{"id":710324,"date":"2026-07-25T10:13:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T10:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/710324\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T10:13:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T10:13:38","slug":"galaxy-z-fold-8-interview-samsung-on-silicon-carbon-batteries-the-possible-s-pen-return-and-the-iphone-ultra-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/710324\/","title":{"rendered":"Galaxy Z Fold 8 interview: Samsung on silicon carbon batteries, the (possible) S Pen return and the iPhone Ultra threat"},"content":{"rendered":"

By all accounts Samsung should be nervous. After literally inventing the foldable phone 7 years ago and steadily evolving the category, it looks like Apple is going to try to swoop in and steal its thunder this fall with the launch of the iPhone Ultra<\/a> (aka iPhone Fold).<\/p>\n

But if you ask Samsung\u2019s Jay Kim \u2014 the executive vice president overseeing the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 series launch \u2014 about this imminent threat, he exudes a quiet confidence.<\/p>\n

Samsung Isn\u2019t Afraid of the Foldable iPhone | Fold 8 Interview with EVP Jay Kim – YouTube
\n\"Samsung<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf our big market player is coming into the market\u2026 then it proves that what I have been thinking and envisioning \u2014 and how much effort that we put it in \u2014 is actually the right direction,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n

Samsung is so bullish that it\u2019s broadening its portfolio to three foldable phones this year: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra<\/a>, the Galaxy Z Flip 8<\/a> and the brand new Galaxy Z Fold 8<\/a>, complete with a squat and wide design that looks a lot like what Apple is reportedly cooking up.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Mark\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Ahead of Samsung Galaxy Unpacked I sat down with Kim alongside Lance Ulanoff at TechRadar for a wide-ranging interview on the new foldable lineup, the upcoming competition, and what it\u2019s going to take for this category to \u201csucceed.\u201d<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

Galaxy Z Fold 8: Why Go Wide?<\/p>\n

The regular Fold 8 is easily the most intriguing new Samsung device because it\u2019s the first time the company has launched a wide form factor.<\/p>\n

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a 5.5-inch cover display with a 10:16 aspect ratio and a 7.6-inch inner screen with a 4:3 ratio. And there\u2019s a reason for going wide: it\u2019s how people prefer to view content.<\/p>\n

Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Galaxy\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we looked at our consumer insights on how people react to the products, almost 50% are focused on media, whether on the outside or the inside main screen,\u201d said Kim.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Galaxy\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

Typing on the external display of the Fold 8 is way more comfortable versus the narrower Z Fold 8 Ultra, and when watching videos on the main screen the black bars above and below the panel are much smaller than before.<\/p>\n

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\"Galaxy\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

The other factor for Kim and the rest of the team was pocketability. So they sought to create a Goldilocks phone that combines the multitasking chops of the previous Folds with the compact design of the Flip.<\/p>\n

What to read next<\/p>\n

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\"Mark\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Flip is sleek, thin and light, and our customers want both sides of that world. So we said why not?\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n

The result is a phone that\u2019s the lightest Fold yet at just 201 grams and in a shape that\u2019s nearly identical to a passport.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Galaxy\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe studied it a lot,\u201d Kim shared. \u201cWe put together the form factor where media makes the most sense for the content native without compromising anything on the bar type [phone experience].\u201d<\/p>\n

Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Z Fold 8 Ultra: Who should get what?<\/p>\n

Despite its name, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is not a direct successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It\u2019s a completely new model. The sequel is actually the Z Fold 8 Ultra, which compelled me to ask why Samsung settled on this naming scheme and whether it could confuse shoppers.<\/p>\n

“Going with titanium was not just to make it thinner,\u201d Kim said. \u201cit actually helps you be durable and stable in the way you fold and unfold.”<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ultra is the highest, most premium, most advanced product,\u201d Kim said. \u201cWe see a lot of Ultra consumers coming over to the Fold, asking for similar performance and cameras, so we put a lot of effort to match that capability.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\"Galaxy\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

So why not call the Z Fold 8 the Fold Wide as was rumored? For Kim, Samsung wasn\u2019t trying to create something new, but the new baseline standard for the Fold experience. \u201cI think this is more of the essence of the Fold,\u201d Kim said while pointing to the Fold 8.<\/p>\n

With its bigger 8-inch display, bigger battery and triple-camera setup, the Fold 8 Ultra is more for productivity while the regular Fold 8 (wider displays, dual cameras) is more for content consumption.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Mark\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The Z Fold 8 Ultra also gets some pretty major upgrades, including a new 50MP wide camera, an even thinner design (4.1 mm) that\u2019s easier to open and a display that has virtually no crease, thanks in large part to the addition of Flex Titanium technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing with titanium was not just to make it thinner,\u201d Kim said. \u201cit actually helps you be durable and stable in the way you fold and unfold, so it’s a combination of a lot of things coming together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is the S Pen coming back?<\/p>\n

The last Samsung foldable to feature the S Pen was the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but the company removed the digitizer in order to achieve a thinner design. It\u2019s not coming back for the Fold 8 either, but Samsung isn\u2019t closing the door on this feature.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Samsung\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

When asked if Samsung would consider bringing back the S Pen, even if it means going from 4.1mm thick to 4.2mm, Kim said \u201cwe\u2019ll definitely consider your suggestion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn order to focus on S Pen we have to make trade-offs. In order to put in (a digitizer) you have to sacrifice thinness or different aspects. But I think we wanted to address the most important feedback we got from the market.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since this interview we have heard from another Samsung executive that confirmed that the company is open to bringing back the S Pen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The (cautious) jump to silicon carbon batteries <\/p>\n

\n

\"Galaxy\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

While Chinese phone makers have been pushing out devices with ultra-high capacity silicon carbon batteries for well over a year, Samsung has been sitting on the sidelines. And that\u2019s understandable given the safety concerns around embracing any new battery technology.<\/p>\n

With its new foldable lineup, however, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8 make the jump to silicon carbon<\/a>, delivering more capacity while keeping the designs super slim.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been testing silicon batteries for quite some time. We\u2019re looking at being very \u2014 I wouldn\u2019t say conservative \u2014 but more taking it one step at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra gets a 5,000 mAh silicon carbon battery (up from 4,400 on the Fold 7). And the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 4,800 mAh battery.<\/p>\n

While silicon carbon does enable much higher capacity batteries, there have been some concerns around battery swelling and shorter overall lifecycles.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Galaxy\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been testing the silicon batteries for quite some time,\u201d Kim admitted. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at being very \u2014 I wouldn\u2019t say conservative \u2014 but more taking it one step at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reason why Samsung is embracing silicon battery tech for foldables first is because you can\u2019t simply put in a larger Li-ion battery, as it would balloon the designs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re doing a lot of testing and experimentation into how you make the product thin and light, and yet not push too much into the experimental stage,\u201d Kim said.\u201d \u201cWe have to be very confident that it\u2019s durable and stable, and it has to be scalable.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Apple foldable threat<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Apple is famously late to lots of categories, and it looks like we\u2019ll be able to add foldable phones to that list later this year.<\/p>\n

And even though this will be Apple\u2019s very first stab at a foldable, they\u2019ve had the luxury of studying the market for years and biding their time to introduce something they believe shoppers will want.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s hard to comment because I don\u2019t know what (Apple is) coming up with, but I\u2019m very confident that our product will be one that consumers will appreciate.”<\/p>\n

Analysts seem pretty high on Apple\u2019s chances, with IDC predicting 22% worldwide market share in the first year and Counterpoint research projecting a whopping 48% share in North America<\/a>. So I asked Kim about these numbers and what he thinks about the arrival of the iPhone Fold\/Ultra.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to comment because I don\u2019t know what they\u2019re coming up with,\u201d Kim said, \u201cbut I\u2019m very confident that our product will be one that consumers will appreciate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\"Samsung\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: John Velasco \/ Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

Of course, Samsung itself has been studying foldables for a long time, and they have a lot of market data. \u201cOur consumers are already using the product every day in the market,\u201d Kim emphasized.<\/p>\n

Kim also noted that 30% of consumers are \u201ccoming back to foldables.\u201d So it could be someone who owned a foldable, then went to an S Series device, and then has returned to a Fold or Flip because the devices keep getting better.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Samsung\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

Kim was also keen to subtly point out that Apple will likely only have a single foldable phone this fall while Samsung offers more choice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe market is actually moving pretty fast, and there’s a lot of different needs, and we’re trying to adapt to that,\u201d Kim said. \u201cConsumers should not be adopting a single size. We should be providing options.\u201d<\/p>\n

When will foldables truly be \u2018successful\u2019?<\/p>\n

As we wound down our conversation with Jay Kim, my colleague Lance asked a pretty poignant question: \u201cWhen do you consider the foldable category a success?\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\"Mark\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

But instead of just launching into his answer, Kim turned the question on us. \u201cDo we see [foldables] as a success?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lance said yes from an engineering standpoint but not from a marketing one because foldables are still a tiny slice of the overall market (about 4%).<\/p>\n

I said I saw things as a dichotomy. People who have purchased devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 would call the category a success because they can enjoy the foldable experience without the usual penalties like a bulky design. But I also said success could look like 10% of the market, so 1 out of every 10 phones sold overall.<\/p>\n

Kim told us that we could be \u201con the verge of foldables going mainstream\u201d And it has a lot to do with Samsung making a bet on a totally new model in the Galaxy Z Fold 8.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had these two form factors for a long time, Kim said. \u201cIntroducing another one is a bold move because it shows that we\u2019re pretty confident in the category and how the market is going to react to it. I\u2019m more excited about what\u2019s to come.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By all accounts Samsung should be nervous. After literally inventing the foldable phone 7 years ago and steadily…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":710325,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[2306,86,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-710324","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-mobile","tag-technology","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=710324"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710324\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/710325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=710324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=710324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=710324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}