Multiple media outlets around the world are collectively claiming that Samsung is still working on a slim version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, codenamed Q6a. While recent rumors indicated that development of the phone had been cancelled, the appearance of a test firmware indicates that work is continuing.
According to reports, the Q6a will be quite a challenge. According to The Korea Economic Daily, the company's CEO TM Roh asked Samsung engineers to create a phone that is 7.7 mm thick when closed and weighs less than 239 grams.
To put that into perspective, it's thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which measures 12.1mm when closed, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra at 8.6mm.
Possible design changes
It is not known how Samsung intends to reduce the size of its foldable by five millimetres. Neither the reports nor their sources describe the development process, although the company could opt for a wider device.
Honor recently launched the Magic V3, which is its thinnest foldable phone yet, measuring 9.2mm thick when folded. When open, its internal display measures 7.92 inches.
The Z Fold 6, by comparison, has a 7.6-inch display. That extra three-tenths of an inch could be the size Samsung would need to reach for its ultra-thin smartphone, perhaps even thinner. The company has proven capable of developing thinner foldable devices. For example, the original Galaxy Fold has a 7.3-inch main display that, when folded, measures 17.1mm.
Similarly, no one knows for sure how big the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim (or Z Fold 6 Ultra, as some have called it) will be; however, another leak from early July claims the internal display will measure a whopping eight inches diagonally.
Limited release
There is some debate regarding the availability of the Z Fold 6 Slim, as different reports say different things.
German tech news site Allround-PC claims the Q6a will see a limited release in South Korea and China in October. GalaxyClub disagrees, saying the launch is planned for early 2025. Sources close to the Korea Economic Daily said Samsung will instead “unveil a 10mm Galaxy Z Fold Slim model” later in the year. So it’s not exactly 7.7mm, though subsequent devices will apparently get slimmer as the years go by.
Despite all the conflicting information, most articles agree that the smartphones' availability will be restricted to the two countries. No one knows exactly why Samsung has opted for a limited launch, though 9To5Google believes it has to do with local competition.
In addition to Honor, both OPPO and Huawei have foldable smartphones that are thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, such as the 11.7mm Find N3 and 11.08mm Mate X3, respectively. The market in those regions is gravitating toward convertible smartphones, and Samsung is feeling the pressure to up its game.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim's launch in the US and Europe remains a mystery, though there's always the possibility it might make its way to the West. Of course, this is all just a rumor until Samsung makes it official.
Be sure to check out TechRadar's list of the best Samsung phones for 2024.
