We expected Samsung to announce the Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE in late September and start selling it in some markets. That didn’t happen, but recent leaks indicate that an ultra-thin Galaxy Z Fold 6 variant is in development rather than being delayed or canceled.
We saw renders of the device a few weeks ago. A leaker then posted a snippet of what appears to be an official render of the “slim version” Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE smartphone.
That’s not what SE stands for, but it certainly qualifies. If the rumors are correct, this will be Samsung’s thinnest foldable smartphone ever. This is the device Samsung needs to prove to the world that it can compete with foldable devices coming out of China.
Honor and Xiaomi launched two Fold devices this year that are thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Honor launched the Magic V2 last year, a thinner foldable device. The Magic V3, launched a few months ago, is somehow even slimmer than the V2.
A new report suggests that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE launch date is nearing. Samsung should announce it in the coming weeks. The report also states that this phone is expensive and features a higher price than thicker models.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6, released this summer, also features a thinner profile than its predecessor. However, it’s 5.6mm thick when unfolded, which is thicker than Honor’s Magic V3 and its 4.4mm profile. Fold 6 is 12.1mm thick when folded.
Report from Korean FNN News We provide the dimensions of Galaxy Z Fold SE. The handset is expected to measure 4.9mm when unfolded and 10.6mm when folded. Again, you can’t beat the new Honor smartphone, which is 9.3 mm thick when folded. But it still represents significant progress for Samsung.
Other changes are related to display size. The screen on the cover is 6.5 inches, which is slightly larger than the 6.3-inch screen on the Fold 6. Inside is an 8-inch foldable screen, which is larger than the 7.8-inch screen Samsung used on the regular Fold 6.
The report also cites the Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE’s superior build quality as one of its advantages over its competitors. Another is the built-in Galaxy AI feature.
FNN News Samsung has announced that it will introduce the Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE on October 25th. It is very likely that pre-orders for this phone will start soon after its release. However, remember that the ultra-thin foldable is only available in some markets, including China and South Korea.
As for price, don’t expect it to be any more affordable than the thicker Fold 6. According to reports, the starting price of this phone could be 3 million won in South Korea, or about $2,206.
The cheapest Fold 6 costs 2.23 million won ($1,640). This could be a problem for Samsung, especially in the key markets it targets. Local vendors sell flip phones at more affordable prices in China. Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE will have to compete with those prices.
At this point, it’s unclear whether the slimmer Fold 6 will be available in the U.S. or Europe.