Samsung, known for pioneering mainstream foldable smartphones, is evidently encountering difficulties in sustaining its leadership in this sector. The newly introduced Galaxy Z Fold 6 exemplifies this, presenting only minor improvements.
Competitive Innovations
On the other hand, Chinese manufacturers have been steadily advancing their foldable devices, both in features and physical design. The recently released Honor Magic V3, for instance, boasts a slim form factor of just 9.2mm when folded, making it the slimmest foldable available today. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a thickness of 12.1mm, which is 2.9mm thicker than Honor's device.
Samsung's Ambitious Plans
Despite these challenges, Samsung seems determined to regain its supremacy in this market. A report from Naver indicates that Samsung is developing a foldable phone that will be only 7mm thick when closed.
If Samsung succeeds, this would produce an extraordinarily thin foldable that would surpass the Honor Magic V3 in terms of thickness. However, achieving such a slim profile is no small feat. The company would need to make significant trade-offs, such as eliminating S Pen support and reducing battery capacity.
Future Prospects
This isn't the first mention of a slim foldable from Samsung. Reports have surfaced about a Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim in the works. It's unclear if the rumored device with a 7mm thickness is the same as this model or a different version.
Beyond just the physical dimensions, the report hints that Samsung is exploring unique features to distinguish its foldables from traditional smartphones. However, specific details about these features are not yet available.
As the foldable smartphone market becomes increasingly competitive, Samsung's ability to innovate and deliver compelling devices will be essential for maintaining its leadership in this emerging category. We are eagerly looking forward to what the company has planned.
