Galaxy Fold 2 rumors: Cheaper Fold E and a feature the original couldn’t have

Samsung spilled the beans. The world’s largest phone brand is definitely making its third foldable phone, as well as the next Galaxy Note. It’s widely expected that the next phone will be called the Galaxy Fold 2, the successor device to the original Galaxy Fold. Or will the “Fold 2” in fact be a series of phones at different prices, just like the Galaxy S20 series?

Samsung’s determination to be the preeminent foldable phonemaker is clear. Roughly three months ago, it launched the Galaxy Z Flip. Now, in Samsung’s own words, “The Company will continue to offer differentiated products in the premium segment with the launch of new foldable and Note models.” This was a sly reveal in a late April earnings report. 

It isn’t clear how buyers will respond to another foldable phone priced at $1,000 or more, not with the current unemployment rate at 17.2% and a major recession looming. We do know that Samsung has already felt the burn. Global phone sales already plunged by 38% in February compared to 2019. And Samsung warned that its phone business will “drop sharply in most regions” as a result of coronavirus-related slowdowns. 

The very extravagance of another pricy foldable phone could raise eyebrows at a time when companies, including Samsung, seem to be falling back on cheaper devices, like the new $400 Galaxy A51 on sale now, an excellent value.

Perhaps Samsung is counting on the hype machine — and a possible second stimulus check for the US — to stoke interest in the speculated Galaxy Fold 2. We’ll update these this frequently with the most important rumors. 

Will the Fold 2 be waterproof?

Water resistance is standard fare among premium smartphones, but the nature of the hinge and the price made it impossible for the first wave of foldables to take advantage of waterproofing technologies, Samsung told us at the time the original Galaxy Fold launched.

That could change with the Galaxy Fold 2. Earlier this month, a patent for a water-resistant foldable phone design that looks awfully similar to the Galaxy Fold appeared, Let’s Go Digital reported. The patent (PDF) for ,”Electronic device including waterproof structure” details exactly how and where the waterproofing material would go inside the phone housing. 

Square ‘periscope’ camera, ticker notification on cover screen

The same Samsung patent application mentioned above also reveals two interesting design changes, Let’s Go Digital pointed out. First is the camera array, which shows three rear lenses, one of them square. That’s the same design Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra (and other phones) use for a periscope camera designed to enhance optical and digital zoom. 

The second detail is a long, narrow ticker seen in the image above all the way to the right on the device cover screen. It’s clear that Samsung is at least experimenting with the idea of removing the original Fold’s 4.6-inch cover display — where you could open and use any Android app — with a ticker-style window for basic information like the date, time and notifications. 

Such a move would mean you need to use the phone in its open position and could potentially improve battery life from the original model. It’s also possible that — if there are multiple Galaxy Fold models for 2020 — one of the cheaper devices could see a smaller outer screen.

There’s a rumor, and keep in mind this is a rumor, Samsung will be releasing a Galaxy Fold e for $1100.

They are also working releasing 3 folds. Two with plastic, one with UTG. Could explain the Winner2 vs Champ codenames.

— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) May 11, 2020

Is there a cheaper Galaxy Fold E or Fold Lite in the works?

What if there isn’t just one new Galaxy Fold headed our way, but two or even three? Prolific mobile leaker Max Weinbach, who also writes for XDA Developers, tweeted a rumor that Samsung could be making a Galaxy Fold E or Galaxy Fold Lite in addition to the more premium Galaxy Fold 2.

Weinbach’s tweet even named a potential price: $1,100 for the cheaper model — or models — which could use a plastic screen compared to the Galaxy Fold 2’s ultrathin glass, or UTG. Weinbach’s uncertainty (“and keep in mind this is a rumor,” he wrote) leaves room for doubt, but it does suggest that Samsung’s experiment with cheaper models won’t stop with the $1,380 Galaxy Z Flip.

Galaxy Fold 2 design: Same form, but better

It’s likely that the Galaxy Fold 2 would work off the original mold, nipping, tucking and refining along the way. Common logic would expect the same design that puts the larger folding screen on the inside of a device that opens like a book, and the sturdier, smaller screen on the outside “cover,” a shape that protects the inner screen from extra damage. The patent above hints at narrower dimensions when closed. 

Some of the earliest Galaxy Fold 2 rumors suggested that the phone could take on a new form with the larger screen on the outside, however, most rumors point to the Fold 2 looking more like the first Fold, with specs and cosmetic features that line up with the Galaxy S20. More on that below.

Read: Galaxy Z Flip: 3 months later, I love it but still don’t recommend it

The Galaxy Fold 2 could have a stylus. The original couldn’t

Other rumors have at times suggested that Samsung would abandon its plans to include the S Pen. We’ll see how it all comes together.

2 screens, 1 with a 120Hz refresh rate

There’s little doubt that the Galaxy Fold 2 would follow in the footsteps of the original with two screens — one on the outside to start short tasks, like launching a phone call or responding to a quick text, and the larger screen inside that does all the heavy lifting of video watching, multitasking and longer email composition. 

The larger screen is said to follow the Galaxy S20 with a 120Hz screen refresh rate, while the smaller screen will top out at the default 60Hz screen (see below). The faster refresh rate makes scrolling, navigation and some games run extremely smooth, but it can also drink up battery life at a faster rate. It’s likely that the Fold 2’s 120Hz screen setting would be an option, with the typical 60Hz rate the default, as it is on the S20 phones.

Galaxy Fold 2 cameras

The original Galaxy Fold took its camera cues from last year’s Galaxy S10 Plus, so it stands to reason that the Fold 2 would do the same, drawing from the Galaxy S20 Plus’ camera array and design. That’s the content of a rumor from Max Weinbach, a Twitter leaker and contributor to XDA Developers.

If true, you could expect to see:

• Front cover: 10-megapixel camera
• Rear cover: 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), time-of-flight 
• The periscope lens shape mentioned above

And what about the inner screen? Good question. The original Fold included a big thumb-shaped cutout that included two camera lenses and other sensors, and detracted from the overall look as well as took up screen space. 

I’d wager that Samsung will minimize the camera look on the inner screen, possibly shrinking the space down to a single sensor for selfies and video chats, and using a more minimalist hole punch design. That said, the patent above (which may not reflect the final design), shows a similar internal notch as the original Fold.

Weinbach, in his February tweet, suggested that the “main” camera could include a V-shaped notch or an underscreen sensor. 

Galaxy Fold 2: front cover is infinity V display. Main is either hole punch or under display camera. New form of SPen. S20 camera setup. Ceramic and stainless steel. Will come in Blue, Silver, Gold, Pink, Black.

— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) February 17, 2020

Battery size and battery life

Battery life is a sticking point for any phone, but on a foldable device like the original Galaxy Fold, with power-thirsty screens and a promise to be the everything-device in your life, it has to deliver. 

If rumor prevails, the Galaxy Fold 2 could top the Fold’s 4,380-mAh battery with a 4,500- or 5,000-mAh battery, according to a source cited by XDA Developers. You can also expect Samsung to stick with reverse wireless charging, which Samsung calls PowerShare, and fast charging to align with the Galaxy S20 phones — likely at a rate of 25 watts. 

The Galaxy S20 Ultra, for example, supports even faster 45-watt charging, but keep in mind that there’s often a trade off between how fast a phone can charge and how much heat it generates and holds onto as a result. If the Fold 2 comes to life without support for 45-watt fast charging, that’s likely why.

Screen size, 5G, storage and other specs

Display consultant Ross Young tweeted a long list of specs in late April, unsurprisingly related to the screen size, resolution and technology. That, combined with other rumors circulating about the Galaxy Fold 2’s storage capacity, 5G variants and colors (from XDA Developers, SamMobile, ET News and others), paints a picture that concept artists can use to sketch out renders of how the Galaxy Fold 2 could look.

• Main display: 7.59 inches; 2,213×1,689-pixel resolution
• Cover display: 6.23 inches; 2,267×819-pixel resolution (original Fold outer screen was 4.6-inches)
• 256GB and 512GB storage capacities
• 5G and 4G variants
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 or 865 Plus processor
• Android 10 software
• Materials: Ceramic, stainless steel
• Colors: Blue, silver, gold, pink, black

Galaxy Fold 2 launch and release date 

For the launch of Samsung’s third foldable phone, it makes sense to look to the first two. The Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip were announced alongside more typical — and still premium — devices, the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S20, respectively. Now it’s suggested that the Galaxy Fold 2 will step into the spotlight at the same time Samsung announces the Galaxy Note 20. 

There’s a logical pattern to this rumor, although the circumstances of the reveal would certainly be different than most. Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Unpacked event was the last time the mobile industry congregated in full before concern over the spread of coronavirus put a stop to dozens of events within and beyond the tech world. 

It’s certainly possible that Samsung could postpone both unveilings in response to the coronavirus outbreak, say if factories are forced to close amidst a surge of new cases or economic woes hem in consumer spending on high-priced goods.

Galaxy Fold 2 sale price

It’d be surprising to see a more advanced Galaxy Fold 2 come in at much less than the original Galaxy Fold’s $1,980 asking price, though with a global recession in the offing, all things are possible. And a cheaper model could potentially drop the price even more. For reference, the ultraportable Galaxy Z Flip costs $1,380.

Trade-in deals, bundles and freebies are more likely than an immediate reduction in cost. Although Samsung has been known to cut prices a few months after a launch, at least on its own website (like this Galaxy S20 price drop), the brand usually prefers to bump up the value of its premium products with bundled deals instead, like a buy-one-get-one or a free set of earbuds.

We’ll keep an eye and an ear out for new and credible Galaxy Fold 2 rumors. In the meantime, here’s every phone that we know of for 2020, eight apps to vastly improve your phone photography and a good look at the OnePlus 8 Pro phone that wants to take down the Galaxy S20.