Samsung's Foldable World. Meaningful Changes and Annual Progress

Commercial Article

What started as an experiment in 2019 opened up an entirely new category of phones. Seven years ago, the Galaxy Fold was a unique endeavor that finally aimed to bring together what users had long been calling for – a large display in a compact body.

Samsung was not afraid of an entirely new device category and added meaningful innovations every year. As a result, we no longer ask whether to buy a foldable phone or a powerful phone of conventional design, but rather which variant of a foldable phone to choose. Times have moved on, and it’s hard to believe that foldable phones already have such a rich history behind them.

The Galaxy Fold arrived in 2019 with an internal 7.3-inch display, and at first glance, it was a device that was a phone when closed and a tablet when unfolded. Samsung added support for displaying three applications simultaneously, which remains one of the key elements of the entire series to this day.

For many users at the time, it was a fascinating glimpse into the future – for example, when working with documents or browsing the web on the go.

The Galaxy Z Fold2 arrived a year later with a more practical external display and also a hinge that could be stopped in any position (75 to 115°) like a laptop lid. This helped, for example, during video calls or when taking photos. The so-called Flex Mode then utilized the hinge in a half-open state, where the application occupied one half of the display and a set of universal tools the other. However, some applications can now adapt to this mode themselves.

Stejně to fungovalo i u souběžně oznámeného véčka Galaxy Z Flip. To přineslo nový tvar těla pro ty, kteří chtějí v kapse co možná nejvíce kompaktní telefon. Samsung k tomu ještě přidal extrémně tenké sklo UTG, které vylepšilo jeho odolnost i pocit z ovládání. Později přišlo i véčko s podporou 5G sítí. Od té chvíle se skládací telefony rozvíjely zcela odlišnými směry.

Fold as a Phone and Tablet Hybrid

The Galaxy Z Fold3 (2021) focused mainly on improved productivity and durability. For the very first time, there was a foldable phone on the market with IPx8 water resistance. Samsung equipped the internal display with a layer for the S Pen stylus with a softer tip, and an under-display selfie camera was also utilized in the internal foldable display.

A year later, the Galaxy Z Fold4 adjusted the aspect ratio of the external display, which was slightly shortened and widened. The biggest software innovation was Android 12L with a bottom taskbar, which significantly sped up system control – favorite applications were immediately at hand.

Users wanted practical innovations, and they got them. The Galaxy Z Fold5 (2023) received a new hinge that allowed both parts to close together without any gap. The display crease was less pronounced, the phone’s thickness was reduced by 2.4 mm, and both displays had higher brightness.

The year 2024 brought further practical changes. The Galaxy Z Fold6 offered a more modern look and simultaneously reduced its weight, which dropped to the level of conventional phones. The main innovations included the implementation of Galaxy AI artificial intelligence and a further increase in display brightness. Samsung upgraded the durability standard to IP48, which means adding basic dust resistance.

Last year’s Galaxy Z Fold7 was a huge leap forward. Samsung switched to an ultra-thin design. When closed, the phone had a thickness of 8.9 mm, and when unfolded, only 4.2 mm. The foldable book looked much more modern and also received a 200Mpx camera. In the pocket, the phone felt like a classic smartphone.

Flip as a Compact Clamshell for the Pocket

We return to 2021, when the Galaxy Z Flip3 premiered. For maximum clarity, Samsung skipped the number two in the name and added a larger external display for more convenient reading of notifications even without opening it. The Armor Aluminum frame, increased IPx8 resistance – all this laid the foundation for future generations of clamshells.

Samsung continued to improve. The Galaxy Z Flip4 (2022) extended battery life on a single charge thanks to a higher battery capacity and a more efficient processor. You could charge the clamshell faster, and the external display gained new functions – you could reply to messages by voice or with pre-prepared phrases without having to open the clamshell.

The enlargement of displays was not yet over. A year later, the Galaxy Z Flip5 increased the external display (the so-called Flex Window) to a diagonal of 3.4 inches. You could run widgets and some full-fledged applications on it. The new hinge then eliminated the gap between both parts when closed.

Cameras came into play with the Galaxy Z Flip6 (2024). The main camera was upgraded to 50 Mpx, the clamshell again received a powerful processor, and for the very first time, a vapor chamber for more efficient cooling. Battery capacity also increased without affecting the phone’s dimensions. Increased IP48 resistance was also added.

Because there’s never enough display, last year’s Galaxy Z Flip7 saw its external display grow to a 4.1-inch diagonal, thus surrounding the pair of cameras. The clamshell’s design slimmed down, battery capacity increased, and performance was ensured by a 3nm chipset. The phone subsequently also received a special Olympic version for the Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina.

What’s Next? The Choice is Yours

 Letošní novinky od Samsungu budou klást důraz na to, co od skládacího telefonu skutečně požadujete. Opět si budete moci vybrat přesně ten ideální tvar skládačky, který bude pro vaše potřeby tím nejlepším. A už teď můžeme prozradit, že rozhodně bude z čeho vybírat.

Decide for yourself which of the new products will be the right one for you.