If you were wondering if folding smartphones were still a thing then the latest leaks from Samsung confirm that yes, they very much are still a thing.
According to a report by Daily Korea, Samsung has placed bulk orders for the components needed to manufacture its next folding phone. The new device is rumoured to be called the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 or Galaxy Z Fold 2, as a nod to the Galaxy Z Flip which was unveiled earlier this year.
As a result, the new phone could be announced in August, at the same time the company releases its next Note smartphone, though coronavirus could mean the releases are delayed for the new devices.
How will the Galaxy Z Fold 2 be different from the first version and is there even that much demand for folding phones?
Here’s what we know so far about the next Samsung folding phone...
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: Ultra-Thin Glass
With folding phones, it’s all about the screen quality.
At the moment, it looks like Samsung is going to be using the Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) found on its Galaxy Z Flip phone which will help the screen fold without the issues seen on the first Galaxy Fold such as a major crease in the screen and defective hinges.
However, the UTG is said to be difficult to apply and produced en masse which means Samsung may abandon this in favour of cheaper solutions such as a transparent polyamide (CPI). If it does this, the company may run into the same problems it had with the first Fold which would be looked on less favourably a second time around.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: Sizing it up
The next Fold is going to be slightly bigger than the first generation, with a 7.9-inch or 8-inch display when open compared to 7-inch on the first one. The outer display is also expected to be bigger and more functional too which should be received well: the inside of the first Fold does look impressive but the blocky outside wasn’t very slick.
The tech giant may ship this new folding phone with an accompanying stylus, the S Pen which is found in the Note range. That would certainly make the larger phone screen easier to use — of all the rumours this is one we really hope comes true.
Another design change could be that the next Fold is waterproof. Last November, Samsung filed a patent with the World Intellectual Property Office for an ‘electronic device including waterproof structure’. According to Let’s Go Digital, the patent describes how Samsung wants to make a folding smartphone waterproof. Given how expensive the Fold is, this will be a much-improved feature.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: S20 specs
Like this year’s popular S20 range, the new Galaxy Z Fold 2 is thought to come with the Snapdragon 865 chip in the US, which means the phone will probably feature Samsung’s own Exynos 990. This also means the phone will come with 5G, which makes sense given how much investment Samsung has put into the next-gen mobile tech over the past few years.
As well, the folding phone may also boost a 108MP main lens, just like the Samsung S20 Ultra, along with a 5x optical zoom lens.
Then again, other rumours point to the phone having a 12MP main lens, 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 64MP telephoto lens which is similar to the Galaxy S20 phone.
Like the S20 range, the phone will have a 120Hz refresh rate which means it should be extremely fast and responsive whether you’re scrolling through social media or playing games on the go.
Colour-wise, it could come in up to five colours: blue, silver, gold, pink and black, which sounds like Samsung is trying to appeal to a variety of customers.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: price and release date
At the moment, it looks like Samsung is toying with an August release date, in the same Unpacked event where it usually reveals the next Note range. However, given the coronavirus pandemic has affected other supply chains, this could be delayed.
Price-wise, sources are claiming that the Fold 2 will be the same price as the original Fold, at about £1,900. Best start saving now.
