Samsung to debut smartphone with curved display

A Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note 3, bottom left, and Galaxy Gears, wristwatches with a touchscreen displays, are displayed in a showroom at Samsung Electronics Co. headquarters in Seoul, South Korea on Friday. AP

SEOUL— Samsung Electronics says it is releasing a smartphone with a curved display — with a $1,000 price tag.

The Galaxy Round has a curved 5.7-inch (14.5 cm) screen using an advanced display technology called organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, technology.

Samsung says the curve will make it easier to grip.

South Korea is on the leading edge of developing curved digital display technology. Samsung and rival LG have both produced curved TVs using OLED displays.

The new phone will be released only in South Korea for now. SK Telecom, the country’s largest mobile operator, will start selling the handset Thursday for 1.1 million won ($1,003) without a service contract.