With May almost over, we’re getting very close to Samsung foldable season. Rumors say the Korean tech company will unveil at least three new Galaxy Z devices this summer, with two dropping as soon as July. Samsung reportedly wants its Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Ultra?) and Z Flip 6 out in stores in time for the summer Olympic games, which makes sense since Samsung is one of the main sponsors. Additionally, a third, cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 variant might launch in September.
Meanwhile, we have three somewhat exciting new Galaxy Z Fold 6 rumors that fans of foldable devices should appreciate. Before we start, I’ll note that I’m talking about the flagship Galaxy Z Fold 6 in what’s about to follow. It’s unclear whether the device will be called “Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra,” or if the cheaper variant might get some sort of “Lite” or “FE” branding instead.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip
Anyone interested in the specs of an unreleased Android device will probably ask which chipset will power the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 this year. It wouldn’t be wrong to assume that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will be the designated chip to power at least some versions of the new foldables.
Samsung chose Snapdragon flagships for previous Galaxy Z handsets. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powers all the Galaxy S24 Ultra models, but Samsung only used it for some versions of the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus. Most international customers got an Exynos 2400 chip instead.
A new report from TheElec should clarify matters. If the outlet’s sources are accurate, Samsung will equip all Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 flagships with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Apparently, there’s another reason Samsung is doing this besides its partnership with Qualcomm. The Galaxy Z phones were reportedly designed with Qualcomm chips in mind. Therefore, it’s supposedly more cost-effective for Samsung to keep using Snapdragon flagships instead of its own Exynos chips. That’s certainly an interesting claim, considering Snapdragon flagship chips aren’t cheap.
Moreover, this begs the obvious question: Which Snapdragon chip will power the cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6? The slightly downgraded Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 might be the right answer, though I’m speculating.
A better crease
Moving on to design details, we have an exciting claim from Ice Universe concerning the Galaxy Z Fold 6 design. Apparently, Samsung figured out how to reduce the crease in the middle of the screen. It’s not entirely gone, but it’s better than before.
This is one of the Holy Grails of foldable phone design, and Apple might be waiting for big improvements before it launches its own foldable devices. The crease is a compromise we’ve all had to accept for years. If anyone can figure it out, it’s Samsung, one of the key players in the foldable niche.
Also, if the claim is real, I can’t help but wonder if the cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 will also get a less visible crease.
Let’s also remember leaks saying the Galaxy Z Fold 6 flagship will be thinner and lighter. Such design changes are possible only if Samsung figures out new designs for the phone’s hinge and foldable screen.
Camera upgrades incoming?
There’s one other area where Samsung can improve when it comes to foldable devices: the camera experience.
The Galaxy Z flagships have never matched the Galaxy S counterparts. It’s unclear whether it’ll happen this year, but the same Ice Universe points out that a big design change is coming to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 rear camera design.
The leaker posted an AI-generated image to highlight the design changes. Apparently, the cameras are getting some sort of metal rim around the lens.
If real, these camera design changes also suggest that camera upgrades are in order. Changing only the design of the camera would be silly. Then again, we’ll have to wait until sometime in July to find out.
