Mar 16, 2017 11:00 AM EDT By Mark Spencer, UniversityHerald Reporter

Samsung's highly speculated foldable phone prototype making the rounds in rumor mills might finally be coming close to production. Talks have it that the Korean tech giant would want to position the new form factor at the top of their current flagships.

Samsung Galaxy X

Samsung's foldable phone format has been in the concept table for far too long, the Korean giant might just about be ready to highlight its first foldable phone within 2017, according to Digital Trends. Information about the Samsung Galaxy X has been leaking and making the rounds being talked about.

Long rumored to be in preparation for the release of the Samsung Galaxy X, reports indicate that the company might still be able to make it. ETNews reported that Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display are working towards the last leg of the development of its foldable smartphone to be able to produce a prototype by the end of Q3 this year.

Accordingly, Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display will produce thousand of the prototype to verify its quality and performance. The units will be tested internally and check responses from usual markets in advance by supplying the units to their customers such as mobile network providers.

Once it meets a certain level of demand response, Samsung might then decide to go into full production. It is likely that mass-production will take place in 2018.

Samsung "Foldable Valley"

Before being known as Samsung Galaxy X, the concept was known as Project Valley or "Foldable Valley" The device is rumored to be capable of turning into a 7-inch tablet once it is unfolded. Daily Mail reported that Samsung has been secretly showing off the "Foldable Valley" phone.

However, it should be noted that the basic design of the leaked concepts vary, which might lead to speculation that Samsung might have two different folding types of devices in development. If so, both devices might as well be unveiled together this year.

With Apple expected to unveil its new iPhone in September, Samsung might unveil its folding designs a few days early to deflect attention from Apple's iPhone 8 at the IFA show in Berlin this year. Apparently, only a handful of trade partners were able to see the still unnamed smartphone during MWC 2017.

The foldable concepts were first introduced during CES 2013 and working prototypes were supposedly shown in a private meeting during CES 2014. Could Samsung Galaxy X be the unit in question, featured in the video below?

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