Updated June 4: article originally posted June 3
The logo of Samsung Galaxy logo (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)
Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event in early July will see the official reveal of the Galaxy Z Fold6, but thanks to a new leak, we have our best look yet at the upcoming foldable flagship, and Samsung’s plans to support its foldable devices.
Update: Tuesday June 4. While the larger displays will be welcomed by everyone, Samsung looks to be testing another reassuring change: the cost of repairing a foldable screen is set to drop.
Samsung has announced it is breaking out the foldable screens’ various components on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5. Consumers will now have the option to replace a damaged component rather than paying for a complete change. With fewer parts to replace, costs to repair a damaged screen should drop, with savings of up to 36 percent quoted by the company.
Alongside the change to the pricing structure, Samsung has also expanded the number of repair centers in South Korea from 13 to 32.
While this change is currently limited to South Korea, the perceived fragility of a foldable’s screen along with the high cost of repair is a global concern. With Samsung addressing this on the current Z Fold and Z Flip models, the community will hope this trial will become a worldwide option with the launch of the Zfold 6 and Z Flip 6 in July.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 smartphones (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)
Images of a non-functional dummy Z Fold 6 have been published online. These dummy units are generally distributed to peripheral manufacturers who need ‘consumer-ready’ hardware to test the fit and functionality of accessories such as cases and holders. After launch, you can expect to see these units as Point of Sale devices where retailers do not want to place a functional unit.
The unit shows Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold series design. The design has remained consistent over the last three generations, and while it is being updated, the changes are more evolutionary than revolutionary. The two key visual changes are focused on the displays.
The first can be seen when the device is open and closed, but it will make the biggest difference when using an open Z Fold 6. The corners have been squared off for a more boxy look to the smartphone. It’s not a sharp 90-degree corner; there’s still some curve, but the radius is significantly less than the Z Fold 5’s corners.
While this should increase the diagonal size of the display, it means that more information can be pushed into the corners—something that will be noticeable when using video or taking pictures.
The second visible change is to the cover screen, which becomes the traditional candybar-shaped screen and used when the Z Fold 6 is closed. Because of the foldable nature of these phones, the cover screens have been taller and thinner than the regular smartphone display. Samsung has increased the width of the cover screen to accommodate the traditional look.
It still lacks the wider look of the Galaxy S24 family, but it is an improvement over previous models and should help the Z Fold 6’s usability when closed.
Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 6 alongside the Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Ring on July 10th during the latest Galaxy Unpacked event.
Now read about the feature Samsung is holding back from the Galaxy Z Fold 6…