not announced an official release date for the next-generation device but a video posted to the firm's YouTube channel suggested it will be fully unveiled at its Unpacked event.

The 20 February event has previously been earmarked as the launch pad for the Galaxy S10 range of smartphones, as well as the Galaxy Watch smartwatch and Galaxy Buds headphones.

Text accompanying the video stated: "The future of mobile will unfold February 20, 2019."

Samsung previously teased the folding phone in November during an event that largely took place in the dark.

Samsung Senior Vice President Justin Denison described the phone as the "foundation of the smartphone of tomorrow," though few details were revealed.

Rendered images based on leaked specs of the handset suggest the Galaxy X will have a smaller front-facing screen and a larger inward-facing screen that unfolds like a book.

Other rumours hint that the phone could feature a pop-up camera, similar to the Galaxy S90.

The price of the phone is anticipated to be set at around 2 million won (£1,380), according to The Korea Times.

It will also come with 5G functionality in markets that support the next-generation mobile communications network, such as the US and South Korea.

Samsung is not the first smartphone maker to develop a foldable phone, with fellow tech giants Huawei and Xiaomi also reportedly working on their own versions of the technology.

Chinese startup Royole beat more established phone manufacturers by unveiling its FlexPai folding phone in 2018.

Royole CEO Bill Liu said at the time that the worlds' first foldable smartphone would "forever change the consumer electronics industry."