Galaxy Fold 2 to launch Aug. 5 with better screen, camera. Rumors and leaks here

At this point in the rumor cycle, it would be more shocking if Samsung didn’t unveil the Galaxy Fold 2 — or is it the Galaxy Z Fold 2? — on Aug. 5 at its online Unpacked event than if it did. It’s also expected that Samsung will unveil two new Notes, including the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, a 5G version of the Galaxy Z Flip and the Galaxy Watch 3, among its headlining products.

While most of what we “know” about the Galaxy Fold 2 is unconfirmed, Samsung has made at least one thing clear. The world’s largest phone brand is introducing its next foldable phone, the third after the original Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip. The company made that statement in April, in the same breath it said that another Galaxy Note (presumed to be the Galaxy Note 20) is also in the lineup. 

These revelations aren’t terribly surprising, but it’s noteworthy that Samsung could release a phone expected to cost more than $1,400 during a global recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Global device shipments are expected to dip by 14% in 2020 as a result, according to Gartner. 

Perhaps Samsung is counting on the hype machine — and a possible second stimulus check for the US — to stoke interest in the speculated Galaxy Fold 2? We’ll find out soon enough. This story updates frequently with the most important rumors. 

Now playing:
Watch this:

Everything there is to know about the Galaxy Fold 2

5:04

Aug. 5 launch. Now what about Fold 2 sale dates? 

We know Samsung Unpacked 2020 will take place Aug. 5 online, starting at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET. Samsung will livestream the event (which CNET will also cover in a live show.) Since the first Galaxy Fold was introduced in February 2019 during the same Unpacked event that brought us the Galaxy S10, it’s likely we’ll see the Fold 2 at this event.

The rumors agree on that much. But the sale date is still up in the air, with rumors ranging from Aug. 20 (the same speculated sale date as the Note 20) to September, as suggested by Korean outlet ET News and Twitter leaker Riccolo.

Notably, Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Unpacked event was the last time the mobile industry congregated in full before concern over the spread of coronavirus put a stop to dozens of events within and beyond the tech world…including Mobile World Congress the world’s largest mobile-focused show, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (now 2021, we hope). 

5G for the US, and will sell on Verizon

Frequent Twitter leaker Max Weinbach tweeted an image of firmware said to belong to the Galaxy Fold 2, which cites a version for Verizon. That could indicate that the Galaxy Fold 2 could support 5G, specifically Verizon’s mmWave version of the ultrafast data standard. The original Fold was released with 4G carrier support in the US, but was sold as 5G in Korea and the UK.

Could Samsung drop the ugly screen notch?

A notch the size of my thumb on the original Galaxy Fold’s 7.3-inch internal screen was one of the phone’s most enduring drawbacks. According to one rumor from prolific leaker Ice Universe, that’ll go away for good.

Galaxy Fold 2 sale price: 2,000 euros?

Twitter leaker Riccolo cited a 2,000 euro price tag, which converts to roughly $2,260 or AU$3,227. While Samsung may adjust prices per market, it would be surprising to see a more advanced Galaxy Fold 2 come in at less than the original Galaxy Fold’s $1,980 asking price. For reference, the ultraportable Galaxy Z Flip costs $1,380.

Trade-in deals, bundles and freebies are more likely than a cheaper Galaxy Fold 2. Although Samsung has been known to cut prices a few months after a launch, at least on its own website, the brand usually prefers to bump up the value of its premium products with bundled deals instead, like a buy-one-get-one or a free set of earbuds.

Will the Galaxy Fold 2 be waterproof?

Water resistance is standard fare among premium smartphones, but the nature of the hinge and the price made it impossible for the first wave of foldables to take advantage of waterproofing technologies, Samsung told us at the time the original Galaxy Fold launched.

That could change with the Galaxy Fold 2. Earlier this month, a patent for a water-resistant foldable phone design that looks awfully similar to the Galaxy Fold appeared, Let’s Go Digital reported. The patent (PDF) for “Electronic device including waterproof structure” details exactly how and where the waterproofing material would go inside the phone housing. 

Square ‘periscope’ camera, ticker notification on cover screen

The same Samsung patent application mentioned above also reveals two interesting design changes, Let’s Go Digital pointed out. First is the camera array, which shows three rear lenses, one of them square. That’s the same design Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra (and other phones) use for a periscope camera designed to enhance optical and digital zoom. 

The second detail is a long, narrow ticker seen in the image above all the way to the right on the device cover screen. It’s clear that Samsung is at least experimenting with the idea of removing the original Fold’s 4.6-inch cover display — where you could open and use any Android app — with a ticker-style window for basic information like the date, time and notifications. 

Such a move would mean you need to use the phone in its open position and could potentially improve battery life from the original model. It’s also possible that — if there are multiple Galaxy Fold models for 2020 — one of the cheaper devices could see a smaller outer screen.

Is there a cheaper Galaxy Fold E or Fold Lite in the works?

What if there isn’t just one new Galaxy Fold headed our way, but two or even three? Weinbach tweeted a rumor that Samsung could be making a Galaxy Fold E or Galaxy Fold Lite in addition to the more premium Galaxy Fold 2.

Weinbach’s tweet even named a potential price: $1,100 for the cheaper model — or models — which could use a plastic screen compared to the Galaxy Fold 2’s ultrathin glass, or UTG. Weinbach’s uncertainty (“and keep in mind this is a rumor,” he wrote) leaves room for doubt, but it does suggest that Samsung’s experiment with cheaper models won’t stop with the $1,380 Galaxy Z Flip.

Read: Galaxy Z Flip: 3 months later, I love it but still don’t recommend it

The Galaxy Fold 2 could have a stylus. The original couldn’t

Nearly a year ago I proposed that the Galaxy Fold’s killer accessory would be a stylus, just like on the Galaxy Note family. The S Pen would make the Fold much more like a tablet and multitasking tool, and help distinguish Samsung’s foldable phone from the rest.

There was just one problem with that. The original Fold’s plastic screen was too soft and infamously damage-prone to sustain the pressure from a fingernail, much less a stylus. But with enough structural support and a flexible glass screen (ultrathin glass, or UTG) — which was first used with the Z Flip — the rumors of a Fold 2 with a stylus are possible.

Other rumors have at times suggested that Samsung would abandon its plans to include the S Pen. We’ll see how it all comes together.

2 screens, 1 with a 120Hz refresh rate

There’s little doubt that the Galaxy Fold 2 would follow in the footsteps of the original with two screens — one on the outside to start short tasks, like launching a phone call or responding to a quick text, and the larger screen inside that does all the heavy lifting of video watching, multitasking and longer email composition. 

The larger screen is said to follow the Galaxy S20 with a 120Hz screen refresh rate, while the smaller screen will top out at the default 60Hz screen (see below). The faster refresh rate makes scrolling, navigation and some games run extremely smooth, but it can also drink up battery life at a faster rate. It’s likely that the Fold 2’s 120Hz screen setting would be an option, with the typical 60Hz rate the default, as it is on the S20 phones.

Galaxy Fold 2 cameras

The original Galaxy Fold took its camera cues from last year’s Galaxy S10 Plus, so it stands to reason that the Fold 2 would do the same, drawing from the Galaxy S20 Plus’ camera array and design. That’s the content of a rumor from Weinbach.

If true, you could expect to see:

• Front cover: 10-megapixel camera
• Rear cover: 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), time-of-flight 
• The periscope lens shape mentioned above

Now playing:
Watch this:

Galaxy Z Flip is the best foldable phone so far

13:48

And what about the inner screen? Good question. The original Fold included a big thumb-shaped cutout that included two camera lenses and other sensors, and detracted from the overall look as well as took up screen space. 

I’d wager that Samsung will minimize the camera look on the inner screen, possibly shrinking the space down to a single sensor for selfies and video chats, and using a more minimalist hole punch design. That said, the patent above (which may not reflect the final design), shows a similar internal notch as the original Fold.

Weinbach, in his February tweet, suggested that the “main” camera could include a V-shaped notch or an underscreen sensor. 

Battery size and battery life

Battery life is a sticking point for any phone, but on a foldable device like the original Galaxy Fold, with power-thirsty screens and a promise to be the everything-device in your life, it has to deliver. 

If rumor prevails, the Galaxy Fold 2 could top the Fold’s 4,380-mAh battery with a 4,500- or 5,000-mAh battery, according to a source cited by XDA Developers. You can also expect Samsung to stick with reverse wireless charging, which Samsung calls PowerShare, and fast charging to align with the Galaxy S20 phones — likely at a rate of 25 watts. 

The Galaxy S20 Ultra, for example, supports even faster 45-watt charging, but keep in mind that there’s often a trade off between how fast a phone can charge and how much heat it generates and holds onto as a result. If the Fold 2 comes to life without support for 45-watt fast charging, that’s likely why.

Screen size, storage and other specs

Display consultant Ross Young tweeted a long list of specs in late April, unsurprisingly related to the screen size, resolution and technology. That, combined with other rumors circulating about the Galaxy Fold 2’s storage capacity, 5G variants and colors (from XDA Developers, SamMobile, ET News and others), paints a picture that concept artists can use to sketch out renders of how the Galaxy Fold 2 could look.

Now playing:
Watch this:

What you should know about the Google Pixel 5

6:22

• Main display: 7.59 inches; 2,213×1,689-pixel resolution
• Cover display: 6.23 inches; 2,267×819-pixel resolution (original Fold outer screen was 4.6-inches)
• 256GB and 512GB storage capacities
• 5G and 4G variants
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 or 865 Plus processor
• Android 10 software
• Materials: Ceramic, stainless steel
• Colors: Blue, silver, gold, pink, black

We’ll keep an eye and an ear out for new and credible Galaxy Fold 2 rumors. In the meantime, here’s every phone that we know of for 2020, eight apps to vastly improve your phone photography and a good look at the OnePlus 8 Pro phone that wants to take down the Galaxy S20.