Samsung's Next Foldable Phone Promises to Be So Thin You Might Forget It's in Your Pocket

Samsung, the company that somehow convinced the world that phones folding in half was not only possible but desirable, is at it again with promises that would make a politician blush. They're teasing a new flagship foldable, tentatively called the "Galaxy Z Fold Ultra," and the word on the street is that it's going to tackle the biggest complaints people have about the current models: namely, that they're about as portable as a hardcover encyclopedia and roughly as thick as a sandwich when folded. For years, owning a Fold has been like carrying two phones that have been superglued together by an overly enthusiastic child, brilliant when it's open but requiring its own postal code when closed.

The "Ultra" branding suggests Samsung is throwing everything they have at this device, including the kitchen sink and possibly their entire R&D budget. Industry insiders are expecting a thinner profile that won't require cargo pants, a lighter and more robust hinge that hopefully doesn't sound like a creaky door in a horror movie, and more durable glass that makes the infamous crease less of a geological feature and more of a gentle suggestion. The cameras are also expected to get a significant upgrade, moving them from "grand for a foldable" to "actually competitive with regular flagship phones that don't perform origami tricks."

This move is all about strategy and survival in an increasingly crowded market. The foldable arena is no longer Samsung's private playground where they could charge premium prices for the privilege of owning a phone that bends. Google is getting serious with its Pixel Fold, Chinese manufacturers are breathing down their necks with cheaper alternatives, and the long-rumoured foldable iPhone from Apple looms on the horizon like a storm cloud that could wash away everyone else's market share. Samsung needs to prove they're still the undisputed kings of this category, not just the first kids on the block who happened to figure out how to make glass bend without immediately shattering into a thousand expensive pieces.