Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition to minimise display crease with new UFG glass as conflicting rumours about S Pen support emerge

Samsung has not offered hints publicly yet of any plans to release another foldable before summer 2025. Instead, all appearances would suggest that the Galaxy Z Fold6 (curr. $1,699.99 - 512 GB on Amazon) will remain Samsung's premier smartphone with the Galaxy S24 Ultra until the latter's direct successor arrives early next year. Nonetheless, well-regarded leakers have been discussing the prospect of the second Galaxy Z Fold of the year, including Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC).

To recap, Evan Blass revealed earlier this week that said device would arrive as the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, not the Galaxy Z Fold6 Slim or Galaxy Z Fold6 Ultra. Moreover, the same leaker implies that the device would utilise a 200 MP sensor as its primary camera, which Young has reiterated. Additionally, Young has offered up a few other details about the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, some of which appear to be previously unknown. 

For example, Young claims that Samsung will start producing the Special Edition in September, the same month as its alleged launch. On top of that, he adds that the company anticipates most sales will occur in China, underlining the suggestion that the device is aimed at challenging Chinese foldable brands like Honor, Oppo and Xiaomi. Furthermore, the Special Edition is said to lack a digitiser to reduce production costs and overall device thickness.

On the one hand, this decision is expected to offset the higher cost associated with sourcing a larger 8-inch foldable display. On the other hand, Young states it will have the knock-on effect of preventing the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition from supporting S Pen inputs, a statement with which Ice Universe disagrees. Added to that, Young believes that the device will showcase Ultra Flexible Glass (UFG), which Young describes in the following terms: