Samsung always has fun smartphone concepts to showcase at global expos. At this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC), the South Korean firm showcased a bar-style smartphone that can bend and be worn on the wrist. The company also showcased small OLED screens in various form factors attached to various accessories and devices.
Samsung Cling Band is a bendy smartphone concept
The bending phone concept that Samsung Display showcased at the expo is called the Cling Band. It features a flexible OLED screen and can be used as a smartphone or a smartwatch, depending on the use case. In the candy bar mode, the device looks like any other smartphone, featuring a thin form factor, a bezel-less screen on the front, and a camera on the rear. It also features a USB Type-C port and a loudspeaker on the bottom. A groove-like structure supports the flexible screen when the device is bent.
When it is bent, the phone looks like a dome under the bridge. On the rear, along with the camera, it has a heart rate monitor. So, when it is worn on the wrist, it can track your heart rate and other health metrics. It is just a concept at this stage and is meant to showcase the flexibility of OLED screens from Samsung Display. The problem with this concept is that when you're using the device as a phone, it won't be able to measure your heart rate and other metrics, so it would only have part of your health data at all times. Moreover, it would also be really uncomfortable to wear during sleep.
Samsung Display also showcased other concepts, including small circular screens on top of wireless headphones and charging cases for true wireless earbuds. The company already showcased wireless earbud cases with a circular screen on top. It displays the charge levels, media that is being played, equalizer, audio modes, and other information that lets you control various settings without reaching for a phone.
Even Motorola showcased a concept phone that can turn into a wrist phone. Apparently, it looked more finished than Samsung's Cling Band concept, according to CNET.