Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 release date, price, specs and leaks

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is expected to be the true successor of the Samsung Galaxy Fold. Released last year, the first Fold debuted to mixed reviews in spite of establishing itself as one of Samsung’s most innovative designs in years.

Since then, Samsung’s gone back to the drawing board, releasing a more accomplished folding phone in the form of the Galaxy Z Flip. But a Galaxy Fold sequel is likely to debut at Samsung’s next product launch, with the foldable phone shipping some time after that and sporting a brand new name.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2, as the new phone looks like it’s going to be called, would keep the original book-fold design, but hopefully would also have some major upgrades over the original phone. It’ll still likely be a very expensive phone, but hopefully this time Samsung can prove it’s worth the money with new features and a better build quality.

Here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, including its new name, possible price, release date and specs.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 latest news (Updated July 27)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 name

Most rumors surrounding Samsung’s upcoming foldable phone refer to it as the Galaxy Fold 2, though a new report suggests that Samsung will go in a different direction. Citing a reliable source, Sammobile says the new phone will be called the Galaxy Z Fold 2, adopting a similar name to the Galaxy Z Flip.

Such a move wouldn’t be unexpected. Back in February when the Z Flip debuted, Samsung indicated that it would launch all future foldable phones under the Galaxy Z brand name.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 release date

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is widely expected to debut alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 at the August 5 Unpacked event. Kernel source code for the Galaxy S20 confirms the existence of both phones, according to XDA Developers.

For a brief moment, it looked like the Fold 2 launch might not happen. A tweet from Max Weinbach of XDA developers claimed that the Galaxy Fold 2 won’t appear at the August 5 event because the software wouldn’t be ready. Weinbach subsequently suggested the phone would be announced on August 5, but not ship until later in the fall.

Update 2: expect announcement with release likely in October. https://t.co/Nxi7YUIpxKJuly 15, 2020

With the Galaxy Z Flip 5G now announced and shipping on August 7, that’s one less phone for Samsung to introduce at its August 5 event. So the odds that we’ll see a Galaxy Z Fold 2 at that time just improved.

Samsung has released an Unpacked teaser video for its August 5 event, it now seems very certain we’ll see the phone at that time. At the 25-second mark, you can see the silhouettes of the devices Samsung will launch, and there’s clearly a folding phone included in the mix.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 price 

Considering the first Galaxy Fold started at $1,980, we’re expecting the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 to go for a similar premium. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip launched at a much lower price than the Fold at $1,380, but it’s a smaller device with a different feature set. It’s possible that Samsung may try and find a sweet spot between the two for the Fold 2. 

According to a series of tweets about Galaxy Z Fold 2 specs from Ross Young, there will be a slight price cut for the new foldable. Young estimates the price will be between $1,780 and $1,980, with $1,880 to $1,895 likely being the price Samsung settles on. Twitter leaker Riccolo tweeted a price of €2,000, which would be in line with last year’s model.

The latest report from Korea’s ETNews lists a price of 2.39 million won for the Galaxy Z Fold 2. That converts to around $2,000, but phone makers often adjust prices for local markets. In other words, it sounds like the Fold 2 is going to cost about the same as its predecessor. That same ETNews report suggests that a pair of Galaxy Buds won’t come included with this version, though.

For what it’s worth the Galaxy Z Flip 5G costs $1,449 — a $70 premium over the original Z Flip. But that phone adds 5G compatibility which would explain the price hike.

Samsung may offer multiple Galaxy Fold models this year, and one rumor is that a Galaxy Fold e is in the pipeline with a price of $1,100. That would be nearly $900 less than the original Fold, However, you would see some trade-offs at that price, including possibly a smaller cover display.

Before you start setting aside money for a Galaxy Z Fold 2, you might be able to pick up the current model at a discounted rate. Ross Young says that Samsung will sell a Galaxy Fold Special Edition for $1,099 this month to clear out stock before the new foldable arrives. It sounds like the only thing new about this Special Edition model of the original Fold is its lower price. (The tweet mentioning a Fold Special Edition has since been deleted, and it’s possible that Samsung’s stab at a lower-cost foldable will instead be called the Galaxy Fold Lite.)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 design

From the small description given by Max Weinbach, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 sounds very handsome. It will apparently have a choice of materials, either an aluminum and glass version or a stainless steel and ceramic version, and be finished off in either blue, silver, gold, pink or black.

On the inside, Samsung included a notch to make room for the internal cameras, but this looks to be changing. Some rumors claim that Samsung will be bringing its “Infinity-O” punch-hole selfie camera design to this phone too, after using it on the Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy S20 and Z Flip. Others claim Samsung’s going to use an under-display camera, negating the need for any kind of black space on the screen. Whichever one turns out to be true, it’ll mean there’s even more display space to enjoy than before.

Ice Universe shared a Galaxy Z Fold 2 render that illustrates what the phone could look like when unfolded. The most interesting thing about the render is the fact that it places the punch-hole camera cutout off center, instead of being off to the right as in other designs.

Tried to do a more cleaner version ? #GalaxyZFold2 pic.twitter.com/y7VDpFHlweJuly 20, 2020

Designer Ben Geskin has the latest Galaxy Z Fold 2 render, and it looks like something that Samsung might produce, right down to the Mystic Bronze color featured in other recent renders for the Galaxy Z Flip 5G and Galaxy Note 20. If the Galaxy Z Fold 2 appears next month, it’s a pretty safe bet it will look a lot like this.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 screen size

The first-generation Fold has two displays: a 4.6-inch one on the front, and one across the interior that’s 7.3 inches when unfolded. 

The front display on the new device will be an “Infinity V-Display”, says Max Weinbach, which is the official name Samsung gives to its water-drop notch designs. Weinbach originally said that the Fold 2 would be a little larger when opened up, measuring 8 inches across.

The Fold 2’s main panel will also be made of Samsung’s “ultra-thin glass” that it debuted on the Z Flip. The name is slightly misleading, as the UTG material is actually a glass core coated in plastic, but it should mean it’s still a bit tougher than the Galaxy Fold’s display.

Samsung added support for 2 new aspect ratios. 25:9 and 5:4. These are both for the Galaxy Fold 2. Front display is 25:9, main display is 5:4. pic.twitter.com/eokYqoydsPJuly 18, 2020

ETNews posted a list of Galaxy Fold 2 specs in mid-July that pointed to a 7.7-inch interior display when the phone is opened up. The exterior display is expected to grow to 6.23 inches.

A leak by Max Weinbach says that the aspect ratio of the Galaxy Fold 2’s exterior display should be 25:9, which is taller than the original Galaxy Fold. So you should expect more screen and less bezel.

That squares with claims by Ice Universe that the Galaxy Fold 1 would feature a 7.7-inch display with minimal bezels (3.8mm).

Galaxy Fold 2 leak – Front Display •Size: 6.23”•Resolution: 2267 x 819•Refresh Rate: 60Hz•Backplane Technology – LTPS•Notch/Hole/UPC – Hole#Samsung #GalaxyFold #foldableApril 20, 2020

As for the front display that you’ll use when the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is folded up, it’s going to be larger than the 4.6-inch screen on the original foldable. That’s according to Display Supply Chain Consultant founder Ross Young who tweeted that the new front display will be 6.23 inches with a 2267 x 819 resolution, a claim echoed by the ETNews report.

Young also forecasts a more moderate increase to the inside display — 7.59 inches, with a 2213 x 1689-pixel resolution. Even better, the Galaxy Fold 2 sounds like it’s going to adopt one of the best features of the Galaxy S20 lineup and feature an interior screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. (The exterior preview screen will stick with the more conventional 60Hz rate.)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 cameras

The original Fold was no slouch when it came to camera hardware, since it had six total camera sensors around its body: a 12MP wide-angle sensor, a 16MP ultra-wide sensor and a 12MP telephoto sensor on the back, a 10MP camera on the front and a 10MP main and 8MP depth sensor duo on the inside. All of these produced good photos, but nothing class-leading.

There’s a good chance the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 could see a notable improvement to its cameras, however. Max Weinbach claims that the Fold 2 will use the Galaxy S20 Plus’ camera array, which would be a 12MP main sensor, a 3x optical zoom 64MP telephoto sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor and a time-of-flight camera to aid the others.  Ross Young tweeted similar camera specs, adding that those lenses are likely to have dual optical image stabilization. ETNews repeats those same camera specs.

That already sounds pretty good, but we’ve also heard rumors of the Fold 2 using Samsung’s enormous 108MP camera, which appeared on the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Given that everyone else seems to think that Samsung will go with a 12MP main lens, though, we’d dismiss that particular rumor.

Samsung tends to use 10MP sensors for its phones’ front-facing cameras, which is exactly what it used on the original Fold. ETNews says there will be two 10MP cameras, one on each display.

We’ve also heard that the selfie cameras will appear in a punch-hole that will avoid taking up as much space on the display as the notch did. Max Weinbach says it’s even possible the front sensor will be a sub-display camera, hidden under the panel unless you’re using it.

The aesthetics are somewhat irrelevant compared to the main design area that most people will care about: can it withstand normal use without breaking apart like the ill-fated first version of the original Fold? 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 performance

The Galaxy Fold used a Snapdragon 855 system-on-chip, and as you would expect, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will use the most recent chip in the same series, the Snapdragon 865. That’s at least according to Max Weinbach, but he’s got a proven track record of accurate leaks, so that helps back up our educated guesses.

Qualcomm just released a newer version, the Snapdragon 865 Plus, and ETNews points to that chipset finding its way into the Galaxy Fold 2, along with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G

After debuting a completely 5G-ready range with the S20, we expect Samsung to offer 5G on the Fold 2 as it did on the original Fold. This is exactly what Max Weinbach has said too, so there’s little doubt there will be at least a 5G-compatible Fold 2 model you can select.

My dudes… we got Galaxy Fold 2 software builds starting! VZW is here too which probably means the Fold 2 supports mmWave, unlike Z Flip 5G. Wonder if it’ll be unlocked only for Verizon or if they’ll carry it. pic.twitter.com/0aFkDIoy89June 8, 2020

In a tweet that offers evidence of Galaxy Fold 2 software builds, Weinbach noticed that Verizon is specifically listed. That could mean the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will specifically support Verizon’s mmWave-based 5G network, which requires specific antennas in a phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 battery and charging

After using a 4,380 mAh battery on the first Fold, we hope that Samsung finds room to squeeze in a little more capacity on the Fold 2. With an even larger display, it’ll need all the power it can get. That’s why we’re a bit puzzled by the ETNews specs report, which claims the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will have a smaller battery at 4,365 mAh.

What we definitely want to see improved is the charging speed. The Galaxy Fold charged at a mediocre 15W, but the Fold 2 really ought to make use of Samsung’s new 25W and 45W charging protocols. However, there are competing rumors. 

Some say that the Fold 2 will stick with 15W charging, while others say the upgrade to 25W and above will be happening after all. We might be able to disarm the former rumors with the fact that before we knew its actual name, the Galaxy Z Flip, which does use 15W charging, was thought to be called the Galaxy Fold 2. Even so, we may need to prepare to be disappointed with the charging ability of the Fold 2.

The Fold could wirelessly charge too, and use Samsung’s “PowerShare” reverse wireless charging to give that power back to a compatible accessory. We’d expect this feature to come to the Fold 2 also, but we hope that Samsung manages to up the wattage of both of these for more rapid charging when away from a power cable.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 S-Pen

According to leaker Max Weinbach, the Note 20 won’t be the only phone using Samsung’s stylus. Including an S-Pen with the Fold 2 makes a lot of sense considering the size of its display makes it ideal for note taking or drawing. If Samsung brings across the features for the S-Pen it debuted on the Galaxy Note 10, then the Fold 2 will be able to add remote selfies and air gestures to its box of tricks, which could make it the most versatile foldable we’ve seen so far.

However, a more recent report from Korea’s The Elec notes that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 may not offer S Pen support thanks to the phone’s UTG display. The report says that a Galaxy Fold 2 with S Pen “is unlikely to be seen this year.” That’s down to the claim that “Samsung Electronics has not yet developed a cover window that can fold the screen and endure the use of a stylus.” 

Simply put, Samsung has supposedly not worked out a way to make a display that is flexible enough to be foldable and yet durable enough to withstand the pressure of an S Pen in time for the Galaxy Z Fold 2. 

But the report explains that Samsung has been researching technology to fold the display while increasing the thickness of the UTG so that a stylus can be used with future Fold phones. Given Samsung is reportedly working with Gorilla Glass makers Corning to do just that, we can expect an S Pen to come with a Galaxy Z Fold 3.

I just got word that Samsung will likely be launching the true Galaxy Fold successor in Q2 of this year. If I’ve conglomerates all the different reports correctly, it should have an 8″ display, 108MP camera, ultra thin glass, SPen, Snapdragon 865 and 5G.January 24, 2020

Weinbach has also said that the Fold 2 will use a new kind of S-Pen, which may mean none of the Note 10’s special abilities will transfer across, but could also be interpreted to mean it has some of its own unique features. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: what we want to see

After a tumultuous start to its foldable phone business with the Galaxy Fold launch, Samsung hopes to keep up the momentum it gained from the Galaxy Z Flip. Here’s how we think it can do that with the Galaxy Fold 2.

A sturdier frame: This one’s obvious if you remember the original Fold. Although you have to accept that foldables will be more frail than an equivalent non-folding phone, we still want any foldable to be as strong as possible. Toughen up the display, give the folding mechanism extra protection from debris and make sure the whole thing feels good to hold like a normal phone rather than some kind of fragile 5G vase.

A new home for the S-Pen: Samsung’s stuck with including styluses with some of its phones for a long time after other companies abandoned the idea. But styluses are still popular with tablet users, and since the unfolded display of the Galaxy Fold approaches the size of a small tablet, it would make perfect sense to let it work with an S-Pen. Besides, users are paying enough already — they deserve an extra accessory in the box.

The best cameras Samsung can install: After languishing for some time, Samsung finally seems to be making big strides with its camera technology. Just look at the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s quad rear camera array with its 108MP main sensor and 10x optical zoom sensor. The Fold 2 may not get all of these photography toys if it gets the Galaxy S20 Plus’ cameras like the rumors say, but users still deserve to get a great photography experience from their foldable even if cameras aren’t the main selling point.