*By Madison Alworth* Samsung revealed this week that, by the end of 2018, the company will unveil its first flexible and foldable smartphone screen. [But this is a promise Samsung Mobile CEO DJ Koh has been making for years, and many are skeptical that he'll actually deliver, said lead mobile analyst at PC Mag Sascha Segan. ](https://www.pcmag.com/news/363518/samsung-mobile-chief-says-foldable-phone-coming-this-year) "He was talking about this a year and a half ago. I feel like this is DJ Koh's white whale," [Segan said Tuesday in an interview on Cheddar. ](https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2367064,00.asp) But Segan, despite his doubts, still understands why the mobile giant is pursuing the strategy so aggressively. "This is the transformation in a phone's form factor that finally makes Samsung products different and more innovative than every other black slab on the market," he said. Cell phone distributors are looking for compelling reasons to get consumers in the door. It has been a dull year for cell phone sales as replacement cycles get longer and consumers continue to hold out for 5G. Samsung has felt the slide. Sales in Q2 were down 4 percent from a year ago, and Samsung cited ["softer sales of smartphones"](https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-electronics-announces-second-quarter-2018-results) as a major cause of the slump. [Samsung is hoping foldable displays are the solution to its sales problem.](https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2483688,00.asp) After all, they do seem to fit consumer demands, Segan said. "They want bigger screens but not bigger phones, because their hands aren't getting any bigger," he said. If Samsung is able to succeed in its efforts, it could get a leg up on competition. "If they can perfect foldable screens first, that makes it clear that everyone else is going to need to go to Samsung when they want the best displays," Segan said. For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/samsung-shocks-with-big-news).

Share:
More In Business
Al Sharpton to lead pro-DEI march through Wall Street
The Rev. Al Sharpton is set to lead a protest march on Wall Street to urge corporate America to resist the Trump administration’s campaign to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The New York civil rights leader will join clergy, labor and community leaders Thursday in a demonstration through Manhattan’s Financial District that’s timed with the anniversary of the Civil Rights-era March on Washington in 1963. Sharpton called DEI the “civil rights fight of our generation." He and other Black leaders have called for boycotting American retailers that scaled backed policies and programs aimed at bolstering diversity and reducing discrimination in their ranks.
A US tariff exemption for small orders ends Friday. It’s a big deal.
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the U.S. this week as part of President Donald Trump's agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods. A widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is set to end starting on Friday. Trump already ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, but having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will be subject to the origin country’s tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.
Southwest Airlines’ new policy will affect plus-size travelers. Here’s how
Southwest Airlines will soon require plus-size travelers to pay for an extra seat in advance if they can't fit within the armrests of one seat. This change is part of several updates the airline is making. The new rule starts on Jan. 27, the same day Southwest begins assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can pay for an extra seat in advance and later get a refund, or request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but not guaranteed. Southwest said in a statement it is updating policies to prepare for assigned seating next year.
Load More