[Asia Economy Reporter Joselgina] There are renewed speculations that Samsung Electronics' next-generation foldable phone, the 'Galaxy Z Fold3,' will feature a screen that folds twice in the shape of the letter Z and will even be equipped with an S Pen.
On the 26th (local time), IT specialist media PhoneArena combined previously revealed patents and renderings to speculate on the design and specifications of the Galaxy Z Fold3, which is expected to be released this year.
First, the Galaxy Z Fold3 is expected to have a screen that folds twice, unlike its predecessor. The hinge (folding part) will be in two places, folding one side outward in a 'folding screen' style or folding the display left and right in a 'wardrobe' style. PhoneArena stated, "This is based on patents filed by Samsung Electronics," adding, "At the very least, Samsung is considering such a model."
In particular, the media emphasized that Samsung has added the letter Z to the foldable phone's name since last year, analyzing that "there must be a good reason for this." The folding form is likely to be in the shape of the letter Z. The thickness when unfolded is expected to be thinner. The previously released Galaxy Z Fold2 was criticized for being thicker than regular smartphones when folded.
Additionally, the Galaxy Z Fold3 is expected to be equipped with top specifications such as Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888. It is anticipated to support 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There are also predictions that it will be the first Samsung smartphone to have a camera installed under the display. The display is expected to be slightly reduced compared to its predecessor, with an internal size of 7.55 inches and an external size of 6.21 inches. However, the difference is not expected to be significant.
There is also a possibility that the S Pen function will be supported, similar to the recently released Galaxy S21 Ultra model. In this case, it would be the first foldable phone to feature an S Pen. However, space within the smartphone is required to accommodate the S Pen. PhoneArena emphasized the possibility of S Pen support, stating, "The S Pen is perfectly suited for the foldable form factor, allowing users to take notes on the go or create digital art when unfolded." Last year, Samsung filed a patent related to a foldable phone with a built-in S Pen, which led to many predictions of S Pen support when the Galaxy Z Fold2 was released.
Major media outlets point out that Samsung, which has announced new foldable products, faces the urgent task of improving the durability of foldable phone displays above all else. The Galaxy Z Flip and others have faced criticism for cracks in the hinge area and display damage. Although the company maintains that there is no significant difference in durability between foldable phones and regular smartphones, improving display durability is considered necessary to lead the form factor battle.
Industry insiders estimate the price of the Galaxy Z Fold3 to be around $1,999. PhoneArena stated, "Considering that Samsung's other smartphone models have successfully occupied the $1,500 range, the possibility of a price reduction is low."
Samsung Electronics plans to release more than three new foldable products this year, including the Galaxy Z Fold3. The foldable smartphone market is expected to grow to 5.6 million units this year, doubling compared to the previous year.
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