Samsung might fix this major shortcoming with its next-gen folding phones

Samsung’s foldable phones have been a game-changer in the smartphone world, but let’s face it – they’ve always been a bit chunky. In fact, if you look at the latest foldable from Honor, the Magic V3, Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 6 will look like it’s behind a few generations when you compare the thickness. But it looks like the tech giant is finally ready to tackle this issue head-on.

According to a report from KED Global, TM Roh, the big boss of Samsung’s Mobile eXperience division, has thrown down the gauntlet to his engineering team. The challenge? Make the next Galaxy foldables as slim as their non-folding S-series counterparts. We’re talking a thickness of around 7.7mm when folded – that’s practically wafer-thin compared to the current models.

This isn’t just a pipe dream, either. Sources suggest that Samsung might unveil a Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra/Slim model by the end of this year, measuring in at a svelte 10mm. That’s already a significant improvement over the recently announced Z Fold6, which comes in at 12.1mm. Although, that special edition device will be limited to Korea and China.

But Samsung isn’t stopping there. The company is reportedly aiming to make future models even thinner, potentially reaching that coveted sub-8mm thickness in the coming years. And get this – they’re planning to do all this while potentially increasing the screen size to a whopping 8 inches when unfolded.

It’s about time, too. As highlighted above, Chinese competitors like Xiaomi and Honor are already pushing out foldables that are under 10mm thick. Samsung needs to step up its game if it wants to keep its crown in the foldable market. In my neck of the woods, many tech enthusiasts are suggesting potential buyers to consider foldables like the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro and the OnePlus Open over Samsung’s offerings. Check out the screenshot below that highlights the difference in thickness between Honor’s Magic V3 and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6, courtesy of Techtics.

So I feel like this is a much-needed step ahead from Samsung. Of course, making a foldable phone this thin isn’t just a matter of squeezing components into a smaller space. The company is reportedly working with its various divisions to ensure that everything from the display to the battery can perform properly in a slimmer form factor.

Will Samsung pull it off? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure – if they manage to make a foldable phone as thin as a regular smartphone, it could be the breakthrough that finally pushes foldables into the mainstream. Now, if they could just work on that crease in the screen next…