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MarchGalaxy Z Fold 4 rumors: No S Pen slot, but a new fingerprint reader may appear
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Patrick Holland/CNET
Samsung's flagship foldable phone, the , is the best foldable from the company that opens into a tablet-size device. Now, as the end of 2021 approaches, why not look ahead and attempt to piece together what might be in store for our foldable smartphone future? Here's our roundup of the most credible Galaxy Fold 4 rumors.
Design: Galaxy Z Fold 4 isn't getting an S Pen slot
There's no doubt in our minds that the Galaxy Fold lineup represents a remarkable showcase of technology and innovation. If you want to check out more on สล็อตเว็บตรง review our own internet site. But there's just one thing: Samsung's top-of-the-line foldable isn't inherently practical like, say, the or even the Galaxy Note series. For example, there was no slot for the S Pen in the Galaxy Fold 3, and based on rumors, there won't be a holder for the S Pen either in its successor. For those who use it, you'll still have to find a way to safely bring along your Samsung stylus.
We're crossing our fingers that the leakers got this one terribly wrong. We'd love to see a holder in the Galaxy Fold 4 or, even better, perhaps see a way to magnetically attach the S Pen to the Fold 3's hinge the same way you can attach an Apple Pencil to an iPad Pro.
The Galaxy Note series was the first Samsung lineup to get an S Pen.
Angela Lang/CNET
Design: Galaxy Fold 4 might rock a double-sided fingerprint reader
Samsung introduced a fingerprint sensor to its foldable phone via the Galaxy Fold 3, where it's located on the right side of the handset. Accessible whether the device is folded shut or opened up, it also doubles as a power button.
However, that fingerprint reader may be on the move, according to Dutch publication , and may be placed under the screen instead. The Dutch publication referred to a patent Samsung filed in March this year to back up the claim, saying the company plans to process the fingerprint reader in such a way that it can be used as a double-sided fingerprint sensor that can be used on the cover screen (when the handset is folded shut), as well as when it's unfurled to a tablet-size device. On the cover screen, it can apparently be used from the center bottom of the display, and when unfolded it'll be on the center bottom of the left screen, the report says.
This is another rumor I hope is inaccurate (unless Samsung drastically improves its tech) since the Galaxy Fold 3's under-display camera was its weakest link, camera-wise. According to a by CNET's Patrick Holland, indoor selfies taken with it looked "highly processed" and even outdoor snaps in good lighting didn't look much better.
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Price: Galaxy Fold 4 might get cheaper
Many of the big-name foldables on the market today are available for closer to $2,000, putting them well beyond the budget of the average shopper. If Samsung and its rivals want their bendy devices to break into the mainstream in a big way, one major thing that'll need to change is the price. And that may be happening, if rumors are accurate.
According to that same Korean leaker, the price of the Galaxy Fold 4 will come down. The leaker didn't provide more details. Going by the Fold lineup's track record, there's a reasonable chance that the Fold 4 won't induce as much sticker shock as some of its predecessors. Although the Fold 3 is the most expensive phone Samsung has released this year, it still got a welcome price drop compared with last year's and the original . The Fold 3 comes in at a starting price of $1,800 in the US, which is a welcome $200 price cut from the Fold 2's launch price. In the UK the Z Fold 3 will start at £1,599 for the 256GB variant, while in Australia it'll start at AU$2,499. The .
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