Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 with S Pen, but without titanium
Samsung has just unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold7 presented, the thinnest and lightest foldable book-style smartphone to date. Rumors are already circulating in Samsung’s home country of Korea about its successor, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8. Unless Samsung’s schedule changes, it will be released next July. The company is reportedly considering using titanium and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) as materials for the back of the Fold8. This is remarkable, as the Fold7’s predecessors, starting with the Galaxy Z Fold3, used carbon fiber, but the Fold7 itself has switched to titanium, which was first used in last year’s Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition.
Titanium was used in the Galaxy Z Fold7 to reduce its thickness. Combined with the elimination of the digitizer for the S Pen, the thickness has been reduced by 0.6 mm. However, metals can potentially interfere with the S Pen, at least with the electromagnetic resonance technology used by Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 could bring back the S Pen
The company is reportedly currently developing technology to make the digitizer of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 slimmer and thus reintroduce S Pen support – possibly as early as next year. Demand for it is apparently very high. Samsung could even use a digitizer-less technology, such as the Apple Pencil’s active electrostatic solution. In this case, Samsung could continue to use metal backplates without fear of interference.
Another reason for testing an alternative to titanium is supply concerns, especially in light of the US tariff war. Samsung generally wants to ensure that sudden changes in supply chains don’t catch the company off guard. Of course, the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is still some time away, so a lot can still change.
