Rumors about Samsung’s next foldables
Samsung will again introduce a new generation of foldable smartphones this year. Here we collect rumors and facts about the foldables until the release.
Foldable smartphones are still niche products. But with the models from the Galaxy Z series, Samsung is working hard to make the folding cell phones just as suitable for the masses as the flagships of the Galaxy S series.
With the current models Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4, Samsung has already shown in 2022 what is possible when it comes to foldable cell phones. The next generation of devices will certainly be even more sophisticated. Here we also collect the rumors and facts that appear up to the release.
When will the foldables come out?
A South Korean medium says that Samsung will present the two foldables on July 26 in a Galaxy Unpacked in Seoul. The market launch would then be August 11, 2023.
However, there are now other voices. If Samsung starts mass production of the smartphones earlier than usual, as a tech enthusiast claims, a launch of the foldables in July would also be possible.
Samsung itself did not intentionally announce an approximate time and location of the “Galaxy Unpacked” event. According to a press release, which can no longer be accessed, the event is scheduled to take place at a conference center in Seoul at the end of July. The manufacturer would then also present the foldables there.
How much will the foldable smartphones cost?
The expected prices of both devices have not yet surfaced. Measured against the innovation and the built-in technology, they will certainly be rather high. In the 256 gigabyte version, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 cost 1,799 dollars when it was released. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 cost a comparatively moderate 1,159 dollars with the same memory. This information is currently for guidance only. Actual prices may also be higher or lower.
What colors are offered?
An insider already talked about possible colors before the devices were released. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 could appear in black, light blue and beige tones. According to him, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes in the colors light green, beige and pink. In addition, there will probably be bespoke editions with a larger selection of colors again.
What do we know about the operating system?
Samsung is said to be testing new firmware for the foldable smartphones. Accordingly, it could be that the manufacturer will deliver both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Galaxy Z Flip 5 with One UI 5.1.1 based on Android 13. We don’t yet know exactly what improvements this version will bring.
With Samsung DeX, the South Korean manufacturer offers a desktop environment that can be operated with a mouse and keyboard either with your tablet or with smartphones via an external screen. Smartphones from the Galaxy Z Flip series have been exempt from this until now. This could change now. Then the Galaxy Z Flip 5 would be the most compact phone with DeX support.
What innovations do the new devices bring with them?
Display
At least the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could get a new display technology that could remove the noticeable crease between the two displays or at least make it a lot more inconspicuous – a new “droplet” hinge should help. It is still unclear whether this display will also be used in the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
The AMOLED display itself on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 should be 7.6 inches when folded and have a resolution of 1,768 x 2,208 pixels.
There is also the possibility that the new booklet foldable will be thinner than its predecessor. Another advantage of this new technology would be that the foldables are significantly less susceptible to dust.
Samsung also presented a prototype for a stretchable display at CES 2023. This screen could also be used in the next foldables.
outdoor display
The display on the outside of the Galaxy Z Flip should also get a decent upgrade. According to a well-known leaker, the size will increase from 1.9 inches to 3.4 inches, which would be a significant increase.
However, this is not the only innovation for the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The larger display should be “folder-shaped”.
This is how the external display comparison Galaxy Z Flip 5 could be used. (Source: @UniverseIce on Twitter)
The 720 x 748 pixel display could work together with various Samsung apps. Google should also make optimized apps available, including Google Maps and YouTube.
With the Galaxy Z Fold 5, however, Samsung will probably be based on the predecessor again. According to a well-known insider, the external display will again be 6.2 inches this year, which will probably disappoint many fans.
Housing
While the Galaxy Z Fold 4 does have S Pen support, it doesn’t have an in-device tray like the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Even if the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is supposed to be slimmer, the manufacturer could find a way for the S Pen port to still fit into the device.
In the meantime, the device batteries have been certified by the South Korean approval authority. In additional images that have appeared, it is noticeable that the batteries have a pull tab. That should make it a lot easier to swap them out. It remains to be seen whether you will be able to do this yourself in the future or whether you will have to take the new mobile phones to a repair shop to have the battery replaced.
Based on information from an industry insider, the 3D artist behind Technizo Concept created a render video. Closer to a real image is a leak of a transparent case, which can give us a glimpse of possible changes if it really is a Galaxy Z Fold 5 case.
Galaxy Z Fold 5 Transparent Case Leak (Source: @UniverseIce on Twitter)
The devices could also be improved in terms of their robustness. The predecessors had protection against water and were IPX8 certified. With the new foldables, it is possible that protection against dust will be added. The associated certification is IP58.
Camera
The camera of the fold smartphone should get an update. The smartphone will probably get a 108-megapixel camera with a focal length of 26 millimeters. It should support dual-pixel autofocus and optical image stabilization. In addition, the main camera is supported by a 64-megapixel sensor for 2x optical zoom and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.
The front camera of the Galaxy Z Flip, on the other hand, could not be updated. But the resolution of ten megapixels, which is the same as in the predecessor, shouldn’t be particularly important, at least if you only use the front camera for selfies. Theoretically, a greatly enlarged external display offers more than enough space to serve as a viewfinder.
Updates under the hood
In terms of storage options, you should have 256 gigabytes and 512 gigabytes of fast UFS 4.0 storage available on both smartphones. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 could even get a terabyte. If you prefer a 128 gigabyte version, you’ll have to go for the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The lower-capacity version only gets slower UFS 3.1 storage.
In contrast to the memory, the loading speed will probably remain the same. As with the predecessors, you should probably only be able to charge the batteries with 25 watts.
With 3,591 mAh, the two batteries in the Galaxy Z Flip 5 probably have a capacity that differs only slightly from the predecessor. On the other hand, changing the battery could be easier with new pull tabs.
Note: This constantly updated article is based on leaks, analyst statements, editorial assessments and rumors, the veracity of which is difficult for us to verify from a distance. Until the formal presentation of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 in Europe, you should therefore view the information with a certain skepticism.
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