Samsung's next foldable phone W20 5G launching on November 19 

Samsung’s W-series caters to a very select audience that’s still into clamshell flip phones. But its latest iteration, aka W20 5G, is going to be a foldable. Days after China Telecom teased the arrival of the phone, it has revealed the exact launch date which is November 19. And as it turns out, the W20 5G won’t be a clamshell flip phone but an inward folding one like the Galaxy Fold. 

The teaser that China Telecom had previously shared had suggested that the W20 5G would be a flip phone like the soon-to-launch Moto Razr 2019. But it won’t be. Rather it would be like the Galaxy Fold, with some rumours suggesting that the W20 5G could be a 5G-ready variant of the Galaxy Fold. The teaser also confirms the button placement and triple rear camera setup identical to the one on the Galaxy Fold. 

Samsung demoed a new flip foldable design at the just concluded annual developer conference. “This brand-new form factor that we’re now exploring will not only easily fit in your pocket, but it also changes the way you use your phone,” Sally Hyesoon Jeong, who is head of Framework R&D Group at Samsung's mobile communications, had said while showing off the mock-up foldable flip phone on stage. No further details – hardware, possible pricing – were shared. 

But the appearance of the W20 5G soon after led many to speculate that it could be based on this design. That won’t be the case, however.  

Samsung’s W-series phones may have an old-school look and feel, but they’ve always been high-end flagships – in line with the company’s Galaxy S and Galaxy Note flagship phones. Sadly, Samsung has been making these devices for the China market only – there's one W-series phone launched almost every year since its inception. Something similar is expected from the W20 5G as well.  

The Galaxy Fold is already a go in select markets including in India and demands a fortune to buy. Considering that the W20 5G would be a foldable too, it would be interesting to see how Samsung prices it in China – and whether it makes its way in global markets. We will know more on November 19. 

Also Read:  Samsung Galaxy Fold Review: This Changes Everything