It appears that Samsung has multiple options for approaching this task.
As Huawei’s foldable devices continue to become slimmer and set new standards with each release, Samsung appears to be facing increased competition. Samsung had been following a more iterative approach in its design updates over the past few years, a strategy that made sense due to its dominant position in the foldable devices market. However, the landscape for foldable smartphones, especially those with horizontal layouts, is evolving. This change is evident with the introduction of devices like the Google Pixel Fold and OnePlus Open this year. OnePlus has even launched its latest foldable device in the Indian market, a segment previously dominated by Samsung. With new players entering the foldables market, Samsung seems to be feeling the pressure, as recent reports suggest they are “reverse engineering” the Huawei Mate X5 to explore ways to make their upcoming Galaxy Z Fold slimmer.
While we all eagerly anticipate a slimmer Galaxy Z Fold model in the next year, Samsung’s new patent also offers insights into the company’s efforts to incorporate its S Pen stylus into its foldable lineup.
This patent, highlighted by Studimo in collaboration with David Kowalski, reveals the intriguing design principles that Samsung is exploring to integrate its unique S Pen stylus into its foldable devices. The patent outlines Samsung’s goal to maintain the slimmest possible profile for its foldables while accommodating the relatively thick S Pen. Earlier this year, Samsung introduced a new case for the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which featured a slimmer S Pen, significantly reducing the overall thickness compared to the previous year’s case for the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
The patent presents several design concepts, including one where the stylus is attached to one side of the foldable, becoming a part of its frame, and another where it is mounted on the back of the device, akin to the approach taken with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab series and Microsoft’s Surface Duo devices. The patent also suggests potential changes to the S Pen’s design itself, with some designs featuring multiple buttons, and others even incorporating three buttons along the stylus’s side.
Previous reports have suggested the need for a slimmer S Pen design, making it easier to integrate into the foldable’s body, similar to the implementation in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, these efforts have faced challenges in avoiding excessive thickness. The newly explored side-mounted approach appears to offer a better solution and allows for slimmer foldable designs.
The rumor mill has provided conflicting information about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6. Some reports indicate a new screen layout with a different aspect ratio, while others suggest a familiar design with an integrated S Pen, as seen in leaked images of prototype versions of the Galaxy Z Fold. Additionally, there is information about the more affordable Galaxy Z FE lineup, rumored to launch alongside the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold series, competing with the new generation of affordable foldables like the Tecno Phantom V Fold, Tecno Phantom V Flip, and the Motorola Razr 40.