Samsung announces ‘flip’ smartphone W2019 in China

Samsung has officially announced the W2019, a device that resembles an old-fashioned flip phone. The smartphone can be opened and shows a 4.2 “screen and a T9 keyboard with a number of function buttons.

The flip smartphone is listed on Samsung’s website, and will not be shipped to Europe. It is unclear whether Samsung plans to release the device outside of China; generally, smartphones in the W series are not widely released. Images of the W2019 have already appeared before.

Samsung has provided the W2019 with two AMOLED screens, each with a diagonal of 4.2 “and a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. One can be used when the device is folded, while the other is displayed after unfolding. Furthermore, there is a Snapdragon 845-soc on board, accompanied by 6GB ram and 128GB or 256GB storage.On the back are two 12-megapixel cameras.The flip mechanism makes the W2019 quite thick, and at 257 grams it is also relatively heavy. there is a 3.5mm jack and the software is based on the outdated Android 8.1.

For the W2019, Samsung is asking about 2400 euros in China, which makes the smartphone considerably more expensive than most high-end models. Buyers do receive extras, including a service to have the smartphone disinfected, but also an ‘exclusive hotline’, where it is unclear what exactly these W2019 owners offer. Samsung also offers the option of having the screen or battery replaced free of charge, up to twice a year.