Just when you thought foldables were getting boring, Samsung came along with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 this year, generating a whirlwind of conversation from consumers and tech reviewers alike. And because of its success, we're bound to see more of this type of phone in the future.
Samsung already has a foothold in the space, at least in the US, so it will be interesting to see how it continues to develop the genre going forward. Samsung is known to make iterative changes to its devices, which some see as a disappointment. However, there's nothing wrong with refinement unless you're trying to buy the latest and greatest every single year.
With that said, details are emerging about the Z Fold 9 and Z Fold 9 Ultra. While it's still early and these are just tidbits of information, it's still good to at least take a peek at what might come true. A post on South Korea's popular Naver gives us supposed details about what to expect when it comes to the cameras on the Z Fold 9 and Z Fold 9 Ultra (via Android Authority).
Nothing to see here
Unfortunately, there's really not too much to get excited about here. It's being reported that the Galaxy Z Fold 9 Ultra will arrive with a 200MP main, 50MP ultrawide, and another camera with 3x optical zoom. If you check out the specifications of the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you'll notice that it's the exact same as what might come out next year.
The Z Fold 8 looks like it will also maintain the same specifications when it comes to the camera, with a dual rear camera setup that makes use of two 50MP sensors. Now, while change isn't required, it's hard to see why someone would purchase a new model when there are so many minor changes when compared to its predecessor.
Of course, not everyone is spending $1,899+ each year on a new foldable phone. In fact, that's quite rare for most consumers, who tend to stick with the same phone for years. Of course, if you're willing to wait it out, you can always score a discount when retailers start offering discounts.
The future of foldables
Samsung is one of the only brands that's making all types of foldable phones. And since it's seeing so much success, there's a good chance that we'll be seeing more in the future. There's even a rumor floating around that it will introduce up to five new foldable phones in 2027.
Naturally, the one that will be the most interesting will be the next Galaxy trifold handset. Despite Samsung releasing this device, it was rare and hard to get hold of. And even if you did, the eye-watering price was hard to swallow.
With foldables becoming so commonplace, maybe next year we'll finally see handsets that are more affordable from the start. It will be interesting to see where Samsung goes from here.