Samsung Foldables: Small Upgrades Expected
freecores.com – Samsung appears to be taking a cautious approach to its foldable phone strategy, focusing on incremental updates while letting Chinese brands lead with experimental innovation. According to a recent interview with The Elec, an executive from FastPrint, one of Samsung’s manufacturing partners, hinted that the next Galaxy Z Fold and Flip models may not feature significant upgrades.
The source noted that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 series, expected in 2025, will carry over much of its predecessor’s features, with major enhancements likely reserved for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup in 2026. FastPrint, a key player in the smartphone supply chain, has an insider’s perspective on these developments, making the claim noteworthy.
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Samsung’s foldable lineup continues to see measured updates as the company prepares for future competition from Chinese brands and a potential entry by Apple into the foldable market. FastPrint, a key supplier for Samsung, revealed that the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition featured a slimmer profile than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, a larger display, and a new 200-megapixel camera sensor. FastPrint also confirmed its role in providing the HDI mainboard for Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 series phones.
Despite these improvements, FastPrint’s executive noted that major design and functional changes for Samsung’s foldables might not arrive until the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, slated for release in 2026. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 series, expected in 2025, is likely to retain a similar form factor, reflecting a slowdown in Samsung’s innovation pace.
“Looking only at Samsung Electronics’ foldable phone form factor, it seems that there will be some changes starting with the Z8 series,” the FastPrint executive stated. The company is reportedly focusing on countering challenges from increasingly sophisticated Chinese foldable devices while anticipating Apple’s eventual debut in the foldable market.
Supply chain expert Ross Young recently revealed that the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 will borrow its design from the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. Despite minor refinements, the overall appearance and camera hardware are expected to remain largely unchanged, with no significant upgrades on the horizon.
Meanwhile, competitors such as Honor, Vivo, and Xiaomi continue to set new standards in foldable phone innovation. These brands have released foldable devices that are slimmer, feature cutting-edge camera technology, and deliver enhanced user experiences—all at competitive price points.
Samsung’s strategy of incremental updates for its foldable phones raises questions about its ability to justify premium pricing. While its foldable lineup once set the benchmark, the lack of bold innovations risks falling behind rivals that are consistently pushing boundaries.
As the foldable market evolves, Samsung’s approach appears cautious, focusing on stability rather than revolution. However, with other brands rapidly advancing and Apple potentially entering the foldable arena, the pressure on Samsung to deliver groundbreaking improvements grows. How Samsung navigates this increasingly competitive landscape will determine whether it retains its leadership in the foldable segment—or cedes ground to more daring challengers.
