Samsung Galaxy Z Flip: Company reveals new folding phone during Oscars

Handset shuts like a 1990s flip phone – but display goes all the way across the fold

Leaks suggest Samsung's new folding phone features a vertically folding design (Winfuture.de)

Samsung revealed its new flip phone in a surprise ad during the Oscars.

It opens and closes like a 1990s flip phone. But it uses Samsung's controversial folding display technology to allow the screen to go all the way across the fold.

The new handset – rumoured to be called the Galaxy Z Flip – was shown in detail in the teaser trailer shown during TV coverage.

The company was expected to reveal the new folding phone at an event this week. But it appears to have spoiled its own launch, showing off detailed views of the phone in the ad.

It did not reveal the name or many details of the new handset.

The Korean smartphone giant had been expected to formally reveal the new foldable during a live media event in the United States on Tuesday night.

The advert showed the phone in two different colours, purple and black, and a small display on the outside of the phone used for alerts when the device is closed.

However, few other details were disclosed.

The Galaxy Z Flip will be Samsung's second foldable smartphone, following the launch of the Galaxy Fold last year.

That device was made up of two screens; one of the front of the device like a traditional smartphone and another larger, folding screen which opened out from inside the device.

The Fold's launch was affected by screen issues, with Samsung forced to delay its release from May to September after early testers reported flaws in the foldable screen.

Some viewers noted that the advert for the Galaxy Z Flip included a notice which read "You may notice a small crease in the centre of the main screen, which is a natural characteristic of the screen".

Additional reporting by agencies