On July 26th, Samsung will host anUnpacked eventfor its Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 smartphones. And, as with previous years, Samsung’s TM Roh has published ablog postwith some early details on these upcoming devices.
This blog post mainly revolves around Samsung’s design philosophy. After all, Dr. TM Roh is the head of Samsung’s Mobile Experience Business and Corporate Design Center. But it also contains a nugget of very useful information—the new Galaxy Fold devices are thinner and lighter than their predecessors.
To some people, this information is nothing new. Leaks and rumorstold usthat the new foldables would be thinner; today’s news simply confirms that fact. We’re more interested in how Samsung has made this improvement, as it may imply a larger change within the Galaxy Z Fold series.
“A difference of millimeter in a device’s thickness may not sound like a big change, but every gram and millimeter in a foldable device requires an engineering breakthrough … That’s why we’ve innovated to makeour latest foldablesslimmer and lighter than our previous generations.”
Previously, we heard that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 may use a"waterdrop" hinge design, similar to what’s in thePixel Fold. This hinge creates a much smaller gap when the phone is closed, which may increase durability (and certainly aesthetics). More notably, the switch to a “waterdrop” hinge could reduce the weight of these devices.
Related:What to Expect from Samsung’s July 26th Unpacked Event
We now know that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 are lighter than their predecessors. And a new hinge seems like the most likely explanation for this weight reduction—these devices are about as densely packed as they can get, so there are very few areas that can be adjusted to cut down on weight.
That said, Samsung hasn’t specified the weight of these new phones. And TM Roh says that even a small “millimeter” change can be significant in a foldable. This may be a very small reduction in weight, and Samsung may be overstating the greatness of its “breakthrough.”
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 will launch at theUnpacked eventon July 26th. You can stream this event live on Samsung’s website or YouTube channel. If you want to save $50 on one of these foldables, go ahead andreserve onetoday.
