Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Tab release date, price and spec rumors
Samsung is doing a great job with its line of foldable smartphones, but we may see another innovation soon. Rumors are circulating that the Korean company may be working on a foldable tablet, possibly dubbed the Galaxy Z Fold Tab.
Here’s all the latest news and leaks related to this potentially groundbreaking product that could finally be a major issue for Apple’s iPad.
When is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Tab release date?
There is no confirmed release date for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Tab as the company has yet to announce that the product will become a reality. We have seen some rumors pointing to the first quarter of 2022, with GizChina being one of the first to pick this date, but it is clear that this did not happen.
It was not announced at all in 2022 and there are no solid signs that it will happen anytime soon, but the source of the leak Yogesh Brar reported that Samsung is working on a “tri-fold” and that it “may finally come out this year.”
If that happens, we estimate we’ll see Samsung go all-in with its foldable products and introduce the Z Fold Tab alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, both likely to launch in August.
How much will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Tab cost?
This is also a mystery at the moment, as we have yet to see a foldable tablet from Samsung. As a rough guide, here’s how much the Galaxy Z Fold smartphones cost:
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold – $1980 / £1900 / €1949
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 – $1999 / £1799 / €1899
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 – $1,799 / £1,599 / €1,799
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – $1,799 / £1,649 / €1,799
The trend is for a steady but slow decline in cost as manufacturing improves, but due to the nature of foldable devices, they will remain expensive for some time to come. Because tablets have even bigger displays, we expect the Fold Tab to cost at least as much as the Z Fold 4, and almost certainly more.
What features will we see in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Tab?
There have been several significant leaks and rumors about the possible design of the new tablet. Although almost nothing is known about the specifications that the new device may contain, the design itself is the more interesting part. LetsGoDigital did an excellent job of finding patent applications from Samsung describing the design of the device and used them (in collaboration with designer Sarang Sheth) to create renderings showing what it might look like.
The main defining feature is that the display can be split into two foldable pieces, allowing Samsung to not only create a tablet that can be carried in your pocket, but also used as a smartphone when folded.
Two folds are located on either side of the main third area of the panel, so the other two thirds fold outward and wrap around the back of the device. There is a small gap between the two folded areas that holds the Samsung S Pen. It also shows a triple camera array, which suggests the device could be more of a smartphone than a tablet.
If the design is the same as on the Galaxy Z Fold Tab, then it will look pretty darn amazing and also create a near-impossible task for case makers. Of course, this could be a variant of the Galaxy Z Fold smartphone that hasn’t been released yet, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Another possibility is that Samsung will take a different approach, as again outlined by LetsGoDigital, which found the patent application.
It’s a simpler design that uses a single fold in the center, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold phones, but with a larger display and a wedge-shaped body that thickens around the hinges. The patent did not include cameras in the display or on the back, so it is possible that they will be considered redundant or added at a later stage in production. The aesthetic is simple, elegant, and likely to be cheaper than the double-fold version described above.
Samsung has already showcased a range of foldable displays at the Society for Information Display (SID) in May 2021. GSMArena reported this with images of several designs, including one with two folds, as seen in the LetsGoDigital renders above. In this version, the OLED display can reach a full 7.2 inches when unfolded, plus it’s closer to the iPad’s 4:3 aspect ratio than the boxy Galaxy Z Folds.
At CES 2022, the company showed off even more concept designs, including the Flex S and Flex G, two device options with multiple fold points. The “S” zigzags when closed, while the two sides of the G fold over each other, which looks like a more advanced version of the double design shown in the patent above.
Between all these designs, it looks like Samsung is biting the bit at the moment. This could mean we could see a few tablets in the next year or so as the Korean giants continue to redefine what you can do with electronics and smart glass.
