The Possible Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could Highlight our Preferred Aspect of the Apple iPad's Appeal
The Possible Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could Highlight our Preferred Aspect of the Apple iPad's Appeal
As we approach year-end, news is scarce, and whispers are louder than a fresh layer of snow. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has entered its holiday shopping phase, debuting five months ago, but speculations about the next year are already circulating. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has its work cut out if it wants to make an impression among the foldables of 2023, even among Apple's loyal followers. Samsung is banking on a larger S Pen to make an impact.
According to a report from South Korean news outlet ET News, Samsung is considering abolishing the digitizer in its forthcoming foldable device in favor of a slimmer chassis capable of accommodating a larger S Pen. The stylus would utilize Active Electrostatic (AES) technology instead of the Electromagnetic Resonance Frequency (EMR) technology currently used in the Z Fold. It would also rely less on the display for digitizing.
Samsung is continuing its pursuit of the title of the thinnest foldable smartphone, given the increasing competition in the market. Brands like Google, OnePlus, and international brands are gaining popularity. Switching to AES technology would also make Samsung's foldable comparable to the iPad and the Apple Pencil. This potentially hints that Samsung is ready to market its foldable smartphone as a portable art easel, rather than just a fold-out digital notebook.
I've always found the Z Fold's S Pen too small for much more than pointing and tapping at the screen. The smaller stylus also frequently goes missing. I often searched for it around the house due to issues with the Z Fold 5's S Pen case. A larger S Pen would fit snugly in a pencil pouch in my bag. It would also make managing tasks on the Fold's display easier.
Samsung launched a foreign-exclusive version of the Z Fold with a 6.5-inch cover display and an 8-inch screen inside. It does not use a digitizer, which lends credence to this rumor, although the Z Fold SE does not support stylus input. Samsung may not decide whether to switch stylus input for the Z Fold 7 until early 2023.
In the face of growing competition from brands like Google and OnePlus, Samsung is exploring the use of Active Electrostatic (AES) technology for its future foldable devices, aiming to make them more comparable to the iPad and Apple Pencil. This shift in technology could potentially position Samsung's foldable smartphones as portable art easels, offering a more robust stylus experience.
With Samsung considering abolishing the digitizer for a larger S Pen in its future foldable devices, users like me who found the current one too small and frequently misplaced, could benefit from a more comfortable and functional stylus experience in the future.