All the rumors and what we’d like to see

Samsung’s next flagship foldable launch is racing towards us. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be the third iteration of the company’s pliable series, and it’s rumored to be the most intriguing entry yet.

Below is a comprehensive roundup of the believable leaks, rumors, and news surrounding the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Make sure you bookmark this article and check back frequently to make sure you don’t miss any updates.

See also: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: The Complete Buying Guide

Name and date of publication

We had the Samsung Galaxy Fold and, more recently, made the leap to the Galaxy Z Fold nickname. So is Samsung ready to shake up its foldable line name again? We do not believe and there is no evidence that it will.

Samsung seems completely happy with its current foldable naming scheme, so we don’t expect it to deviate from the Galaxy Z Fold name. When you consider that the device would be the third iteration of its large foldable device, the title Galaxy Z Fold 3 also seems to be set in stone. Remarkably, a leaked press rendering by tipster Evan Blass also confirms this title.

See also: The best foldable phones you can buy

The release date of the foldable device remains a great mystery to the device. Conflicting rumors have given dates from June to September for the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s debut. Korean publication The Elec previously stated that a July launch is likely. However, another rumor has it that Samsung might host a smartphone launch event on August 3rd.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: design

Our first look at the foldable came in May and didn’t bring any big surprises. The alleged promotional renders, taken from a Twitter tipster, suggested the foldable device would still open like a book and take on styling similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 2. There are a few important differences, however.

The images suggest S Pen compatibility, a slimmer triple rear camera design, and the inclusion of a camera under the display. It would be Samsung’s first smartphone with a camera under the display, but the second non-Note smartphone line to support the S Pen.

Crisp images of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 broke June 24th courtesy of tipster Evan Blass. The shot below appears to be a press rendering and confirms some details of the above leak.

The rendering includes an S Pen, which suggests that the foldable device not only supports the pen, but it comes with it. This also makes sense when you consider that Samsung isn’t launching a Note device this year. While this effectively makes the Z Fold 3 this year’s Note replacement, it’s unclear whether there will be a slot for storage in the foldable device. Initial rumors suggest that this may not be possible.

We can’t verify this as the rendering doesn’t show the bottom edges of the phone. The cover is also invisible. However, we expect Samsung to install the cover display on the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Specifications and functions

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 recently passed the FCC and revealed some major innovations. This listing confirmed the existence of S Pen support, UWB support, NFC, sub-6 GHz and mmWave connectivity, and reverse charging up to 9 W. Interestingly, MST technology is also there, which is what Samsung Pay -User is a blessing.

The FCC also confirmed the inclusion of a Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC, likely the Snapdragon 888. We also know from previous offerings that the phone certified charger supports 25W charging.

Rumors in April suggested a possible IP rating for the Galaxy Z Fold 3. While we don’t think it would have an IP68 rating – the current benchmark for flagship products – any IP rating would instill confidence in the phone’s durability.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: price and availability

Samsung didn’t dramatically increase the price of its flagships in 2021, so we don’t think the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will see a huge price spike. Its predecessor debuted at $ 1,999, a price similar to the original Galaxy Fold.

Samsung doesn’t have a lot of foldable competition, so it doesn’t have to factor in the pricing of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 rival. However, considering that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is supposed to entice Galaxy Note users to upgrade, a slight price cut could definitely help.

As for availability, the device is expected to be available worldwide soon after its debut. However, it is unclear how the global chipset scarcity will affect the pace of adoption.

Users in China may get a custom Galaxy Z Fold 3 that has been renamed the Galaxy W22 5G, but the device may not launch until November.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: What We Want To See

That’s all the rumors we’ve known so far, but we still have our own wish-list of what Samsung is looking to include with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Here’s what we think Samsung should add to its upcoming foldable phone.

A harder main screen

Samsung has already introduced Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) in the Galaxy Z Fold 2, which allows for better durability, although technically, you still had a plastic layer on top. We would be happy if the manufacturer goes one step further and introduces an even more robust main display.

We’re not entirely sure how Samsung could do this, but we already know companies like Corning are working on Gorilla Glass for foldable phones. Either way, a foldable screen that can’t be damaged by a fingernail would be great. A harder screen would also enable our next entry on this Galaxy Z Fold 3 wish list …

S Pen support

Yes, S Pen support seems like a breeze for a foldable phone like the Galaxy Fold range. But the hardness issues mentioned above mean that poking this display with an S Pen will damage the panel.

According to the leaked images earlier in this article, it looks like S Pen support is all but confirmed.

A lighter design

One of our main complaints about the Galaxy Z Fold 2 was that it was a bulky, heavy device. At nearly 300g, this is significantly heavier than even the largest and clunkiest phones on the market like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, and Asus ROG Phone 5. Given the technical complexity and the presence of two screens, it’s understandable, but it is is still very difficult.

We’d love to see Samsung save some weight on the Galaxy Z Fold 3. We wouldn’t be against the company making the phone a bit thinner, either, if not at the expense of different specs or durability.

Watertightness in some form

Foldable phones are complex machines when compared to traditional phones and this makes water / splash resistance an exceptionally high challenge. But if somehow it’s possible, we’d love to see Samsung make this come true with the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Read more: The best waterproof phones you can buy

We don’t expect an IP67 or IP68 design here, but we would even appreciate a splash-proof design. In fact, we’ve already seen the Motorola Razr 5G put a water-repellent coating on the table so some level of protection is clearly possible.

A cheaper price (or a cheaper option)

One of the biggest drawbacks to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is its $ 2,000 price tag. This isn’t the most expensive foldable phone, but it could definitely be cheaper. We want Samsung to deliver a cheaper price.

Alternatively, a cheaper version of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 would be a good option. In theory, the company could compromise on areas like RAM (from 12GB to 8GB), cameras (with cheaper sensors or cutting the telephoto lens), display (with older gorilla glass on the traditional screen), and design (with plastic backs instead of glass) received) for a much lower price.

High refresh rate on both screens

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 offered a 120Hz main screen but opted for a standard external 60Hz smartphone display. It was a pretty weird move, but Samsung was able to correct that by offering a 120Hz smartphone screen in the new Galaxy Fold.

That’s what we want to see from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. What about you? Let us know by voting or leaving a comment below on our poll.