Don't obsess over the crease, Samsung—the Galaxy Z Fold 9 will be a hit anyway

Tech innovation isn't dead. Ironically, the company that proved it is… the same one that used the same 5,000 mAh capacity battery for seven consecutive years in its most expensive, most important smartphone (the Galaxy S Ultra).

Samsung certainly takes flack for not pushing the envelope with hardware specs (at least not when compared with Chinese rivals that are already crossing the 10,000 mAh mark). But two weeks ago, Samsung struck gold with the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 family.

Of the three new foldables, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8—the new, passport-looking device—is the most popular and draws in pre-orders like crazy. The "traditional" Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 are distant second in terms of sheer pre-order numbers, but are fine phones nevertheless.

Pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra at $1,200 off

$899 ⁹⁹

$2099 ⁹⁹

$1200 off (57%)

Trade in an eligible device and save up to $1,200 on the new foldable phone from Samsung. With its refined design and large cover screen, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is a top pick for foldable phone fans. You also get a $30 reservation gift and a $200 Samsung credit if you don't trade in a device.

Pre-order at Samsung

Pre-order the Galaxy Z Flip 8 for up to $600 off

$599 ⁹⁹

$1199 ⁹⁹

$600 off (50%)

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is now available at the official store. It features an improved build and offers a fantastic foldable experience. Pre-order yours and save up to $600 at Samsung with a trade-in. Alternatively, you can get the phone with a $200 Samsung credit, no trade-in required.

Pre-order at Samsung

What the future holds

I've stumbled upon the news that Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 9 could change something we thought was already solved. Namely, it's the crease that the South Korean maker will focus heavily on for the next generation of foldables next year.

As the information goes, the Galaxy Z Fold 9 models could take advantage of something called Called CTG (center-etched thin glass) or Hybrid UTG (ultra-thin glass). This would thin the central folding portion of the inner screen's cover glass. By thinning only this middle section while leaving the surrounding display thicker, the screen would fold easier without sacrificing structural strength or durability.

Nice touch, but…

If you ask me, this is one of those cases where the industry risks optimizing for a problem that most buyers have already accepted as "good enough, let's move on".

I've been following the reaction to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 since launch, and I don't see people obsessing over the crease. Sure, reviewers mention it because it's part of the job, but regular buyers? They seem much more interested in the new passport-like form factor, the slimmer body and the fact that Samsung finally made the Fold feel like a foldable worth their money.

The pre-order numbers don't explode because the phone now comes a fraction of a millimeter thinner. They explode because the product itself feels fresh and it looks different.



Which is why I think Samsung should be careful not to misread the success of the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Yes, by all means, do continue to improve the display technology. A shallower crease is objectively better than a deeper one. If Hybrid UTG or CTG glass can make the folding experience feel even more seamless without compromising durability, then great. Nobody is going to complain about getting a better screen.

But if I had to choose where Samsung spends its engineering budget, the crease wouldn't be at the top of my list.

I'd much rather see the company find a way to keep the Galaxy Z Fold 9 below the psychologically important $1,900 mark while squeezing out another couple of hours of battery life. Or maybe fit a larger battery, or improve sustained performance under heavy workloads. Or, you know, a potent camera system would be nice.

Adapting to it

Modern-day foldables have reached a point where their creases are no longer the distracting features they were three or four years ago. Unless you're actively hunting for it under bright lighting with the display turned off, it quickly fades into the background during normal use.

There's also another reason I'm not convinced this should become the industry's next battleground.

Take the Oppo Find N6, for example. In a recent comparison, its crease actually appeared shallower than the one on Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. That's an impressive technical achievement, and Oppo deserves credit for it (even though we don't know the exact details of how the experiment was conducted in the first place).

Yet I don't see consumers lining up around the block because of that. The Find N6 hasn't generated anywhere near the excitement surrounding Samsung's latest Fold lineup.

It's often the case that people buy the whole package—not a single specification.

The same logic applies to Apple's rumored foldable iPhone Ultra. Virtually every leak says Apple is determined to ship a foldable with an almost invisible crease. If that turns out to be true, it'll make for fantastic marketing and plenty of dramatic close-up photos.

If Apple's first foldable ends up suffering from the typical first-generation compromises like pathetic battery life, thermal limitations, durability concerns or software that still needs another year to mature—an almost invisible crease won't magically make it the better device.

Six-month unlimited plan is now 57% off

$90

$210

$120 off (57%)

Mint Mobile is now allowing you to get whichever plan you like for either three, six, or 12 months for just $15/mo. If you go for the six-month unlimited service, for instance, you'll now have to pay just $90 upfront instead of $210.

Buy at Mint Mobile