In addition to infuriating a lot of its Western-based fans, Samsung's recent Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition release in South Korea and China has sparked a very important debate for foldable users around the world. The question on many people's minds right now is whether next year's Galaxy Z Fold 7 should retain its predecessor's S Pen support or ditch that in favor of the Z Fold SE's wasp waist.
But what if you could have both of those things... and not just in select Asian markets? That's apparently precisely what Samsung is planning, and in order to pull it off, the world's largest smartphone manufacturer may need to change its ways and draw inspiration from its arch-rival in at least one key department.
Are you ready for an Apple Pencil-style S Pen?
If the "multiple industry insiders" quoted in the latest ETNews report (translated here) are correct, Samsung is "seriously considering" switching from the current EMR technology of the Galaxy Z Fold 6-compatible S Pen to the AES standard used on the Apple Pencil (among others) for the company's next-gen foldable-supporting stylus.
If those letters don't mean anything to you, allow me to quickly explain the differences between EMR (electromagnetic resonance) and AES (active electrostatic) capabilities. In a nutshell, the former lets Samsung design a significantly smaller, thinner, and lighter stylus than Apple by moving certain necessary components (like a digitizer) to a smartphone's display, which in turn contributes to the overall thickness of said handset.
The Z Fold 7 could be significantly thinner than the Z Fold 6 and yet still come with S Pen support. | Image Credit -- PhoneArena
The latter makes the pen (or Pencil) thicker and heavier, but it frees up precious space on the phone (or tablet) the writing accessory works with, which is reportedly what Samsung is now focused on, at least as far as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is concerned.
By the way, there's probably no reason to expect any changes on this front for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which will almost certainly take after its forerunners and come with a "traditional" built-in S Pen, as well as a good old fashioned screen-embedded digitizer.
The Z Fold 7, meanwhile, will most likely keep this rumored Apple Pencil-style new S Pen separate from its non-digitizer-including and potentially razor-thin body, thus attempting to achieve the perfect blend between elegance and functionality.
How about the best of three worlds?
Believe it or not, there's even more good news to report out of Samsung's homeland today, as the ultra-thin Galaxy Z Fold 7 is also tipped to rock a super-strong titanium backplate. This is obviously the same premium material used on Galaxy S24 Ultra's frame, and according to this new and very credible rumor, it could replace the non-magnetic carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) employed by the Z Fold 6, Z Fold 5, Z Fold 4, and Z Fold 3.
The Z Fold 7 is expected to borrow the S24 Ultra's titanium material and use it elsewhere. | Image Credit -- PhoneArena
To be perfectly clear, we're not talking about the Z Fold 7's frame here, which is likely to be made from the same aluminum material as its predecessor. The handset's rear panel is also unlikely to trade glass for anything else, with this improved "backplate" actually connecting the foldable phone's primary display and hinge, which is of course bound to enhance the product's overall durability.
At this point, however, I can't help but start to wonder whether Samsung might be getting a bit too ambitious as far as Galaxy Z Fold 7 upgrades are concerned, with all these things (and the previously rumored screen size hikes) sounding pretty expensive to integrate in a mass-friendly device. Hopefully, the company will find a way not to increase its prices... too much.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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