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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE is expected to be a budget-friendly foldable phone, filling a demand since the release of the original Galaxy Fold in 2019.
Despite previous denials from Samsung, the first rumors suggested that the arrival would take place this year. Unfortunately, however, recent reports indicate that the Galaxy Z Fold FE may be cancelled.
If this phone is indeed ever released, here’s everything we expect from the Galaxy Z Fold FE.
When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE be released?
At this summer’s Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung unveiled its latest devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Flip 6, Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Z Fold FE was not presented.
Additional information provided by The Elec (via NotebookCheck) suggests the project has been canceled. The decision was made due to difficulties in achieving a thin design, similar to competitors such as the Honor Magic V2, and due to “industry uncertainty”.
Leaker Revegnus also confirmed this information, making it likely that the Galaxy Z Fold FE will not appear.
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To add to the confusion, display industry analyst Ross Young revealed that Samsung is developing a larger foldable device, possibly called the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim.
Young suggests that the Fold 6 Slim and Fold 6 Ultra may be the same device. Internally called the Q6A, this device could launch later this year, following the regular release of the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 in July.
The possible release of Fan Edition versions of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 remains speculative and we await further information from industry insiders.
However, if it were to release, it’s more likely to arrive some time after the Z Fold 6’s debut, in line with Samsung’s typical strategy of introducing FE models months after the respective flagship.
For example, the Samsung Galaxy S23 debuted in February 2023, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE arrived in October of the same year.
If the Galaxy Z Fold FE were ever to release, the closest date would be this fall. Although it is more likely that it will not be released until 2025.
How much will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE cost?
According to a Korean site Sisa Journal, the Galaxy Z Fold FE will have a price target of under $800 (approximately £642), which is significantly below the $1,799 price tags of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the $1,899 of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will lie.
Furthermore, we have no information about the price of the Galaxy Z Fold FE. For context, here’s the starting price of the previous Galaxy Z Fold phones at launch:
What specifications and features will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE have?
So far, there haven’t been many leaks and rumors about the Galaxy Z Flip FE.
Chinese site MyDrivers has posted some details about what we might see in the new device, although these have yet to be confirmed so don’t take them for granted.
Design
The design of the Z Fold FE is expected to follow the book-like format of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series, with an exterior smartphone screen that unfolds into a larger tablet-sized display.
However, according to MyDrivers’ post (via GSMArena), it is rumored to measure 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2mm when folded, making it slightly larger than the Z Fold 5.
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Rumors also suggest that the inner display may not support Samsung’s S Pen stylus, due to the lack of a necessary digitization layer, likely for cost-saving reasons.
Nevertheless, according to The Elec, Samsung could implement cost-cutting measures such as inkjet printing for edges, lowering production costs and possibly keeping prices low without sacrificing functionality or using outdated hardware.
Display
The Galaxy Z Fold FE may retain a 7.6-inch AMOLED display on the inside and a 6.2-inch 120Hz AMOLED display on the outside of the Z Fold 5. Although it is uncertain whether the former will have the LTPO technology will remain.
However, according to Sisa Journal, the phone is expected to have lower specifications for the application processor, display and battery, possibly resulting in a lower resolution and refresh rate than current models.
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It may be slightly closer to full HD resolution and a lower refresh rate than the current generation’s 120Hz.
Performance
Rumors suggest it will have less impressive specs than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, including a less powerful chipset.
According to GSMArena, the Fold FE will have a mix of Snapdragon and Exynos chipsets, depending on the market.
While the exact chipset remains uncertain, options include older models like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or the newly announced Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, designed for mid-range devices. Another speculation concerns the use of a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip, which may enable affordability.
Samsung could also leverage its Exynos 2000 series processor in some markets to offset costs and achieve a lower price point for the foldable device.
When it comes to RAM options, it will likely feature 12GB or 16GB paired with 256GB or 512GB of internal storage.
Cameras
The Sisa Journal report suggests that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE may have a camera setup similar to the current generation, possibly with a dual camera module without a third telephoto lens.
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It’s unclear whether the camera hardware will resemble that of the Z Fold 5 with a 50MP main lens or the Z Flip 5 with a 12MP main lens, but both phones share a 12MP ultrawide lens.
Battery and charging
Details about the Galaxy Z Fold FE’s battery and charging capabilities remain vague, with only Sisa Journal’s claim indicating lower battery specs compared to other foldable Samsung devices.
Historically, Galaxy foldable models have had relatively modest battery capacities, resulting in average battery life. However, it’s uncertain how big the Z Fold FE’s battery will be, or how long it will last on a single charge.
Likewise, fast charging may not be a highlight, as predecessors like the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 are limited to 25W wired and 15W wireless charging speeds respectively.
Software
The Galaxy Z Fold FE will likely run on Samsung’s One UI 6.1 based on Android 14.
However, it is also likely that Android 15 will be available at launch. If not, users can expect a software update some time later.
That’s everything we know about the Galaxy Z Fold FE so far. Be sure to check out what you can expect from the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but also from the Galaxy Z Flip FE, the expected cheaper version of the upcoming Z Flip 6.