While Samsung may be preparing for the upcoming release of the Galaxy Z Fold 3, the company appears to have plans for a new foldable in 2022.
Twitter tipster Yogesh informed GizmoChina that the tripling design previously leaked by Samsung could appear as a foldable tablet. Set for launch in Q1 2022, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Tab will have S Pen support and will come with the same hardened UTG (ultra-thin glass) that will be launched on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.
These are the only details Yogesh has at the moment, but the tipster says that Samsung could offer a teaser of the device at the launch of Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3. It seems that this is still under internal debate at Samsung.
It’s not the first time we’ve heard of Samsung’s plans for a foldable tablet. Earlier this month, a patent was discovered for a more conventional design of flip tablets, which Samsung may decide is more practical in the end.
Meanwhile, Apple is about to launch the iPad Pro 2021, which is expected to use a design similar to the existing model, while adding an improved mini-LED display and a faster A-series chip built on Apple Silicon. It looks like Apple is working on a foldable iPhone Flip phone, but I haven’t heard any rumors about a foldable iPad.
Samsung’s foldable cannibalization dilemma
Regardless of the design that wins, it looks like you can think of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Tab as the equivalent of the Galaxy Z Flip tablet – a device that folds for easy portability, rather than being used in a whole new way, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 2. After all, there is no indication that the Galaxy Z Fold Tab will have an external display for use when closed. If it existed, this would make it barely differentiated from the existing Galaxy Z Fold line, unless it would be significantly larger when opened.
If it is correct, then the question of millions of dollars is whether there is a market for it. In my opinion, this comes down to two things: how much people actually travel with tablets and how expensive the Galaxy Z Fold Tab becomes when it will be unveiled next year.
Up to the first point, if people use most of their tablets around the house, then being able to dramatically reduce their size is simply not so useful. The imprint of a tablet really becomes a problem only if you usually throw it in your bag when you commute or travel. If this describes you, the less space it takes up, the better, especially if the screen is no longer exposed to scratches due to folding.
Then there is the issue of price. Samsung foldables have not been exactly cheap so far, Galaxy Z Flip 5G starting at 1,449 USD and Z Fold 2 starting at 1,999 USD. While a foldable tablet will not need the same internal cellular elements (although an LTE model would almost certainly be available), the screen is the expensive part of the foldables and some tablet proportions would have more display.
If the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Tab is approaching or even breaking the four-digit mark, then it really becomes a very tough sale. If the Galaxy Z Fold 3 offers both a tablet and a phone for $ 1,999, then why would anyone feel the need to buy a tablet and a foldable phone separately?
There are a lot of strangers here and it would be very surprising if Samsung did not face the same questions internally. Given that we are not looking at a product that will be released this year, it is possible that the technology will start to become more accessible before the Galaxy Z Fold Tab is ready for the show.
Samsung clearly believes that the future is in the fold. The success or otherwise of the Galaxy Z Fold will help a lot to show if the market agrees or not.