Samsung has just unveiled its highly anticipated Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, featuring a slimmer profile and a hefty price tag of $2000. Positioned as a more elegant alternative to its thicker sibling, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, this limited release is already turning heads with its sleek design and top-tier specs.
A Slimmer and Tougher Foldable
The standout feature of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is its incredibly slim design. When closed, the device measures just 10.6mm, and when opened, it's a mere 4.9mm thin, making it one of Samsung’s thinnest foldables yet. Although some Chinese foldable phones have surpassed this in slimness, Samsung’s Z Fold SE holds its own in durability. With an Armor Aluminum frame, water resistance, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the device is built to last, even if it sacrifices a bit of elegance compared to competitors like the Honor Magic V3.
The device weighs 236 grams, maintaining a balance between durability and portability. However, unlike its sibling, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Z Fold SE lacks S Pen support to keep the device slim and lightweight, a trade-off that some users may miss.
Display and Design
Samsung didn’t just focus on making the Galaxy Z Fold SE thinner; they also enhanced the display. The foldable features a massive 7.99-inch main display with a QXGA+ resolution of 2184 x 1968 pixels and a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. With a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, this is Samsung’s brightest foldable screen yet. The cover display is also impressive, coming in at 6.5 inches with an FHD+ resolution (2520 x 1080 pixels), though it’s unclear if it supports a high refresh rate like the main display.
The Z Fold Special Edition is only available in a striking Black Shadow color with a metallic finish, offering a clean, minimalist look that adds to its premium feel.
Powerful Camera Setup
One of the Z Fold SE’s most remarkable upgrades is its camera system. Samsung equipped the device with a 200MP main camera, complemented by a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto lens. It supports 3x optical zoom, adaptive pixel sensors for 2x optical zoom, and up to 30x digital zoom, setting it apart from the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which has a less powerful camera setup. The device also includes a 10MP selfie camera on the cover screen and a 4MP under-display camera on the main screen.
While the camera specs are impressive, they still don’t match the advanced periscope zoom lenses found on competing foldables from Chinese manufacturers or Google.
Performance and Battery
Samsung hasn’t revealed all the details about the processor powering the Z Fold SE, but it's expected to be the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip used in the Z Fold 6. The octa-core processor offers a solid mix of power and efficiency with clock speeds of 3.39GHz, 3.1GHz, 2.9GHz, and 2.2GHz.
The battery capacity, however, is a bit of a letdown. The Z Fold SE comes with a 4,272 mAh battery, which is smaller than many of its Chinese competitors. While it should be enough to power the device through a day of moderate use, heavy users may find themselves reaching for a charger more often.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is priced at approximately $2020, making it one of Samsung’s most expensive foldables yet. In Korea, it costs around $500 more than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, even though both devices feature 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
For those seeking a thinner foldable with a top-tier camera system, the Galaxy Z Fold SE offers a compelling option—if you're willing to pay the premium price. However, users may still find better value in the Z Fold 6 or other foldable alternatives, especially given the absence of S Pen support and smaller battery capacity.
Conclusion
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition brings a slimmer design, improved durability, and a 200MP camera at a premium price. While the device lacks some features like S Pen support and packs a smaller battery, it shines with its stunning display and advanced camera setup. If you’re a fan of Samsung’s foldables and want something sleeker, the Z Fold Special Edition could be worth considering.
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