SAMSUNG HAS SAID it plans to unveil a smartphone with a curved display in October — a technological innovation aimed at maintaining its lead in a lucrative but increasingly saturated market.

Curved displays are at an early stage in display technology, which is shifting towards flexible panels that are bendable or can even be rolled or folded.

“We will introduce a smartphone with a curved display in October,” Samsung mobile business head of strategic marketing D.J. Lee told reporters.

He declined to give more details.

Samsung — the world’s top maker of smartphones and TVs — unveiled prototype products with a flexible screen in January. The company still faces a major challenge in making other handset components — such as batteries — that can bend with the rest of the unit.

Curved displays are already commercially available in large-screen televisions offered by companies including Samsung and LG.

The displays are supposed to offer a more immersive viewing experience but are significantly more expensive than standard screens.

In another attempt to break new ground, Samsung unveiled earlier this month a smartwatch called Galaxy Gear, which can take photos and videos, make or take phone calls, or check e-mails.

Wearable computing, including Google’s smart glasses, is considered the next frontier in consumer electronics following smartphones.

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