Samsung's Z Fold 7 And New Tri-Fold Could Get Slimmer Using Upgraded Titanium Hinges

Contents

Summary

Buyers may not be extremely excited about slimmer slab phones, but foldables could seriously benefit from more convenient form factors.
Samsung is upgrading hinge technology on its top two foldables with lightweight titanium for rigidity and compact designs.
The upcoming Z Flip 7 will still use steel inside the hinge, and high-end Armor Aluminum will continue to cover the outside of Galaxy foldables.

Consumers aren’t outwardly clamoring for ultra-slim slab phones like the Galaxy S25 Edge (although it is an impressive engineering feat). When it comes to thinness, cutting-edge folding phones are where demanding users want to see progress. And while the rise of increasingly low-profile handsets could well correspond to more capable, affordable foldables, Samsung is still working hard to directly improve its top-of-the-line folders’ form factors.

Or, two of them, at least. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and upcoming tri-fold model — rumored as the Galaxy G Fold — are in line to receive re-engineered hinges built around strong, lightweight titanium (Source: TheElec via 9to5Google). The leaked news comes from a Korean outlet known for insider tips on the hottest Galaxy devices. TheElec also indicates that this year’s Z Flip 7 will retain the stainless-steel hinge backplate from previous Z Flip models.

Some Galaxy S25 devices next to some Galaxy Fold 7 devices, with a discount tag in the center.

Thinner, lighter, and slimmer

Ideally, without sacrificing durability

The Galaxy Z Fold and Z Fold 2 used a stainless-steel backplate (denoted “SUS” or “Steel Use Stainless” in the Japanese steel grading system). After discovering the material interfered with stylus recognition, it switched to a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic formulation for the next four generations of Galaxy tablet-style foldables.

Now, it’s moving to improve hinge durability while ensuring its top-of-the-line foldables stay as slim as possible. Instead of the CFRP material that provided structural integrity to the Z Fold 6’s hinge, the leading Android manufacturer is tapping lightweight titanium to deliver comparable strength to the previous, steel backplate. Both the Z Fold 7 and much-talked-about (but not officially announced) tri-fold phone will get the advanced material. Meanwhile, Samsung is working on stylus technology that operates without a digitizer, although that won’t make it to this year’s round of foldables.

The Z Flip series has never supported stylus use, and won’t start doing so in its seventh generation. The Z Flip 7 and Z Flip FE hinges will continue to use steel internally. All Galaxy foldables, however, appear set to retain the premium Armor Aluminum hinge cover and frame material.