We're calling it now: Foldable phones will be a huge trend next year, thanks to companies like Samsung, Royole, and now, LG.

LG plans to show a foldable smartphone in January at CES 2019, according to mobile leaker Evan Blass, who said he cannot speak for Samsung, which has already confirmed it will release a foldable phone, but he does know "LG plans to unveil a foldable phone at its 2019 CES keynote.”

Keep in mind Samsung is expected to preview its foldable phone at a dev conference this month, though, currently, there is no word on whether that phone will go on sale. It's therefore safe to assume LG will merely showcase its foldable phone at the annual consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, but there's always a chance it could surprise us all and launch the device right after. 

Ken Hong, LG’s head of corporate communications, even told Digital Trends that “anything is possible at CES". The company, which has been filing patents for folding phones for years, has been displaying its flexible screen technology for some time, and it has expressed a lot of interest in launching a phone with a bendable screen. So, we suspect LG wants to beat Samsung to the punch.

But neither Samsung nor LG will be the first to launch foldable devices, as Royole has already opened up pre-orders for its folding FlexPai handset. Either way, expect to hear more from LG at CES 2019, which begins 8 January 2019.