Ryan Haines / Android Authority
During its quarterly earnings conference call last week, Samsung teased a bunch of changes, better chips, more AI innovation, and upgraded cameras to keep its shareholders happy. Among those pledges was a focus on how well the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has been doing in terms of sales and public reception, and a vague promise to keep innovating within the foldable lineup and “provide new experiences.”
I’m sure Samsung is subtly hinting at its upcoming Galaxy Z TriFold with its impressive tablet-and-phone design, but I do hope the allure of a hot new form factor doesn’t let the Korean giant forget about its existing Fold line-up. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has already impressed us, but it still needs two major upgrades next year, and I don’t think Samsung should rest on its laurels or skip them.
What would you like to see in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 next year? 9 votes Proper Qi2 with magnets. 33 % Better dust resistance with an IP68 rating. 22 % Something else (tell us in the comments) 33 % I don't know / The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is great as is. 11 %
None of that Qi2-ready wordplay, we need built-in Qi2 with magnets
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
Google has already shown the way for every Android manufacturer out there: You can add proper Qi2 compatibility to a phone with the required magnets, and without sacrificing anything in terms of thickness and weight. This year’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold is only 0.1mm thicker than last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and only 1g heavier. It’s such a minuscule, imperceptible compromise versus the added benefit of having everything required for Qi2 built into the phone.
Samsung can and should adopt this same approach with its flagship devices next year. If you’re paying $2000 or so on a Galaxy Z Fold 8 in 2026, you don’t want it to be missing a feature that’s already available in a Pixel 10 Pro Fold in 2025. That would feel very regressive.
If you pay $2000 for a Galaxy Z Fold 8 in 2026, you don't want it to miss a feature that's already available on a Pixel 10 Pro Fold in 2025.
And yes, you and I both know that cases with magnets exist, but as I’ve already argued multiple times, it’s not the same thing. For one, everyone gets a larger choice of magnet-compatible cases when the phone itself has magnets. It would no longer be an extra that only a few case brands will offer, but the norm. This would also influence the public perception around the phone: A model that becomes magnet-compatible with a “hack” only a few knowledgeable users follow is not the same as one that comes with the magnets built in, out of the box. Companies that make wireless chargers, stands, and other accessories would start marketing more products for it, and potentially make specialized models just to fit its foldable form factor. For example, Google has specifically designed and weighed the Pixelsnap Charger with Stand so that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold can balance on it with the screen open. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 deserves similar treatment for its accessories; a simple no-magnet Qi2-ready build won’t push companies to go the extra mile.
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