The first smartphone with a flexible display may arrive by the end of the year and the battle is between the LG Vu 3 or the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

LG and Samsung are reportedly engaged in a fierce race to become the first company to unleash a smartphone with a flexible display. LG is reportedly gearing up to launch the LG Vu 3 with the innovative screen technology. The Galaxy Note 3, meanwhile, has already made its debut, but Samsung reportedly has another variant of the device, and that model may sport a flexible display.

The news comes from a new report from South Korea, claiming that the world will see the first bendable display smartphone soon. The LG Vu 3 will reportedly hit the market sometime in the fourth quarter. No exact timeframe is available, but October is favored.

The Galaxy Note 3, meanwhile, makes things even more interesting. There have been various rumors and speculations over the past few months claiming that Samsung's third-generation Note phablet would boast a flexible display. The IFA 2013 came and went, Samsung unveiled its Galaxy Note 3, but the flexible display never made an appearance. Whispers suggested that Samsung was unable to produce enough flexible displays for a device so popular as a Galaxy Note phablet.

Now, however, the new report claims that Samsung is getting ready to launch a Galaxy Note 3 version that would use a flexible display. Like the LG Vu 3, this version of the new Galaxy Note phablet should hit the market at some point in the fourth quarter, most likely October as well.

Rumors about flexible displays and various devices that would finally introduce the technology on smartphones have been making rounds for what seems like forever. Companies even demonstrated flexible displays, yet no such smartphone swept the tech world off its feet so far.

The new South Korean report builds on rumors and anticipation for smartphones with flexible displays, but nothing is confirmed just yet. Both LG and Samsung have acknowledged their interest in bringing such products to the market, but neither company has actually announced such plans for the near future.

In other words, it's all in the rumor state for now, so make sure to treat it accordingly. If LG or Samsung do plan to launch smartphones with flexible displays in the fourth quarter, more information should become available soon enough. Stay tuned.