Samsung launches luxurious W2018 flip phone

Flip phones are coming back into fashion as Samsung launches a new smartphone with the retro design.

The forthcoming W2018 is the latest addition to the company’s flip-style W Series, reports Digital Trends, combining the performance and features of smartphones with the ergonomics of the old flip models of the 1990s and early 2000s.

The new handset features dual 4.2ins AMOLED displays, on either side of the upper-hinged section of the device, as well as “a physical dial-pad and directional buttons”, the website says.

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Like Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Note 8, the W2018 also includes the tech giant’s virtual assistant Bixby, and a fingerprint scanner at the rear.

The W2018’s performance is “on par with the S8 and Note 8” in most respects, The Verge says, with one exception - the flip phone is equipped with an improved 12-megapixel camera that can take images at f/1.5, allowing users to take high-quality pictures even in low-light conditions.

Under the skin sits Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processing chip and 6GB of RAM, the same as the company’s Galaxy S8 Plus, reports the tech site. Buyers can spec their device with either 64Gb or 256GB of storage space.

According to The Verge, the “luxury” smartphone is expected to launch exclusively in the Chinese market and cost in excess of its predecessor’s $3,000 (£2,230) price tag.

However, says Engadget, the camera technology from the W2018 could filter down to Samsung’s rumoured Galaxy S9, which may appear “as soon as January”.