Latest news with #ETNews
India Today
17 hours ago
- India Today
Samsung may bring back S Pen support in future Galaxy Z Fold models
A built-in S Pen might not be off the table for Samsung's future foldables after all. While the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold 7 skipped stylus support — just like the Galaxy Z Fold SE from China — it looks like the company is still working on ways to bring the S Pen back, possibly with a dedicated slot inside the phone. This would be a big move for Samsung's foldable strategy, especially after rumours in recent years suggested the brand was moving away from integrating the stylus in its Z Fold lineup. Now, if a new report is anything to go by, the S Pen story might not be over just to South Korean publication ETNews, Samsung is actively exploring how to integrate the S Pen more seamlessly in future Galaxy Z Fold models. This wouldn't just mean compatibility with the stylus — it could also mean a physical space inside the device to store it, just like in the Galaxy S Ultra phones. That could be a huge deal for users who use the S Pen for productivity and creative tasks, especially on a foldable screen that can double as a context, Samsung added S Pen support to the Galaxy Z Fold series back with the Fold 3. However, due to the fragile nature of foldable displays, the company kept the S Pen as a separate accessory, never offering a built-in slot. It worked, but it wasn't the most convenient solution. Things took a turn in 2024 when the Galaxy Z Fold SE launched without any S Pen support, and the same was the case with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which came out just recently. While Samsung hasn't confirmed anything yet, the ETNews report suggests that improvements in display durability, digitiser tech, and compact battery design might finally allow Samsung to revisit the idea of a stylus slot in a foldable phone. Whether that ends up happening with the next Fold model or takes a bit longer, we'll have to wait and of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung unveiled the phone alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE earlier this month. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers a massive 8-inch AMOLED internal display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2600 nits peak brightness. The outer display is 6.5 inches and is also AMOLED. It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and comes with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. Camera-wise, you get a 200-megapixel main shooter, a 10-megapixel telephoto, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide. There's a 10-megapixel selfie camera on the cover screen and another 10-megapixel one also IP48 rated, supports wireless charging, and packs a 4400mAh battery. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at Rs 1,74,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant, with higher-end models going up to Rs 2,16,999.- Ends
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
Samsung dropped S Pen support in Galaxy Z Fold 7 but will it ever return?
Samsung's decision to drop S Pen support from its newly launched Galaxy Z Fold 7 — its thinnest foldable yet — appears to be a compromise made in favour of design and durability. According to a report by PCMag, citing South Korean news outlet ET News, Samsung has acknowledged that adding stylus support would have required additional internal components, which the company chose to forego in order to make the device slimmer and structurally stronger. Will the S Pen ever return to Samsung foldable smartphones? A top Samsung executive has hinted that S Pen support might not be gone for good. Kang Min-seok, Executive Director of Samsung's MX business division, told ET News that the company is still exploring ways to integrate the stylus in future models. He was quoted as saying: "We are also researching and developing thinner and innovative technologies for the S Pen, so we will reconsider it when the level of perfection increases and there is consumer demand.' However, based on what Samsung has shared so far, that might not be anytime soon. During a recent press briefing, Peter Park, Senior Product Manager at Samsung Electronics America, told PCMag that only a small portion of Z Fold users were actually using the S Pen. This limited uptake played a role in the company's decision to remove support on the Z Fold 7. For Samsung to bring back stylus functionality in future foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 8, it would not only need a major leap in hardware design — balancing thinness, structural integrity, and S Pen compatibility — but also a clear shift in user demand. Crucially, it would also have to do this without significantly raising the device's cost. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Details Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 is its slimmest and lightest foldable yet, measuring 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when open, with a weight of just 215 grams — lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It features a 6.5-inch cover screen and an eight-inch foldable main display, both using Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels. The main screen can reach up to 2600 nits of brightness, offering a clear viewing experience even in bright conditions. For photography, the Z Fold 7 is equipped with a 200MP main rear camera, accompanied by a 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. A 10MP front camera sits on the cover display, and another 10MP sensor is embedded under the main foldable screen. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 'Elite for Galaxy' chip and comes with a 4,400mAh battery. It also boasts a durable design, using an Advanced Armor Aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2. Running Android 16 with Samsung's One UI 8, the Z Fold 7 offers software enhancements tailored to its large screen. Features include AI-based image editing, real-time comparisons, and generative tools. Productivity upgrades such as AI Results View and improved drag-and-drop support between apps using Multi Window aim to make multitasking smoother and more efficient. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Specifications
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Galaxy Z Fold 7 ditched the S Pen, but Samsung's working on a new version for future foldables
One of the standout parts of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is just how thin it is, but it came at the cost of S Pen stylus support. However, Samsung has confirmed that it is working on a solution for future foldables. In a statement made to ETNews (via Android Authority), the executive director of Samsung's MX business division, Kang Min-seok, stated that Samsung is 'researching and developing thinner and innovative technologies for the S Pen, so we will reconsider [foldable stylus compatibility] when the level of perfection increases and there is consumer demand.' We don't know what form this new S Pen will take, but The Elec reported last year that Samsung and a second Korean company, HiDeep, were working on a new type of stylus that would work without a digitizer. As pointed out by Android Authority, this could mean the new pen will work similarly to an Apple Pencil by utilizing a combination of technologies such as onboard pressure sensitivity and tilt detection. Samsung's Z Fold 7's thickness is no doubt impressive, with the phone measuring only 4.2mm when unfolded. However, making a phone that's 26% thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 comes with some major caveats, as there is some hardware that you just can't adapt to be thinner, including the stylus digitizer, due to durability requirements and the properties of the materials used. While the Z Fold 7 might not get much from any future S Pen releases, there are some other major benefits to the device that will likely help it find a place as one of the best foldable phones. One of the standout features is the 8-inch OLED display, which is both bright and vibrant. There's also the new 200MP main camera and powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Also, while it comes with some costs, the phone's thinner and lighter design really needs to be seen to be believed. For the time being, we don't know when Samsung will bring this new S Pen tech to the smartphone market, or which devices will offer support for it. As such, we'll have to wait and see what is unveiled in the coming months. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Tom's Guide
6 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Foldable iPhone display reportedly beginning production ahead of 2026 launch
With Apple expected to launch its first foldable phone next year, a new report claims that production of displays for the foldable iPhone has begun. The news comes from the Korean publication ETNews (via Macrumors) whose article says that Samsung Display (SD) will be producing the displays. Allegedly, the display company is building a production line to exclusively make iPhone screens and will reportedly be able to produce 15 million 7-inch foldable OLED panels a year. Apple supposedly wants to produce between 6 and 8 million foldable iPhones in 2026, with company working to make it an annual release. Though SD's production capability exceeds Apple's reported forecast, the company is also supposed to have signed a "several year" contract. "Since it has a history of mass-producing and supplying foldable OLEDs ahead of its competitors, it is likely that it will actually be the sole supplier beyond the contract period," an unnamed industry insider told ETNews. Beyond being made by Samsung Display, there have been rumors of a foldable iPhone going as far back as 2015, when the device was rumored to be more of a clamshell style ala the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 or the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025. More recent rumors have indicated that Apple is focusing on a notebook-style design, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. This year, display rumors have forecasted a 7.8-inch interior display for the phone for when it's opened. For comparison, the just announced Z Fold 7 features an 8-inch screen. The ETNews report doesn't discuss the cover display, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted a 5.5-inch exterior screen with a customized 4:3 aspect ratio, similar to an iPad. Apple has been rumored to be obsessed with getting rid of the folding crease in the interior display. In April it was reported that Apple has a nearly crease-free display in the works thanks to Samsung. As for a release date beyond the vague "2026," we don't know. Rumors have been circulating for so long that a release date has been shifting target for years. With the new iPhone 16e launched this past spring, Apple has opened up new release windows where normally we would look to September for a potential launch. That said, it is more likely that we'll see this new iPhone in September alongside the iPhone 18 series.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Apple's iPhone Fold just took a big step towards its 2026 release
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. A day after Samsung announced its seventh generation of foldable devices, a report from ETNews reveals that display production for the upcoming iPhone Fold has just begun. More interestingly, it's Samsung Display that has built a dedicated line for Apple's foldable smartphone. According to the publication, the company will be solely responsible for Apple's foldable displays. The factory can produce 35,000 displays per month and uses the 6th-generation OLED panel. With 1.25 million panels per month, or 15 million per year, this should be more than enough to support Apple's goal of selling 6 to 8 million iPhone Fold devices in the first year. Today's Top Deals XGIMI Prime Day deals feature the new MoGo 4 and up to 42% off smart projectors Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Over the past few months, rumors about the iPhone Fold have been growing. Reports suggest Apple may bring back the Touch ID sensor, offer a creaseless display, and use the most premium materials to ensure the foldable's early success. Once again, Samsung has made a considerable leap in technology with the seventh-generation Galaxy Z Fold 7. This device is significantly thinner than its predecessor. It's also rated IP48. Samsung managed to make the displays larger too, with 8 inches when unfolded and 6.5 inches on the cover display. Most importantly, Samsung wants its Z Fold 7 to feel as premium as the Galaxy Ultra. That's the level Apple should aim for. Since the iPhone Fold is expected to cost around $2,500, Apple needs to make this device as good as an iPhone Pro Max. After all, what's the point of paying that much for a foldable if it doesn't offer the best tech available in Apple's top-tier phone? Thankfully, we might not have to wait much longer to see Apple's first foldable. If the rumors are accurate, the device will be unveiled in late 2026. BGR will keep following the latest reports on the company's first foldable. Don't Miss: Today's deals: Nintendo Switch games, $5 smart plugs, $150 Vizio soundbar, $100 Beats Pill speaker, more More Top Deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 See the
