Samsung has a new foldable device and no, it’s not the Galaxy Z Fold6. After months of leaks and rumors, Samsung last week finally announced the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, a slimmer and more powerful iteration of the Galaxy Z Fold6 from a few months ago.
A Slimmer, Lighter Design
The Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is the thinnest and lightest model in the Z Fold series, weighing just 236 grams and measuring a mere 10.6mm in thickness.
This makes it 1.5mm thinner and 3 grams lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold6, providing users with a more comfortable grip and easier handling.
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Samsung has also introduced a striped pattern back, giving the phone a unique aesthetic touch while using premium metal and glass materials that likely mirror the Armor Aluminum finish seen in the Z Fold6.
Additionally, the camera housing has been redesigned to feature a more rectangular shape.
Upgraded Camera and Memory
One of the most noteworthy upgrades in the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is its 200MP main camera, a substantial improvement over the 50MP primary sensor of the standard Galaxy Z Fold6.
Although the other camera sensors remain the same, this upgrade promises more vivid and detailed images and videos.
Supporting these camera enhancements is a memory upgrade, with the Special Edition equipped with 16GB of RAM compared to the 12GB available in the Galaxy Z Fold6.
This extra memory ensures smoother multitasking and better performance for AI-related tasks. The device also offers a single 512GB storage variant, whereas the Z Fold6 provides 256GB and 1TB options.
Larger, Wider Display
The Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition features an impressive 8-inch main screen with a 20:18 aspect ratio when unfolded, making it the widest display in the Z Fold series.
The cover screen is also slightly larger than that of the Galaxy Z Fold6, measuring 6.5 inches with a 21:9 ratio. These enhancements deliver a more immersive viewing experience, perfect for streaming, gaming, and productivity tasks.
Samsung has upgraded the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition with Wi-Fi 7 support, surpassing the Galaxy Z Fold6’s Wi-Fi 6e capability. This enhancement means faster download speeds, smoother streaming, and improved gaming experiences for users.
In terms of battery life, the Special Edition has a rated capacity of 4,272mAh and a typical capacity of 4,400mAh, the same as the Galaxy Z Fold6.
Snapdragon Power and Software Longevity
The Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition retains the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. Samsung has also committed to long-term software support, offering seven years of updates, so users can expect new Android versions until 2031.
The device launches with Android 14-based One UI 6.1.1, and it should be eligible for the One UI 7 beta later this year, keeping it in line with the latest software advancements.
No S Pen Support
Despite rumors suggesting S Pen compatibility, Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition will not support the stylus.
This could be disappointing for users hoping for enhanced productivity features, but Samsung has clarified this directly on the device’s product page.
Pricing and Availability
Available on Samsung’s Korean website and through major carriers in South Korea, the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition comes with a price tag of 2,789,600 won, approximately KES 260,773.
Samsung has also introduced early adopter discounts, offering coupons for products within the Galaxy ecosystem, such as the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra.
Unfortunately, there’s no confirmation of a wider release, so those outside South Korea, including in Kenya, may need to wait longer or consider alternative options.
