Samsung Electronics has introduced its 8th generation Galaxy foldable phones, reducing thickness and weight while enhancing screen durability, crease visibility, and battery life through the use of titanium materials and silicon-carbon batteries. The company has redesigned the display, hinge, battery, and charging structure to address the persistent weaknesses of foldable phones.
Moon Seong-hoon, head of hardware at Samsung's MX division, explained the hardware innovations of the 8th generation Galaxy foldables during a press briefing in London on July 23. He stated, "Samsung does not innovate merely to showcase new technology; we start from understanding how customers actually use the product and what experiences they expect."
Analysis of user feedback collected over seven generations identified key areas for improvement in foldable phones, including screen creases, battery life, charging speed, and durability. Moon noted, "The true challenge was to incorporate a larger, more immersive display, while maintaining a thinner, lighter design with strong durability and ultra-level performance in one product."
The most notable innovation is 'Flex Titanium,' which combines a titanium plate supporting the bottom of the display module with a titanium alloy film placed just below the panel. The plate uses grade 4 titanium, the strongest among commercially pure titanium, with a precise lattice pattern. This structure maintains titanium's strength while providing the necessary flexibility in the folding area.
While the previous Galaxy Z Fold7 also featured a titanium plate, this new model enhances the lattice structure and introduces the titanium alloy film. This film, replacing traditional plastic, supports the folding screen from below, reducing sagging and minimizing creases. Moon stated, "The combination of the plate and alloy film has improved the folding experience and durability compared to previous models."
The titanium alloy film is processed to about one-third the thickness of a human hair and is designed to withstand repetitive movements. Samsung has reduced the thickness of the display module by over 10%, utilizing the gained internal space for increased battery capacity, enhanced heat dissipation, and the placement of high-performance cameras.
Moon emphasized, "Reducing the product thickness by 0.1mm cannot be achieved by changing just one component; it requires a comprehensive consideration of all elements, including the display, heat materials, reinforcements, and battery." He noted that while the slim design of the display module significantly contributed, the entire product was redesigned at a system level.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the thinnest foldable phone ever at 4.1mm when opened, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 is the lightest foldable at 201 grams, according to Samsung.
User experience when opening and closing the foldable phone has also been improved. Adjustments to the hinge and magnetic structures on both sides, along with angled corner designs, make it easier to unfold. The screen features an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and make creases less visible.
For the first time in a Galaxy smartphone, Samsung has introduced a silicon-carbon composite anode material in the battery. This material has already been used in some products in China. It increases energy density within the same volume, but stability is crucial due to the expansion and contraction of silicon during charging and discharging. Samsung has redesigned the entire battery system, including the anode, cathode, electrolyte, and separator.
Moon stated, "The most important factors in batteries are safety, stability, and long-term usability. Improving only the silicon-carbon anode is not sufficient; we needed to find the optimal combination of all components and validate it in various real-world conditions."
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra features a 5000mAh battery while maintaining a slim design. Both the Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 are the first foldable phones to support 45W fast charging. This system independently controls two battery charging paths to increase speed while reducing heat, allowing the Fold8 Ultra to charge up to 67% in just 30 minutes.
Durability testing has also been enhanced to reflect real-world usage conditions. Samsung has conducted over 100 verification tests, including drops from various angles, repeated folding, pressure and impact tests, exposure to sweat and moisture, and the intrusion of foreign substances of varying sizes and pressures.
Moon concluded, "If performance deteriorates and users feel uneasy while using the product, it is not true innovation. I believe the durability of this product has significantly improved through testing that reflects real-world conditions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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