SEOUL, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

005930.KS on Wednesday launched a variant of the popular Galaxy Note smartphone with a curved display, moving a step closer to introducing wearable devices with flexible screens.

The Galaxy Round's 5.7-inch (14.4-centimetre) display has a slight horizontal curve and weighs less than the Galaxy Note 3, allowing a more comfortable grip than other flat-screen models on the market, mobile carrier SK Telecom Co Ltd 017670.KS said in a statement.

Curved displays open up possibilities for bendable designs that could eventually transform the high-end smartphone market by allowing mobile and wearable gadgets to take new forms.

LG Electronics Inc 066570.KS plans to introduce a smartphone with a vertically curved display in November, a source familiar with the matter said this week. ID:nL4N0HX1NR

Samsung's new phone, available through South Korea's biggest mobile carrier SK Telecom, costs 1.089 million won ($1,000).

($1 = 1073.7750 Korean won)

(Reporting by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Stephen Coates)

((miyoung.kim@thomsonreuters.com)(822 3704 5651)(Reuters Messaging: miyoung.kim.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: SAMSUNG CURVED/