The whispers surrounding Samsung’s upcoming foldable lineup and the next-generation Galaxy S25 Ultra are growing louder, painting a picture of innovation and performance. While Samsung has remained tight-lipped about certain projects, recent leaks and insider information offer a compelling glimpse into what we can expect.
One of the most exciting rumors centers around a potential “Fan Edition” (FE) of the Galaxy Z Flip. This affordable foldable has been the subject of much speculation, with many wondering if Samsung would compromise on key features to lower the price. However, a recent revelation from display supply chain analyst Ross Young suggests otherwise. According to Young, the Galaxy Z Flip FE could inherit the cutting-edge display technology of the Z Flip 6. This is a significant development, demonstrating Samsung’s commitment to delivering a premium experience even in its more accessible devices.
Z Flip 6 panel.
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) December 31, 2024
This means the Z Flip FE could boast a stunning 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a crisp Full HD+ resolution. Furthermore, it’s expected to support a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and animations while optimizing battery life. This commitment to display quality is particularly noteworthy given the ongoing legal disputes between Samsung Display and BOE. It suggests a strategic decision to keep display production within the Samsung ecosystem, prioritizing quality and control, especially for a device aimed at a wider audience.
Beyond the display, the Z Flip FE is rumored to be powered by the Exynos 2400 chipset. This powerful processor has garnered positive reviews for its performance and efficiency, addressing concerns that have plagued previous Exynos chips. Coupled with a generous 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the Z Flip FE is poised to offer a seamless and responsive user experience, potentially incorporating advanced Galaxy AI features.
The timing of the Z Flip FE’s release is also generating buzz. It’s speculated that Samsung might unveil this affordable foldable alongside the highly anticipated Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7. Adding fuel to the fire, rumors of a next-generation Special Edition Galaxy Z Fold are also circulating, with hopes that it will see a wider international release than its predecessor.
Shifting our focus to the Galaxy S series, the S25 Ultra has been spotted flexing its muscles in recent performance benchmarks. A Chinese market variant (SM-S9380), equipped with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (overclocked variant) as the US version, has appeared on Geekbench, achieving impressive scores of 3049 in single-core and 9793 in multi-core tests.
The running score of the Chinese version of S25 Ultra has also been released. #Samsung #GalaxyS25Ultra pic.twitter.com/G5g4EkIDv2
— Samsung One UI 7 #OneUI7 (@samsungoneui7) December 30, 2024
These results are particularly noteworthy when compared to previous listings, one of which even surpassed the 10000 mark in multi-core performance, setting a new bar for Android devices. While the Chinese variant’s scores are slightly lower than this peak performance, they still outperform devices running the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the European market. This suggests that Samsung is actively optimizing the S25 Ultra’s performance, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Geekbench listings have also confirmed that the S25 Ultra will launch with Android 15 pre-installed, along with Samsung’s latest One UI 7.1 interface. This new iteration of One UI is expected to bring a host of new features and improvements, including enhanced Galaxy AI capabilities.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy is built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, which, while more expensive than the previous 4nm process, delivers significant performance and efficiency gains. Despite these increased manufacturing costs, rumors suggest that Samsung plans to maintain stable pricing for the S25 series in key markets like Europe and the US.
Finally, whispers point towards a potential launch date of January 22nd for the Galaxy S25 series, with an in-person event rumored to be held in San Jose. This event could also serve as a platform for Samsung to tease other upcoming products, including the Galaxy S25 Slim, Galaxy Ring 2, XR Headset, and Smart Glasses, further solidifying Samsung’s position as a leader in mobile technology and beyond.
In conclusion, the emerging details surrounding Samsung’s upcoming devices paint a picture of innovation and performance. From the potential for premium displays in more affordable foldables to the S25 Ultra’s impressive benchmark scores, Samsung seems poised to deliver a compelling lineup of products that push the boundaries of mobile technology.