The Galaxy Z Fold 4 was just launched in August, but rumors about the Galaxy Z Fold 5 have already surfaced. If reports from South Korean news outlet The Elec are true, one of the biggest upgrades to the Z Fold 5 could be the addition of an S Pen slot. It would be a small but important change that could fix one of the Z Fold 4’s shortcomings and cement its place as the successor to the now-extinct Galaxy Note series.
What’s more, making the S Pen a more integral part of the Galaxy Z Fold would further clarify its purpose. While Samsung‘s Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip phones have improved significantly over the past two years, foldable phones feel like a solution to a problem. Seemingly small changes, like adding an S Pen port, could go a long way toward clarifying what the Fold is and is for. That’s especially true because Samsung is positioning the Z Fold as a productivity-oriented device, evidenced by new features like the ability to use the bottom half of the phone as a mini trackpad when folded in half.
The Elec’s report doesn’t directly say the Z Fold 5 will have an S Pen slot, but suggests it’s being seriously considered. According to reports, Samsung said the introduction of the S Pen leather case is a key challenge that needs to be overcome to make foldable phones more popular, while making the phones lighter and minimizing screen creases.
Both the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 3 are compatible with the S Pen, but the stylus must be purchased separately and there is no mechanism for attaching it to the device. Embedding the S Pen could pose a challenge, as it adds thickness to a device that’s already chunkier than the average phone. But in his review, CNET’s Patrick Holland said he hopes the pen will at least magnetically attach to the Z Fold 4 in the same way the Apple Pencil attaches to the iPad.
As The Elec suggests, I hope Samsung solves this conundrum with the Z Fold 5, and not just for convenience. The Galaxy Note debuted in 2011, laying the groundwork for the big-screen phones we carry in our pockets today, and Samsung has similar ambitions for its line of foldable phones.
Even without the fully integrated S Pen, the Galaxy Z Fold increasingly looks like a new incarnation of the Galaxy Note. The Galaxy Note was never for everyone. That’s what the Galaxy S series is for. Instead, Samsung is positioning the Note as an option for those willing to pay more for extra features that aren’t available on most other phones, such as a larger screen, the latest processor and the ability to write notes by hand.
Although the Galaxy Z Fold is four generations old, it’s unclear whether Samsung will stick to the same approach with its book-shaped foldable phone for long. The company showed off new concepts at CES 2022, showing that Samsung has a lot on its mind about the future direction of foldable phones. Samsung’s TM Roh told CNET in August when asked about the upcoming foldable design.
But realizing the future Samsung envisions ultimately starts with improving today’s foldable devices. For now, that means making improvements to the Z Fold and Z Flip — small as they may seem — to give these devices a more defined purpose.