Samsung may launch a bendable smartphones to market as soon as 2017, including a version that folds in half like a cosmetic compact.

According to the people familiar with the matter, the two bendable smartphone models will use organic light-emitting diodes for better screen technology. The first model is designed to fold in half, while the second one will have a 5-inch screen when used as a handset and can expand to 8 inches when used as a tablet. Both phones could debut at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona next February.

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Samsung, the biggest supplier of OLED panels for mobile products, has pioneered the development of new screen formats with its multi-sided Edge smartphones. Using advanced display technology may help the company recapture customers from Apple and boost earnings that have slumped for the past two years.

“This product could be a game-changer if Samsung successfully comes up with a user interface suitable for bendable screens. Next year is a probable scenario. Their biggest obstacle was related to making transparent plastics and making them durable, which seems resolved by now,” said Lee Seung Woo, an analyst at IBK Securities Co. in Seoul.

The initiative to build the new bendable phones is said to be called “Project Valley”, a push by Samsung to bring new, more innovative devices to market in a showdown with Apple, who is rumored to be preparing to launch bezel-less smartphone designs in 2017.

In addition, the South Korean tech company may also name the next version of its Note device as the “Note 7,” skipping a number to bring it in line with its flagship Galaxy S smartphone range. Samsung does not plan to market the new bendable-screen models under the Galaxy S name, a person familiar with the matter said.

TagsSamsung, Bendable Smartphones, Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Note 7, World Mobile Congress