The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 may not have the same large outer screen as the Galaxy Z Fold 2. A new rumor claims that the upcoming foldable will feature a 5.4-inch exterior screen, almost an inch smaller than the 6.2-inch display on its predecessor.
That’s according to @chuvn8888 on Twitter, who posted a sheet of specs for various upcoming foldable phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3, the Huawei Mate X2 and more.
- Everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
- Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs LG Wing: Which phone is best?
- Plus: Polestar is making the world's first truly zero-emissions EV — here's how
For reference, a 5.4-inch display is the same size as the iPhone 12 mini, which is notable for being a relatively small device. Particularly when a lot of recent flagship phones tend to offer screens in excess of 6-inches. Meanwhile, the leak claims the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s inner display will be larger than before, measuring 7.7-inches.
Except the Z Fold3 outer screen size which I haven't heard just yet, rest are match perfectly with what I heard and leaked (refering to the Z phones, and I haven't heard anything about OPPO/vivo foldable phones) pic.twitter.com/na9lbbtzs8April 6, 2021
If this leak is accurate it means Samsung isn’t downsizing the whole phone, just the outer display.
To me, this suggests that Samsung expects most people will focus on the Z Fold 3’s larger tablet display. If the outer display isn’t so important, the company can get away with shaving off a bit of the screen.
A smaller display might actually be beneficial
A 5.4-inch screen is more than enough to get basic phone stuff done, which is what the Z Fold range’s outer display is for. Anything more extensive can easily be done on the inner display. After all, that is the beauty of having a device that unfolds in this way.
The decision could also simultaneously be a cost-saving measure. If users aren’t going to care so much about the size of the outer display, why bother with the expense of making it larger than it needs to be? Keeping prices down can only be a good thing, especially on a phone range as expensive as the Galaxy Z Fold series.
Of course, this is all assuming @chuvn8888’s information is correct. It wouldn’t be impossible for someone to have made a mistake and typed out 5.4 instead of 6.4. We won’t know for sure until either an official reveal or another more reputable leak pops up with some evidence to the contrary.
Then again this has already happened to a point, since past rumors suggested that the Z Fold 3 may pack in a 4-inch exterior display. That’s the same size as an iPhone 5, and would have to feature some seriously chunky bezels.
It’s not clear what to expect from the Galaxy Z Fold 3 at this point, beyond the typical fold-out Z Fold design. However, rumors have pointed to the phone gaining support for the S Pen, and possibly even an under-display camera.
We’re going to have to wait a while before we find out for sure. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 isn’t expected to arrive until late Summer at the earliest, in what would normally be the Galaxy Note launch window.
- More: These are the best foldable phones you can buy right now
