Google Pixel 2 could feature curved screen

The original is an excellent handset, but no match for the Samsung Galaxy S8 in terms of design

Curved screens are very much in vogue right now (REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach TPX)

Google will spend big in order to bring a curved screen to its next flagship smartphone, according to a new report.

The company will be aware of the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the recent Samsung Galaxy S8 launch, and know that it needs to build something special in order to compete with what is currently the best-looking handset on the market by some distance.

Google will launch a follow-up to the highly impressive Pixel later this year, and is said to be plotting at least one major design change.

It’s offered to invest at least 1 trillion won (£706 million) in LG Display Co., in order to secure a stable supply of flexible OLED screens for the next version of the Pixel, reports South Korea’s Electronic Times.

Whether or not curved displays actually serve much of a practical purpose is still a point of debate, but they’re certainly aesthetically pleasing.

Google’s alleged offer, however, is yet to be accepted by LG Display.

The screen supplier could yet reject the proposal, and in doing so severely impact the Pixel-maker’s smartphone ambitions.

Curved screens are very much in vogue right now.

While Samsung’s new Galaxy S8 is available in two different sizes, the company has gone all-out by opting not to even create a version with a flat screen.

Apple is also expected to embrace the trend, having reportedly already agreed a deal with Samsung’s display division for the supply of 160 million curved displays for the iPhone 8, which is expected to launch this autumn.