Information about Samsung Electronics’ upcoming foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and its sibling model, the Galaxy Z Wide Fold, which are due to be unveiled this summer, continues to leak.
The focus of the changes is the front selfie cutout. The black dot occupying one side of the screen is shrinking to the point where it is barely noticeable. That means Samsung is taking another step toward solving the industry’s long-standing challenge of a “cutout-free” display.
Overseas media outlet PhoneArena recently reported, citing leaks from IT tipster Ice Universe, that the cover-display selfie hole on the Fold 8 will be reduced to 2.5 mm. Compared with the 3.7 mm hole on the previous Fold 7, the diameter has been cut by about one-third.
This is not a minor adjustment such as pixel correction or trimming the bezel. It is being interpreted as the result of a complete redesign of the lens module itself. It is a sign that the market leader, which must defend its top spot, is beginning to obsess over the details.
The significance of 2.5 mm goes beyond numbers. It is close to the point at which the visual obstruction users unconsciously perceive while looking at the screen disappears.
Notebookcheck pointed out that if the same technology is applied to the 8-inch internal display, the sense of visual interruption would almost disappear. However, whether the internal screen size will change has not yet been confirmed.
◆ Wide Fold: same components, different aspect ratio
Based on leaked renderings, the front design has become more cohesive as the camera hole has shrunk. The standard Fold 8 and the larger Wide Fold are likely to share core components, differing only in screen ratio and form factor.
For consumers, this is meaningful. They will not need to worry about camera performance differences and can simply choose the screen size that fits their usage pattern. If you mainly watch videos and multitask, the Wide Fold makes sense; if portability and one-handed use are more important, the Fold 8 would be the better choice.
A component-sharing strategy is also rational from a manufacturing-cost perspective. Foldables have more parts and lower yields than conventional smartphones, so costs rise as the lineup expands. Standardizing core modules would help maintain production efficiency even while operating two models at once.
Additional leaks reported by GSM Arena in March also included the Fold 8’s specifications. It is said to feature an 8-inch foldable display and a 6.5-inch cover display, both supporting a 120Hz refresh rate. The chipset will be the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 customized for Galaxy devices.
The rear camera setup is said to consist of three lenses: a 200-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera. The battery is 5,000mAh, and 45W wired charging is supported. It was also emphasized that the device will be thinner and lighter than its predecessor.
◆ Huawei made the first move
The reason Samsung is drawing so much attention in the industry is that a competing product has already entered the market. Last month on the 20th, Huawei officially launched the Pura X Max in China. It is the first mass-produced foldable to adopt a horizontal wide form factor.
The Pura X Max has a 7.7-inch internal display and a 5.5-inch cover screen. Its nearly 2:1 ratio transforms it into something like a small tablet when unfolded. Huawei has highlighted the natural viewing of horizontal video and multitasking as its main strengths. The price starts at 10,999 yuan, or about 2.15 million won, for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model.
That lines up exactly with Samsung’s planned Wide Fold. Android Authority analyzed that the Wide Fold’s 7.6-inch internal screen and 5.4-inch cover screen are almost identical to the Pura X Max’s specifications. The fact that the two companies are releasing similar form factors at roughly the same time is no coincidence. It shows that the foldable market is entering a turning point from vertical designs to horizontal ones.
The issue is speed. With Huawei having planted its flag first, Samsung has little choice but to differentiate with details such as a smaller camera hole. The camera-hole size of Huawei’s Pura X Max has not been disclosed.
◆ Why Apple is one year behind
How is Apple moving? According to MacRumors, Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone this fall alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. It is said to feature a book-style design with a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display. The price is expected to exceed $2,000.
What stands out is Apple’s attempt to use a 24-megapixel under-display camera on the internal screen of the foldable iPhone, according to information cited in a JP Morgan report. Considering that existing Android foldables’ under-display cameras have been limited to 4 megapixels or 8 megapixels, this would be a major step forward.
The real battle comes after that. MacRumors, citing information from Digital Chat Station, reported that Apple is preparing a full-screen model for 2027, the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, in which even the front-display camera will be completely hidden under the display. The goal is a seamless slab of glass with no visible hole.
However, analysis by GadgetHacks suggests some cracks in Apple’s timeline. There is speculation that Face ID sensors buried under the display may be omitted from the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple would then have to solve both camera concealment and biometric authentication concealment within 18 months.
◆ The paths have diverged
Samsung Electronics and Apple are pursuing the same goal by different routes. Apple has chosen the straightforward approach of hiding the camera entirely beneath the screen.
That fully eliminates visual obstruction, but it creates an inherent problem: light must pass through the screen to reach the sensor, which can reduce image quality. Optical transmittance and image-processing algorithms are the key variables.
Samsung is taking a different approach. It is moving toward physically shrinking the lens module itself. Reports say the new method uses advanced display-integration technology and places parts of a more efficient driving circuit beneath the active area.
The aim is to maintain camera quality at the level of the existing punch-hole camera while minimizing the visual distraction. It cannot eliminate obstruction completely, but it can reduce it to a barely noticeable level without sacrificing image quality.
The intersection of the two approaches ultimately comes down to user experience. At 2.5 mm, the hole is close to the limit of human visual perception. At the distance people normally view a screen, it is difficult to spot unless you consciously look for it. Even if Apple’s under-display camera appears in 2027, Samsung’s smaller punch-hole could still hold the practical advantage if image quality is compromised.
The millimeter-by-millimeter competition over foldable camera holes is not just a design dispute. It is a turning point that will determine which display technology becomes the market standard. When the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is unveiled this summer, the fate of that black dot will also come into focus.