Samsung Electronics is preparing to launch its slimmest high-end foldable smartphone yet, the Galaxy Z Fold6 Slim. According to recent reports, this new model will boast a thickness of just 11.5mm. However, despite this advancement, Samsung may face stiff competition from Chinese manufacturers' 2024 foldable phones, which are likely to be even thinner.
Sources from The Elec and ZDNet Korea indicate that the Galaxy Z Fold6 Slim could hit the market as early as October 2024. This model, while retaining the premium foldable design of its predecessors, achieves its reduced thickness by omitting the digitizer needed for stylus recognition.
The removal of the 0.3mm component from both sides of the foldable screen reduces the device's thickness by 0.6mm, bringing it down to 11.5mm compared to the 12.1mm of the standard Galaxy Z Fold6.
Samsung's efforts to slim down the device don't stop at the digitizer. The company is scrutinizing other components to further trim the device's profile. However, this pursuit of thinness comes with trade-offs.
Using more expensive, ultra-thin parts could drive up costs and potentially compromise the phone's durability and reliability, particularly in terms of water and dust resistance and the ability to withstand 200,000 folds. Any post-launch issues with these new components could potentially harm Samsung's reputation.
Industry insiders suggest that while Samsung aims for a thinner profile, achieving a thickness below 10mm may be unrealistic due to reliability concerns. Hence, the Galaxy Z Fold6 Slim is likely to be launched with a thickness exceeding 11mm.
In comparison, Chinese competitors are setting a high bar. The 2024 Honor Magic V3 foldable phone measures between 9.2mm and 9.3mm thick, while the Xiaomi Mix Fold4 is 9.47mm thick—both more than 2.6mm thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold6.
Reports indicate that mass production of the Galaxy Z Fold6 Slim's standard components is already underway. The device will feature an 8-inch internal screen and a 6.5-inch external screen, both larger than those on the standard Galaxy Z Fold6. Expectations are high, with projections of 400,000 to 500,000 units being shipped to markets such as China by the end of 2024.
Currently, component orders for the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6 are mirroring the volumes seen with the 2023 Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5 models. However, shipment forecasts show a shift in the product mix: the Galaxy Z Flip is expected to decrease from 70% of shipments in 2023 to 60% in 2024, while the Galaxy Z Fold is projected to increase from 30% to 40%.
In a strategic marketing push, Samsung is leveraging the global stage of the Paris Olympics to promote the 2024 Galaxy Z Fold/Flip 6 models, with Chairman Jae-yong Lee personally involved. Despite initial quality concerns surrounding the launch of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, all eyes are on Samsung to see if it can further solidify its dominance in the high-end smartphone market.
