The tech large hinted at a redesigned Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup forward of the occasion in London on July 22, the place additionally it is anticipated to unveil its first AI-powered sensible glasses.
A snapped chocolate bar and a trimmed photograph strip — that’s how Samsung Electronics teased a serious redesign of its eighth-generation foldable smartphone lineup forward of the Galaxy Unpacked occasion, set to happen in London on July 22.
The clips, launched through Samsung’s world Instagram and YouTube accounts, present a chocolate bar being shortened and the clean border of a photograph sales space strip trimmed. The imagery seems designed to sign adjustments to the side ratio and industrial design of Samsung’s next-generation foldables.
“We redesigned the lineup to ship a fair broader foldable expertise for the AI period, which has been constructed on seven generations of technological innovation and person expertise,” the corporate stated.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is rumored to have a passport-style design. In contrast to earlier Fold fashions, the brand new machine is anticipated to have a wider cowl display and a shorter design, each supposed to maximise use of the outer show. The machine is anticipated to characteristic a 5.4-inch cowl show and a 7.6-inch internal show with a side ratio near 4:3 when unfolded.
The taller, narrower design that has outlined the Fold lineup is anticipated to proceed because the Galaxy Z Fold8 Extremely.
Wider-screen foldable telephones with dimensions nearer to a daily paper ebook are rising because the trade’s key battleground as generative AI fuels demand for bigger shows that may higher assist multitasking.
Market analysis agency Counterpoint Analysis forecasts the worldwide foldable smartphone market will develop 20 % this yr in comparison with final yr. It additionally predicted that book-style gadgets would account for 65 %, up from 52 % final yr.
Apple can also be reportedly making ready to launch its first book-style foldable smartphone, tentatively often called the iPhone Extremely, later this yr. The machine is anticipated to characteristic a 4:3 side ratio when unfolded, much like the usual Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Business analysts anticipate Apple to seize 28 % of the worldwide foldable smartphone market this yr, its first yr available in the market, and shortly rise because the world’s second-largest foldable telephone maker.
Samsung Electronics held a 40 % share of the worldwide foldable market final yr, adopted by Huawei with 30 % and Motorola with 12 %, in accordance with Counterpoint Analysis.
However foldables could not steal the entire present at Samsung’s Unpacked occasion. Samsung can also be anticipated to unveil its first pair of sensible glasses, the Galaxy Glass.
Samsung collaborated with Korea’s homegrown eyewear model, Light Monster, on the machine’s design. It additionally runs Google’s Android XR working system and integrates Gemini, Google’s generative AI device.
Business observers anticipate the machine to debut within the third quarter of this yr.
In contrast to typical augmented actuality headsets, Galaxy Glass is anticipated to function and not using a built-in show. As a substitute, it makes use of cameras, audio system and microphones to know what the wearer is taking a look at in actual time. Gemini then analyzes the scene and responds via audio.
Samsung plans to place Galaxy Glass as a cornerstone of its AI ecosystem because it competes with world rivals together with Meta Platforms and Xiaomi.
Pricing stays the largest uncertainty.
Part prices have risen as reminiscence chip shortages proceed to tighten provide. Earlier this yr, Samsung raised the worth of each 256GB mannequin in its Galaxy S26 lineup — together with the usual, Plus and Extremely variants — by 99,000 received ($65) in contrast with their predecessors. Apple has additionally just lately elevated costs on some merchandise by as a lot as $300 for related causes.
“A choice on pricing has not but been finalized,” a Samsung Electronics supply stated. “However even when costs are raised, the rise will seemingly be extra reasonable than these of our rivals.”
BY LEE YOUNG-KEUN [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]