Samsung has got its hands full with two new flagships launching next year. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8, in particular, has been the subject of many rumors — one of which has to do with the phablet sporting a foldable screen.

The South Korean tech giant has apparently filed a patent for its foldable screen technology, which it first showcased several years ago. According to ValueWalk, the patent was spotted online and came with an illustration of how it will work. Much like the flip phones that dominated the market in the past, the technology will allow users to bend the smartphone in half without damaging the screen. 

While it can't be known for sure whether the technology will be integrated into the Galaxy Note 8, there are those who strongly believe that the South Korean company may do just that. It is also expected that the Galaxy Note 8 will have a 4K display, which will make it the first in Samsung smartphone history.

Apart from that, speculations are also rife that the phablet will not come with a physical home button anymore. The home button may be fully incorporated into the display, making it a touchscreen home button. The screen is also said to take up more of the smartphone's surface, with edge-to-edge display a safe bet. 

Given the scandal and controversy that erupted due to the Galaxy Note 7, it is believed that Samsung is taking things up a notch when it comes to ensuring that their devices are up to par with safety standards. The Galaxy Note 8 is not the only device receiving this kind of treatment, though. It is also said that the Galaxy S8's safety features are being focused on.

As for a launch date, Samsung will likely unveil the two flagships simultaneously in March 2017. And although the Galaxy Note series typically launches at a later date, there is reason to believe that Samsung may have bumped the date in order to cope with the loss that resulted in the Galaxy Note 7's recall and production halt.

Samsung also introduced an upgrade program wherein customers can trade in their Galaxy Note 7 phablets. However, it is only currently available in South Korea.

Since nothing has been confirmed at this point, readers should take this news with a grain of salt for now.