What we want to see from the foldable phone

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a textbook example of a smartphone that sensibly builds on the foundation of its predecessor. Samsung’s late 2020 foldable delivered numerous improvements over the original Galaxy Fold, such as ultra-thin glass for better durability, an improved hinge, and a bigger smartphone screen. Samsung set a high bar with the Galaxy Z Fold 2, but we can think of a few ways a successor could take things up a notch. Here’s what we want to see from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.

A tougher main screen

Samsung already introduced Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) to the Galaxy Z Fold 2, enabling better durability even though you still technically had a plastic layer above it. We’d love to see the manufacturer take this a step further and introduce an even tougher main display.

See also: The best foldable phones you can get

We’re not quite sure how Samsung could accomplish this, but we already know that companies like Corning are working on Gorilla Glass for foldable phones. Either way, a foldable screen that can’t be damaged by a fingernail would be great. A tougher screen would also enable our next entry on this Galaxy Z Fold 3 wishlist…

S Pen support

Yes, S Pen support seems like a no-brainer for a foldable phone like the Galaxy Fold range. But the aforementioned toughness issues mean that poking this display with an S Pen will damage the panel.

Related: Samsung S Pen — The ultimate guide

Fortunately, recent reports out of South Korea suggest that Samsung has found a way to make the S Pen work with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. And with a Samsung executive confirming that a new Note phone won’t appear in 2021, a new Galaxy Fold with an S Pen would help soften the blow — even if it can’t be stored in the phone itself.

A lighter design

One of our main complaints about the Galaxy Z Fold 2 was that it was a bulky, heavy device. At almost 300g, this is significantly heavier than even the largest, chunkiest phones on the market like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, and Asus ROG Phone 5. It’s understandable given the engineering complexity and presence of two screens, but it’s still very heavy.

We’d like to see Samsung shave some weight off the Galaxy Z Fold 3. We wouldn’t be opposed to the company making the phone a little thinner either, although not at the expense of other specs or durability.

Water resistance of some kind

Foldable phones are complex machines compared to traditional phones, and this makes water/splash resistance an exceptionally stiff challenge. But, if it’s possible in any way, we’d like to see Samsung make this a reality with the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

More reading: The best waterproof phones you can buy

We’re not expecting an IP67 or IP68 design here, but we’d even be happy with a splash-resistant design instead. In fact, we’ve previously seen the Motorola Razr 5G bring a water-repellent coating to the table, so some measure of protection is clearly possible.

A cheaper price (or a cheaper variant)

One of the biggest downsides of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is its $2,000 price tag. This isn’t the priciest foldable phone around, but it could definitely be cheaper. So we’d like to see Samsung deliver a cheaper price tag.

Alternatively, a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 3 variant would be a great option too. The company could theoretically make compromises to areas like RAM (from 12GB to 8GB), cameras (using cheaper sensors or cutting the telephoto lens), display (using older Gorilla Glass on the traditional screen), and design (using plastic backs instead of glass) in order to reach a much lower price tag.

High refresh rate on both screens

High refresh rate displays are increasingly common across the industry, with even budget phones offering 90Hz or 120Hz screens these days. This tech allows for smoother scrolling and smoother animations.

Related: What are high refresh rates? Everything you need to know

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 offered a 120Hz main screen but settled for a standard 60Hz external smartphone display. It was a rather weird move, but Samsung could rectify this by offering a 120Hz smartphone screen in the new Galaxy Fold.

That’s what we want to see from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. What about you? Let us know by voting in our poll below or leaving a comment.

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