Kerry Wan/ZDNET Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an impressive book-style foldable that tackles many of the long-standing quibbles plaguing the Fold series for years. I spent a weekend with the device, and was floored by how much its reduced weight and thickness made it feel like a standard candy bar phone when folded. The cover screen is wider and more usable, the interior display is larger at eight inches, and the new 200MP camera sensor means imagery isn't a big sacrifice this time around. Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra: Which clamshell foldable wins? As far as it's come, the Fold 7 still has some notable drawbacks, and the rumor mill is already hard at work with compelling reasons why waiting for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 might be the right choice. Samsung itself has referred to the Z Fold 7 as a "trade-off" device, with the loss of S Pen support and stagnant battery capacity. Here are a few reasons why I think the Z Fold 8, when released, will be the ultimate choice. A (truly) crease-free display Jason Howell/ZDNET Foldables have always been plagued by one key downside: a visible and often ugly crease down the middle of the display. Sure, it's improved a lot over the years, but it's never truly gone away. That might change with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, according to respected supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who reports that Samsung's next Fold will use new "laser-drilled" metal plates under the screen to virtually eliminate the crease. They do so, according to the report, by dispersing the stress from folding the display in a way that allows the panel to bend without causing a permanent mark. Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Z Fold 6: I tried both phones, and the difference is dramatic Kuo also reports that Apple is planning to use the same tech in its own unannounced foldable iPhone, currently slated for late 2026. As we know, when Apple does something, the industry follows. Samsung, in this case, couldn't afford to ship a Z Fold 8 with a visible crease against a flawless Apple foldable iPhone display. I've grown to accept the crease as a byproduct of using the latest and greatest technology, but eliminating that crease would be a huge step forward for bringing the foldable form factor even further into acceptance among everyday users. The battery needs an upgrade Jason Howell/ZDNET When it comes to power and charging, the Z Fold series has found itself in a bit of a rut, with battery capacity stagnant at 4,400mAh since the Z Fold 3. Meanwhile, competitors like HONOR's latest Magic V5 and Oppo's Find N series are pushing capacities near the 6000mAh mark by utilizing next-generation silicon-carbon battery technology. Samsung has yet to dip its toes into this water, but its executives have acknowledged that they're working on it. In a briefing during Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung's head of smartphone planning Minseok Kang confirmed Samsung's research efforts and intention of using this battery technology in future phones once the team is satisfied with its reliability. Samsung surely knows its battery capacity is overdue for an upgrade, so it makes sense that we might see this tech come to the Z Fold 8 next year. Also: Samsung just gave its Galaxy foldable phones a big security upgrade - for free Not only that, but the Z Fold's wired charging speed of 25W maximum is much slower than what most flagships offer, taking around 90 minutes to charge from zero to full. The Magic V5 supports up to 66W fast charge, and the Oppo Find N pushes that to the 80W range. Yes, these are Chinese foldables which often push the boundaries compared to the US market, but even the recently-launched Moto Razr Ultra offers up to 68W of fast charge, capable of a full charge in around 40 minutes. The Z Fold 8 has a lot of room to grow in this area, and it's due time to do so. So we meet again, S Pen Kerry Wan/ZDNET One change that caught a lot of attention with the Z Fold 7 is the removal of Samsung's S Pen. In the company's pursuit of a lighter, thinner foldable, it removed the active digitizer layer needed to integrate the active stylus into the experience. Power users who have grown to love the S Pen are a vocal minority that Samsung has been cultivating for years, so it's unlikely that the company wants to abandon them altogether. Also: 5 Android phones you should consider buying instead of the Samsung Z Fold 7 The good news is that Samsung has already hinted at a return of the S Pen to a future Z Fold. Kang shared that Samsung is "researching and developing thinner and innovative technologies for the S Pen" as the company reconsiders a return of the capability for future models. Perhaps Samsung could develop a thinner digitizer, a new S Pen design, or even an integrated slot (one can dream) with the Fold 8. Samsung acknowledges the public backlash, and that could lead to the return of a true differentiator in the foldables market. Next-gen performance on a 2nm chip Jason Howell/ZDNET The Z Fold 7 already packs Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite series chip with a special overclocked "for Galaxy" variant, but the Fold 8 might take an even bigger step up in performance and efficiency with an expected shift to a 2nm manufacturing process. Reports out of Korea share that Qualcomm is partnering with Samsung Foundry to produce a specialized "for Galaxy" variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 on Samsung's 2nm mode. The plan is that by late 2025 or early 2026, Samsung's chip fabs will be ready to turn around those 2nm chips, which is plenty of time to have them appear with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 later in the year. Also: Why I recommend this $280 Android phone over cheap models from Samsung and Google These would be some of the first smartphones to be built on 2nm technology, bringing big performance and power upgrades while also generating less heat. Considering the Z Fold's pursuit of slimness, this heat reduction would be a welcome byproduct. This upgrade would easily outclass the current Fold 7 chip, built on a 3nm process, but also give Samsung a serious leg up compared to rivals, possibly even including an Apple iPhone foldable. Final thoughts The Galaxy Z Fold 7 proves Samsung is capable of shipping a foldable that feels like an everyday phone. I have a lot of respect for Samsung's continued iteration on this concept, and they continue to deliver the most polished book-style foldable available to the widest worldwide audience. However, evidence suggests that some incredible breakthroughs could await those who wait just a little bit longer for the next update to the series. As for me, I'll be watching closely. Follow my latest tech reviews and projects across social media. You'll find me on YouTube at YouTube.com/@JasonHowell, on X (formerly Twitter) at @JasonHowell, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/thatjasonhowell.