Samsung Galaxy Round: The First Smartphone With a Curved Screen

Oct. 9, 2013 — -- Did you look at your phone today and think it was just a bit too flat? OK, probably not, but Samsung has been thinking just that.

Samsung announced today its Galaxy Round, the world's first smartphone with a curved display. The phone uses Samsung's flexible screen technology, but the phone itself doesn't actually flex or bend. Instead the 5.7-inch Super AMOLED screen has a slight curve, or smile, to it, which Samsung says offers a "comfortable hand-grip feeling."

The curved display doesn't just offer aesthetic and comfort improvements, Samsung says. With the Roll Effect, users can tilt or roll the device on a table to check missed calls, remaining battery life and more. Additionally, Samsung has built in "one-hand operation features," which bring some settings or controls to the sides of the screen.

But before you get too excited about holding the curved screen in your hand, the Round will be available only in Korea for now, and according to The Wall Street Journal, it will cost a whopping 1,089,000 won, or $1,013. It will launch there in a "Luxury Brown" color this month.

Given the price tag and the limited launch, Samsung seems to be experimenting with the curved display technology as competitors such as LG also gear up to mass produce flexible displays and batteries for smartphones. That ultimately means your phone is going to stay flat for a while longer.