In summary
- Samsung’s and Apple’s next foldables to feature advanced hinge technology
- iPhone foldable delayed to 2027
- Galaxy Z Fold 8 to feature larger battery and S Pen compatibility
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 could pre-empt the iPhone foldable with its use of a new design-improving technology.
According to a report in South Korean website Dealsite , Apple’s iPhone foldable and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 will both employ “laser-drilling metal plate technology” (via machine translation) to help reduce the visibility of the central display crease.
It seems likely that Samsung will get its product to market first. The company’s own release cadence points to a likely July 2026 launch for the Fold 8, whereas the report claims that Apple’s long-delayed foldable debut has been pushed back even further into 2027.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Apple’s reason for the latest delay is said to be its perfectionist nature with relation to the display hinge, which it wants to be as close to seamless as possible.
“Instead of the conventional etching method, the hinge’s microstructure will be precisely formed using laser drilling technology,” claims the report. Of course, if Samsung is going to beat Apple to this technology anyway, Apple’s initial foldable impact might be somewhat muted.
This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve heard it claimed that Samsung is looking to beat Apple to the punch with the Galaxy Fold 8.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 specs
Other Galaxy Z Fold 8 specs mentioned in this report are an increased battery capacity of over 5000 mAh.
This is the one component that continues to lag behind Samsung’s foldable rivals, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 ’s 4272 mAh looking positively puny next to those of the Honor Magic V5 and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold .
We also get the claim that Samsung will be restoring S Pen compatibility to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 after dropping the feature for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Once again, we approve, as Samsung’s stylus always felt like it made a lot of sense in a full-sized foldable context.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Author: Jon Mundy, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Jon is a freelance journalist who got his start covering mobile games at the dawn of the App Store. He has since covered everything from smart home tech and laptops to food and culture, but always seems to return to his fascination with smartphones.
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