The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE is anticipated to be a budget-friendly foldable phone, fulfilling a demand since the original Galaxy Fold’s release in 2019.
Despite earlier denials from Samsung, initial rumours suggested its arrival this year. Unfortunately, however, recent reports indicate that the Galaxy Z Fold FE may be cancelled.
If this phone is indeed ever released, here is everything we expect from the Galaxy Z Fold FE.
When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE be released?
At this summer’s Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung unveiled its latest device, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Flip 6, Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra. Unfortunately, however, the Galaxy Z Fold FE wasn’t presented.
Additional information provided by The Elec (via NotebookCheck) suggests that the project has been cancelled. The decision was made due to difficulties in achieving a thin design, comparable to competitors like the Honor Magic V2, and because of “industry uncertainty”.
Leaker Revegnus also confirmed this information, making it likely that the Galaxy Z Fold FE will not be released.
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Adding to the confusion, display industry analyst Ross Young revealed that Samsung is developing a larger foldable device, possibly named Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim.
Young suggests that the Fold 6 Slim and Fold 6 Ultra might be the same device. Internally referred to as the Q6A, this device could launch later in the year, following the regular Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6’s July release.
The potential release of Fan Edition versions of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 remains speculative, and we’re awaiting further information from industry insiders.
However, if it were to be released, it’s more likely to appear some time after the Z Fold 6’s debut, in keeping with Samsung’s typical strategy of introducing FE models months after the respective flagship.
For example, the Samsung Galaxy S23 debuted in Feb 2023, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE arrived in October of that same year.
If the Galaxy Z Fold FE were ever to appear, the nearest possible date is this autumn. Although, it is more likely that it will not appear until 2025.
How much will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE cost?
According to a Korean site Sisa Journal, the Galaxy Z Fold FE will have a price target below $800 (approx. £642), significantly undercutting the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s $1,799 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s $1,899 price tags.
Other than that, we have no information on the price of the Galaxy Z Fold FE. For context, here’s the starting price of the previous Galaxy Z Fold phones at launch:
What specs and features will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE have?
So far, there have not been many leaks and rumours regarding the Galaxy Z Flip FE.
Chinese site MyDrivers posted some details about what we might see in the new device, although these have yet to be confirmed, so don’t take them as assured.
Design
The design of the Z Fold FE is expected to follow the book-like format of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series, featuring a smartphone screen on the exterior that unfolds into a larger tablet-sized display.
However, according to the post from MyDrivers (via GSMArena), it’s rumoured to measure 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2mm when folded, making it slightly bigger than the Z Fold 5.
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Rumours also suggest the inner display may lack support for Samsung’s S Pen stylus, due to the absence of a necessary digitiser layer, likely for cost-saving reasons.
Nevertheless, according to The Elec, Samsung may implement cost-saving measures such as inkjet printing for bezels, reducing production costs and potentially keeping prices low without sacrificing features or using outdated hardware.
Display
The Galaxy Z Fold FE might retain a 7.6-inches inner AMOLED screen and 6.2-inches 120Hz outer AMOLED display from the Z Fold 5. Although it’s uncertain if the first one will keep the LTPO technology.
However, as per Sisa Journal, the phone is anticipated to feature lower specs for the application processor, display, and battery, possibly resulting in a lower resolution and refresh rate than current models.
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It may be something closer to full HD resolution and a lower refresh rate than the current generation’s 120Hz.
Performance
Rumours suggest it will feature less impressive specs than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, including a less powerful chipset.
As per GSMArena, the Fold FE will get a mix of Snapdragon and Exynos chipsets, depending on the market.
While the exact chipset remains uncertain, possibilities include older models like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or the newly announced Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, designed for mid-range devices. Another speculation involves the use of a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip, potentially enabling affordability.
Samsung may also leverage its Exynos 2000-series processor in some markets to help offset costs and achieve a lower price point for the foldable device.
When it comes to RAM options, it will likely feature a 12GB or 16GB paired with 256GB or 512GB of internal storage.
Cameras
The report from Sisa Journal suggests the Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE may feature a camera setup similar to the current generation, possibly featuring a dual-camera module without a third telephoto lens.
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It’s unclear whether the camera hardware will resemble that of the Z Fold 5 with a 50Mp main lens or the Z Flip 5 with a 12Mp main lens, but both phones share a 12Mp ultrawide lens.
Battery & Charging
Details about the battery and charging capabilities of the Galaxy Z Fold FE remain vague, with only Sisa Journal’s claim indicating lower battery specifications compared to other Samsung foldables.
Historically, Galaxy foldables have featured relatively modest battery capacities, resulting in average battery life. However, it’s uncertain how large the battery of the Z Fold FE will be, or its endurance on a single charge.
Similarly, rapid charging may not be a highlight, as predecessors like the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 are limited to 25W wired and 15W wireless charging speeds, respectively.
Software
The Galaxy Z Fold FE will likely operate on Samsung’s One UI 6.1 based on Android 14.
However, it is also probable that Android 15 might be accessible upon launch. If not, users can expect a software update to introduce it sometime later.
That’s all we know about the Galaxy Z Fold FE so far. Be sure to check out what to expect from the Galaxy Z Fold 6, as well as from the Galaxy Z Flip FE, the expected cheaper version of the upcoming Z Flip 6.
