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Having spent a few days with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, I can easily say that it's Samsung's most polished clamshell foldable to date. The expanded cover screen finally feels complete, DeX support is an incredible bonus on such a tiny footprint, and its battery life got a solid bump up.
But while the Z Flip 7 closes the gap with rivals like the Moto Razr Ultra, it's worth looking ahead to what next year's Z Flip 8 might bring. Apple reportedly has plans to bring its flavor of foldable iPhone to market in 2026 as well, giving Samsung even more motivation to deliver.
Also: I spent a week with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, and it's an even bigger leap than expected
That's why, even with the Flip 7 hitting so many marks, upgrading in 2026 could make sense, too. Here's why next year's Z Flip 8 could be worth the wait.
Battery tech could get a facelift
Jason Howell/ZDNET
The Z Flip 7 has increased battery capacity over the previous generation from 4,000mAh to 4,300mAh. That's not a small increase, but it's not quite what we've come to expect from flagship devices either. Thankfully, Samsung has given some clues in recent months that show it is actively exploring new types of battery technologies that could arrive in next year's foldables.
Several smartphones have hit the market in the past year with silicon-carbon battery technology that delivers better energy density and longevity compared to standard lithium-ion batteries. A rumor from FNNews, a Korean news site, points to multiple sources predicting that silicon-carbon batteries could arrive on Samsung's flagships starting with the S26 series.
Also: Forget Samsung Z Fold 7: Why this Galaxy model is on my watchlist going into next year
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