Samsung W2018, a 4.2-inch dual touch screen, Android flip phone with Snapdragon 835, announced I Samsung W2018 flip phone with f/1.5 aperture camera launched in China I Samsung’s W2018 combines the best features of smartphones and flip phones

Do you miss the flip phones of the ’90s and early 2000s? There are plenty of people who are nostalgic for the design, even if they don’t want to give up the convenience and power of modern phones. Well, Samsung’s W2018 will give users the best of both worlds, though it’s currently only been announced in China.

The W2018 is an interesting piece of hardware that combines a flip phone with a modern smartphone to make a truly unique device. The phone features a 4.2-inch outer display and a 4.2-inch inner display. The dual screens are nice, but the really neat feature is that this phone features a physical dial-pad and directional buttons. Additionally, it offers modern features such as Bixby support and a fingerprint reader on the back of the device.

In terms of internal hardware, the phone offers specs similar to current Galaxy S8, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and 6GB of RAM. One difference between this and the standard S8, aside from the obvious design changes, is the camera. The W2018 offers rear-facing 12-megapixel 1.5 aperture camera with Optical Image Stabilization. This means that, when taking photos in well-lit areas, the camera will switch to 2.4 aperture, and in low-light, it will have an aperture of 1.5. This should allow users to get better pictures when the lights are dim.

The phone does have one major downside, and that’s the price. If you thought the iPhone X was a bit too much, the W2018’s will likely be even worse. The W2017 cost $3,000 and we expect this one to cost about as much, if not more. Aside from a unique flip smartphone, Samsung is offering some unique perks with this phone such as concierge service at subways and airports, free software support, and services at a reduced cost.As of now, the phone is set to launch in China and there’s no official word on whether or not we’ll see a release in other markets. If so, the price will likely be high enough to ensure that it remains a niche product, even it does see a wider release.

This isn’t the first smart flip phone that Samsung has released. The models remain popular in Asia and Samsung announced the Leader 8 earlier this year.

To mark the 25th anniversary of its entry into China, the South Korean giant Samsung announced its latest premium Android flip smartphone, the W2018. The W2018 is the successor to the Flagship 8, the company’s smartphone that was launched in August this year. The W2018 has the same design as its predecessor and comes in a 3D glass and metal design. The W2018 is also the first smartphone in the Samsung W series to come with its Bixby voice assistant.

Samsung W2018 Specifications

The W2018 boasts of a 4.2-inch dual touch screen, Super AMOLED display that has a pixel resolution of 1920 x 1080. It is protected by Corning’s fifth-generation Gorilla glass on top.

Under the hood, the flip phone comes powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor with 6GB of RAM. The device offers two variants of internal storage space, i.e 64GB and 256GB which is expandable up to 256GB using a microSD card. It comes with a hybrid dual SIM slot. The device runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box.

In terms of camera specifications, the device has a 12-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash and a f/1.5 aperture that can be used for night-time pictures, and a f/2.4 aperture for images taken during the daytime. Do note that the camera switches the aperture automatically depending on the light. The device also boasts of dual-pixel autofocus and optical image stabilization. At the front is a secondary 5-megapixel camera that has a F/1.9 aperture.

In terms of network connectivity, the device supports 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2X2 MIMO), Bluetooth 4.2 LE, GPS + GLONASS, NFC, and USB Type-C. Unlike its predecessor, the W2018 has a fingerprint sensor next to the camera rather than below it. It also comes with a heart rate sensor and an iris sensor. It is powered by a 2300mAh battery. It weighs 247g.

The device is said to be available in Gold and Silver colour options. However, there is no information as yet on the device’s pricing or its availability, but going by the fact that the device has been positioned as a smartphone mostly aimed at business folks, it is likely to be priced higher than its typical flagship devices.

Samsung has launched the W2018, its next generation high-end flip phone in the Chinese market. The South Korean major continues to launch flip phones in the market, as it sees the demand coming from China. Samsung W2018 has been introduced with China Telecom, and it will go on sale shortly.

Samsung W2018 comes with two impressive Super AMOLED touchscreen displays, with one placed on the exterior and the other inside the phone. The phone is a blend of metal and glass and it comes in two colour options – Elegant Gold  and Platinum. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB RAM, either 64GB or 256GB storage, and a USB Type-C port.  The clamshell has a fingerprint scanner, and is backed by a 2300mAh battery. Samsung W2018 runs on Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box.

The W2018 also marks the first non-Galaxy smartphone to feature Samsung’s voice assistant – Bixby. A 12MP primary camera on the phone boasts an aperture of f/1.5. Interestingly, Samsung W2018’s primary camera can switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4 depending upon the light you’re shooting in. Otherwise, the camera is identical to the Samsung Galaxy S8 series. On the front, there is a standard 5MP selfie shooter with an aperture of f.1.9.

Although the company has not revealed the price of the phone, the phone is likely to cost upwards of CNY 15,999 (or approx Rs 156,179) for the base variant. It’s not the first time Samsung has launched a flip phone in China. In August this year, it launched the SM-G9298, also known as the Leadership, featuring high-end specifications and features. Its latest W2018 is an exclusive device that is targeted at those who likes to flaunt a different looking phone.