LG puts foldable phone on hold, focusing on "optional" dual displays instead

LG has paused its foldable phone plans after evaluating the current market viability of them, LG Electronics mobile and TV boss Brian Kwon has confirmed. Speaking at a Seoul press conference yesterday (via The Korea Times), Kwon said: “We have reviewed releasing the foldable smartphone when launching 5G smartphone but decided not to produce it.”

Last year, LG’s former mobile CEO Hwang Jeong-hwan confirmed LG was developing a folding smartphone, but acknowledged it wasn’t concerned with being first to market. LG’s Android rivals Samsung and HUAWEI are developing folding display devices that may be unveiled as early as this week.

In an email today, an LG spokesperson said: “Since Mr. Hwang (former MC President) made that statement in October, management didn’t see the market as becoming very favorable for an expensive, first-gen foldable smartphone. So we’ve decided to focus our efforts in other areas, such as optional dual displays.”

Earlier in January, rumors emerged suggesting an LG device with an optional display was headed to MWC 2019. The extra screen is tipped to be part of an additional phone case.

LG isn’t the only manufacturer wary of the folding phone market. Last month, HONOR President George Zhao said folding phones were “too thick and heavy,” and questioned if consumers really needed them.

With all of that in mind, Kwon said LG was “fully ready” to respond to folding smartphone demand if it’s there. It seems like LG has the technology, but whether it will pursue it may depend on what everybody thinks of the Galaxy F.

Up next: Folding phones with flexible displays, the ones we know about so far