The Galaxy Z Fold & Flip 4 aren’t the only foldables that could be on the way

Flip phones made a splash in 2019 when companies wanted Samsung, Huawei and Motorola introduced their first flexible devices. With Samsung, Motorola and Google rumored to be developing new flexible phones, another watershed moment may be coming soon.

Samsung’s next foldable phones could be just around the corner. The tech giant holds the next one Unpacked event on August 10thwhere it is rumored to be released Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4. That’s assuming Samsung follows its previous launch pattern, which saw the Galaxy Z Flip 5G announced in summer 2020 and the Z Flip 3 and the Z Fold 3 in August 2021.

read more: Samsung Unpacked is 3 days away. Here’s how to watch it live

Sales of flip phones are growing, but they’re still not as ubiquitous as standard phones. Shipments of foldable smartphones are said to have increased by 264.3% in 2021 compared to 2020, according to International Data Corporation. However, IDC estimates that just 7.1 million foldable phones shipped in all of 2021, compared to 362.4 million phones shipped just the fourth quarter of last year.

Here’s a look at the rumored foldable phones from Samsung, Motorola and more that are said to be in the works.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: What we want to see

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Samsung’s phone-tablet hybrid is expected to get an upgrade this year. Based on the leaks and rumors that have surfaced so far, it looks like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will be a mildly improved version of the current Z Fold 3. It could have a sleeker design, thanks to a slimmer hinge according to the prolific leaker Ice universeas an improved camera on par with that of Galaxy S22. Qualcomm’s recently announced Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is said to power the device, the source also claims.

But what I’m really hoping to see for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a cheaper price. The current version costs $1,800 without a trade-in, making it one of the most expensive phones. But display analyst Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, guesses Samsung’s new generation foldables will have a price reduction.

Samsung usually reveals its new foldable phones in August, so we expect to hear more soon. Check out our full story for more details on what to expect the Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

Samsung is also expected to launch a new version of its clamshell, Galaxy Z Flip in flip phone style This year. Similar to the Z Fold 4 rumors, the Z Flip 4 leaks indicate that it will be a refresh of the current model rather than a dramatic change.

The Z Flip 4 is expected to get a larger screen coverage according to Youngthe screen analyzer and Yoga Brara writer for the website 91mobiles who claims to have obtained a full list of the specifications of the Z Flip 4. Such an upgrade would make it easier to check the time and notifications at a glance without unwrapping the phone.

We won’t know for sure until Samsung announces a new version of the Z Flip, which will likely happen in August. Check out our full story to learn more about what we might see on Z Flip 4.

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A new foldable Samsung

But perhaps what’s more exciting is the idea that Samsung could soon introduce an entirely new type of foldable phone. In a tweet that appears to have been deleted, Ice Universe said before Samsung could debut a third type of foldable this year. Young also participated to say that a Samsung sliding phone was planned for production in 2022, but was pushed back further.

If Samsung is planning to release a new style foldable, it certainly has a lot of ideas to choose from. The Korean tech giant was introduced several new concepts at CES 2022 in January, including triple-folding and sliding-screen phones. However, Samsung hasn’t given any indication that it plans to launch a new type of foldable anytime soon, so we’ll have to assume its ideas are just ideas for now.

Motorola Razr 2022

It looks like Motorola is preparing its flagship Razr another return. The company unveiled a new version of its Razr flip phone with a dual camera, a larger bezel display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor in a series of posts on Chinese social network Weibo. GSM Arena spotted. Earlier rumors said that the next Razr might have a cheaper price, a new pill-shaped dual camera and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, according to leaks from known leakers Steve Hemmerstoffer (via CompareDial) and Evan Blass (published on 91 Cell phones).

We ended up liking it the 2020 Razr for the refined design and improved battery life. However, CNET reviewer Patrick Holland pointed out that the phone’s then-$1,400 price tag and other drawbacks, such as the camera’s poor low-light performance, kept it from being the best it could be. Hopefully, Motorola has addressed these concerns if the rumored third-generation Razr turns out to be true.

read more: The best Samsung phone of 2022

Google Pixel Fold (or Pixel Notepad)

Google may be the next big tech company to jump on the foldable phone bandwagon. The company is reportedly working on a foldable Pixel that may have a similar shape to this one Oppo’s Find N and a price that is lower than that of the Galaxy Z Fold 3, according to 9to5Google. The store also reports that the phone may be called the Pixel NotePad, but warns that its camera may be a step down from the Pixel 6.

Google has yet to say a word about plans to launch a foldable phone. We also didn’t see evidence of a foldable Pixel at Google I/O, the company’s annual developer conference where it sometimes shows off new tech concepts. But given Google’s recent focus on hardware — which it highlighted at I/O by announces six new gadgets — It wouldn’t be surprising to see the company experiment with foldables.

If Google has a foldable phone in the works, it’s unclear when it will be released. Korean news site The Elect said that Google previously planned to announce the device in the fourth quarter of 2022, but the company has reportedly delayed the launch.

A TCL flip phone

TCL scrapped launch plans a flip phone in the style of a flip phone phone in 2021, but he’s not giving up just yet. Introduced by the Chinese electronics manufacturer two new concepts earlier this year for phones with rolling and folding screens. One concept has a screen that can bend in and out, while the other can fold and expand its screen size.

TCL hasn’t said when it plans to release a foldable phone. But if and when it does, the company plans to keep the price at $700 or less, TCL previously told CNET. Achieving that price will be difficult, but hopefully it will motivate other phone makers to make their flip phones just as affordable.

read more: Is Samsung’s 45 Watt Phone Charger Worth It? We put it to the test

A foldable iPhone

Apple is one of the few major smartphone makers that hasn’t released a foldable phone, and it’s unclear if it ever will. But rumors of an iPhone with a flexible screen have been circulating for years, fueling speculation. If Apple is working on a foldable iPhone, it probably won’t release the device for another few years. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote in his Power On 2021 newsletter that a foldable iPhone it’s still two to three years away. Display supply chain analyst Young also said in February that Apple’s foldable iPhone would be delayed until 2025, according to 9 to 5 Mac.

Waiting a few years to release its first foldable might not be a bad idea. Foldable phones are expected to account for 1.8% of the total smartphone market by 2025, a jump from 0.5% in 2021, according to IDC. The market research company too says folding expected to account for a third of the premium market for Android phones.