Samsung launched the world's first smartphone with a curved display screen on Thursday, as the electronics giant seeks to maintain its lead in the increasingly saturated market.

Galaxy Round - a 5.7-inch concave handset that fits the curve of a user's palm - has hit stores in South Korea but Samsung did not say when the new phone would be available globally.

Curved screens - billed as lighter and thinner than current display panels - are at a nascent stage in display technology, which is shifting towards flexible panels that are bendable or can even be rolled or folded.

The new phone - powered by Google's Android system and featuring a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor - is priced at about 1.08 million won ($1,000), Samsung said.

"The display (of Galaxy Round) is ergonomically shaped to fit the curve of a hand and comfortably embrace an ear and cheek during a phone conversation," SK Telecom, the country's top wireless operator, said in a statement.

The new phone allows users to check information such as missed calls, text messages, remaining battery life and the current time and date more easily when the screen is locked.

When listening to music, users can switch between songs on a playlist by placing the phone on a flat surface and pressing down on the left or right side to tilt the device, which automatically detects the movement.

The curved screen is made of plastic, instead of the glass that is commonly used in smartphones and as a result the handset is slightly lighter.

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