SEOUL (AP) — Samsung’s next flagship foldable phone could undergo a significant redesign, potentially adopting an Apple-inspired approach to stylus technology in pursuit of a thinner profile, according to industry reports.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7, expected to launch next year, may eliminate the traditional digitizer layer used for S Pen functionality, following a design choice first seen in the company’s recent Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. Instead, the device could implement a system similar to Apple’s active electrostatic technology used in iPads.
Display industry analyst Ross Young reports the new model will feature larger screens, with a 6.5-inch cover display and an 8-inch main folding screen. Its companion device, the Galaxy Z Flip 7, is also reportedly growing to include a 6.85-inch main display and a 4-inch cover screen, up from its predecessor’s 6.7-inch and 3.4-inch displays respectively.
The potential shift in stylus technology would require a charged, thicker S Pen, but could help Samsung compete with increasingly thin foldable devices from Chinese manufacturers who have been gaining market share in the segment Samsung pioneered.
Both new models are expected to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, promising significant performance improvements over current models. The larger form factors could also accommodate bigger batteries, addressing a common user concern with foldable devices.
Samsung has not officially commented on the specifications or release date for its next generation of foldable phones.
