Considering Samsung's New Z Flip 7? Why I Recommend Waiting For Next Year's Model

7 hours ago

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

Having spent a fewer days pinch the Galaxy Z Flip 7, I tin easy opportunity that it's Samsung's astir polished clamshell foldable to date. The expanded screen surface yet feels complete, DeX support is an unthinkable prize connected specified a mini footprint, and its artillery life sewage a coagulated bump up.

But while nan Z Flip 7 closes nan spread pinch rivals for illustration nan Moto Razr Ultra, it's worthy looking up to what adjacent year's Z Flip 8 mightiness bring. Apple reportedly has plans to bring its spirit of foldable iPhone to marketplace successful 2026 arsenic well, giving Samsung moreover much information to deliver.

Also: I spent a week pinch nan Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, and it's an moreover bigger leap than expected

That's why, moreover pinch nan Flip 7 hitting truthful galore marks, upgrading successful 2026 could make sense, too. Here's why adjacent year's Z Flip 8 could beryllium worthy nan wait.

Battery tech could get a facelift

The Z Flip 7 has accrued artillery capacity complete nan erstwhile procreation from 4,000mAh to 4,300mAh. That's not a mini increase, but it's not rather what we've travel to expect from flagship devices either. Thankfully, Samsung has fixed immoderate clues successful caller months that show it is actively exploring caller types of artillery technologies that could get successful adjacent year's foldables.

Several smartphones person deed nan marketplace successful nan past twelvemonth pinch silicon-carbon artillery exertion that delivers amended power density and longevity compared to modular lithium-ion batteries. A rumor from FNNews, a Korean news site, points to aggregate sources predicting that silicon-carbon batteries could get connected Samsung's flagships starting pinch nan S26 series.

Also: Forget Samsung Z Fold 7: Why this Galaxy exemplary is connected my watchlist going into adjacent year

Samsung itself has acknowledged its interest successful nan technology, and its usage could yet mean cramming much capacity into nan Z Flip 8 while keeping nan footprint a akin size arsenic this year's model.

Even if silicon c integration doesn't get pinch nan Z Flip 8, a study from TheElec reveals Samsung's liking successful adopting alleged "SUS CAN" (steel usage stainless canister) artillery casing and precocious EMC protection circuits successful its 2026 devices. This exertion is already recovered successful Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max, and it allows for higher capacity without swelling issues, thing Samsung is surely intent connected avoiding aft nan embarrassing Galaxy Note 7 artillery occurrence debacle.

Crease-free displays connected nan horizon

One of nan enduring challenges of today's foldable smartphones is nan dreaded surface crease, a subtle but noticeable statement that runs down nan fold area, giving nan surface an imperfect appearance. Thankfully, we could beryllium heading toward a much creaseless creation connected nan Z Flip 8.

Respected Apple proviso concatenation insider Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple's unreleased foldable iPhone and Samsung's adjacent batch of foldable smartphones will characteristic a "crease-free" display, made imaginable by a laser-drilled metallic sheet that distributes and controls bending accent crossed nan fold line.

Also: 5 Android phones you should see buying alternatively of nan Samsung Z Fold 7

Fine M-Tec is reportedly down nan accumulation of nan technology, while Samsung Display will proviso nan exertion to Apple and its products. If this advancement lives up to its promise, nan Z Flip 8 could beryllium 1 of nan first foldables pinch a pristine soul display, and that would beryllium good worthy waiting for.

The presence of a two-nanometer chip

Performance-wise, nan Z Flip 8 could present a awesome upgrade, but nan business is simply a spot complex. This year's exemplary is nan first foldable by Samsung to beryllium released pinch its in-house Exynos 2500 chipset alternatively of a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. For adjacent year, location are conflicting reports astir which spot Samsung is apt to use.

Samsung has a beardown foundry business and is reportedly manufacturing a typical variant of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chip, specifically tailored "For Galaxy and built connected a cutting-edge 2-nanometer process. This would beryllium a first for its foldables and would bring moreover much powerfulness and power ratio to nan adjacent procreation Z Flip 8. Conflicting reports opportunity Qualcomm mightiness person pulled backmost plans to afloat adopt Samsung's 2-nanometer manufacturing, turning to its different partners instead.

Also: iOS 26 envy? 5 iPhone features you tin already usage connected your Android (Samsung included)

Meanwhile, Samsung is aggressively developing its ain Exynos 2600 chipset connected nan aforesaid 2-nanometer process pinch adjacent year's Galaxy flagships successful its sights for release. This could make its measurement onto nan Z Flip 8, particularly aft nan Exynos presence connected this year's model. The Exynos chips sometimes present little powerfulness and ratio compared to Snapdragon alternatives, but nan caller 2nm procreation holds superior promise.

Improved durability

Durability is simply a long-standing rumor for foldables. The Z Flip 7 offers coagulated h2o guidance but minimal particulate guidance pinch its IP48 rating. Foldables tin beryllium very difficult to protect from particulate ingress owed to their elastic components and analyzable hinge structures. Samsung's mobile main TM Roh openly stated a fewer years agone that particulate protection is simply a large petition from users of these foldables, and nan institution is reportedly moving difficult to find a solution.

Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra: I tested some foldables, and here's nan winner

Competition is heating up successful this section arsenic well. The Motorola Razr Ultra now has an improved IP52 rating, and a abstracted rumor points to nan anticipation that adjacent year's Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold mightiness transportation a afloat IP68 rating, making it nan first foldable to beryllium genuinely resistant to particulate and water. If Samsung wants to present connected its extremity of tightening up particulate protection, adjacent twelvemonth is nan correct clip to do it.

The last verdict

Let maine beryllium clear: I'm not looking to propulsion acold h2o connected anyone's determination to acquisition nan Z Flip 7. It's a awesome smartphone that I'm thoroughly enjoying.

But realistically, adjacent year's Z Flip 8 could deed moreover harder successful astir each important class for foldables pinch longer artillery life, smoother surface composition, an industry-leading processor, and tougher-than-ever build quality. If you aren't successful immoderate hurry to propulsion nan trigger, I'd propose you see giving it immoderate time. Your patience mightiness conscionable beryllium worthy nan wait.

Follow my latest tech reviews and projects crossed societal media. You'll find maine connected YouTube at YouTube.com/@JasonHowell, connected X (formerly Twitter) at @JasonHowell, and connected Instagram at Instagram.com/thatjasonhowell.