The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is looking like Samsung’s first big swing at a foldable redesign in years, but that doesn’t mean everything compared to last generation is changing.
A new leak from @PandaFlashPro on Twitter keeps it blunt: the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is sticking to its IP48 rating, despite rumors that the competition is about to get a whole lot more dustproof. That might feel extra disappointing to fans of Samsung’s foldables, considering this generation seemed like a massive step forward for the company’s smartphone ambitions.
IP48-certification isn’t necessarily anything to shake your head at — it wasn’t all too long ago that the dream of a water-resistant foldable seemed years away, and yet, these days, most modern foldables are just as protected from a dip in the pool as their non-folding counterparts. That said, this case feels particularly frustrating, and not just because Google is rumored to be on the precipice of delivering our first truly dust-resistant folding phone in August. Early rumors pegged the Galaxy Z Fold and Flip 7 as both receiving real protection from dust particles, only for that hope to fizzle out as we’ve grown closer to launch.
Still, it seems obvious that dust-resistance is coming for foldables sooner rather than later. It was only a year ago that Samsung elevated the Fold 6 and Flip 6 up to an IP48 rating; prior to that generation, the company focused on shipping devices with IPX8 certification. If Google does deliver complete protection from particles with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, don’t be surprised if next year’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 follows suit.
We’re still expecting the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to be a pretty massive leap over its predecessor, keeping the same core look while expanding both displays to larger sizes and fitting into a significantly slimmer chassis. Either way, we won’t have to wait too much longer to find out official details, as Samsung takes the stage for Unpacked next Wednesday, July 9th.
Samsung has reservations open now for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, with a $50 credit when you pre-order and up to $1,150+ in savings. Reservations are free, and there’s no obligation to actually buy a device if you sign up, but there’s no other time you can get that $50 credit (which can go towards Galaxy Watch 8), 3x reward points, and other perks.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments