Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Might Bring a Surprise Change in Hardware
Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold7, which is its thinnest and lightest foldable phone so far. But even before the excitement settles, rumors about its next foldable phone—the Galaxy Z Fold8—have already started coming from South Korea.
If Samsung follows its usual pattern, the Galaxy Z Fold8 should launch around July next year. But now, early reports suggest that the Fold8 might bring a surprising change in its design.
Samsung is said to be testing two materials for the backplate of the Fold8: titanium and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). While CFRP was used in earlier models like the Fold3, Fold4, and Fold5, Samsung used titanium for the Fold7 to make it thinner. Along with removing the S Pen’s digitizer, the Fold7 became 0.6mm thinner than before.
However, using metal like titanium can interfere with the S Pen’s performance. To solve this, Samsung is now working on a slimmer digitizer that could bring back S Pen support in the Fold8. There’s also a chance Samsung may switch to a different S Pen technology—similar to Apple Pencil—which doesn’t get affected by metal.
Another reason Samsung is testing new materials is due to concerns about supply issues, especially with ongoing trade tensions like the US tariff war. Samsung wants to be prepared in case there are any sudden changes in the supply chain.
Since the Fold8 is still many months away, these are early rumors and plans may change. We’ll keep you updated as more information comes out.
It looks like Samsung may be facing a possible issue with the Galaxy Z Fold7’s hinge. Some users have shared photos online showing that certain Z Fold7 units aren’t opening fully flat. This problem has been spotted on store demo units according to posts on Reddit.
What’s the Issue?
The users say the phone doesn’t open fully by itself, but it can be pushed a little more with some help. This suggests that the hinge might not be snapping properly into place. It’s not clear yet if this is a serious defect or just a problem with a few units.
Possible Causes
There could be several reasons:
- A defect in the hinge design
- Damage from rough handling (though store demo units are usually handled carefully)
- Pre-production units not meeting final standards
- Or simply user error (the phone not being opened properly)
For now, there’s no official word from Samsung about any manufacturing problem, and no recall has been announced.
About the New Hinge
Samsung’s Armor FlexHinge was designed to:
- Reduce the screen crease
- Distribute stress more evenly
- Improve durability
Samsung hasn’t shared official durability numbers for the Fold7’s hinge yet, but the previous Z Fold6 was rated for over 200,000 folds with no issues.
Also, the previous Z Fold5’s “zero-gap” hinge had a tolerance of between 178.5 and 181.5 degrees when fully open, meaning it wasn’t always perfectly flat either. It’s possible the Z Fold7 has a similar tolerance.
Samsung is getting ready to launch its first tri-fold smartphone later this year. Recently, reports suggested that the device might be called the Galaxy Z TriFold, as Samsung has already registered this name in South Korea.
Now, new information has revealed which chipset will power this unique phone. According to lines of code found in Samsung’s One UI 8, based on Android 16, the Galaxy Z TriFold will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This is the same powerful chip found in the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold7.
Leaks suggest that when fully unfolded, the inner screen of the Galaxy Z TriFold will measure about 10 inches. The phone will also have a cover screen for regular use. Its folding style will be different from Huawei’s Mate XT, which was the world’s first tri-fold phone.
Price and Availability
The Galaxy Z TriFold is expected to be very expensive. In South Korea, it could cost around KRW 4 million, which is about $2,873 or €2,469. Reports also suggest that it may only launch in Korea and China at first, with no confirmation yet on a wider global release.
Samsung has started rolling out the One UI July 2025 Android security update to more of its smartphones. Earlier, this update was released for the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S24 series. Now, three more models are receiving it: the Galaxy A04, Galaxy A56, and Galaxy Z Flip6.
For the Galaxy A04 (model SM-A045F), the update comes with firmware version A045FXXSBEYF5. It is currently available in the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.
The Galaxy A56 (model SM-A566B) is also getting the July 2025 security update. Its firmware version is A566BXXS5AYFB. This update is for the international version of the phone.
As for the Galaxy Z Flip6 (model SM-F741N), the security patch is being released only in South Korea for now. The firmware version for this update is F741NKSS2BYFC.
If you own any of these phones and haven’t received the update yet, you can manually check by going to Settings > Software Update on your device.