While some phone makers are giving up on clamshells due to low margins and overheating problems, Samsung will double down with both a cheaper, and a more expensive Flip versions in 2025.
Galaxy Z Flip FE specs may include Exynos 2500
Since Samsung already developed the Z Fold Special Edition, it might as well use it as a base for the Z Fold 7 next year, what with the larger screen and the more elegant body. The Z Flip 7 will also have a bigger display, perhaps achieved by shrinking the bezels, which leaves the Z Flip FE to be something close to the fat Z Flip 6 in terms of design, but with a newer, faster processor.
Samsung has been rumored to put either its homebrew Exynos 2500 or MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 9400 in the S25 series to lower their cost compared to using the pricey Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4) chip, but it couldn’t secure enough yield, so it reportedly postponed these plans for its 2025 foldables like the Flip FE. According to one Samsung official who wanted to remain anonymous:
We will begin mass production of the Exynos 2500 next year. It will be difficult to install it in the Galaxy S25 because sufficient quantity has not been secured, but it will be possible for the 7th generation foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip FE, which are scheduled to be released in the second half of next year.
It is true that we had difficulties in mass production when we first applied the gate-all-around (GAA) process. We have put in a lot of effort to stabilize the process, so it is only a matter of time before we can move into mass production.
As the business went through difficulties, there were times when the two divisions were held accountable, but we agreed to work together to stabilize the business,” he clarified, and the strategy has obviously worked to make Exynos 2500 a viable proposition to go into its phones next year.
Samsung official, December ’24
The $100 apiece savings from using an Exynos instead of Snapdragon processor could very well bring a $799 starting price point for the Flip FE, which would be a record low for a handset in the Flip series, but Samsung intends to only test the waters with such a release. Again according to The Elec’s industry sources, Samsung has given orders to suppliers for only 900,000 Galaxy Z Flip FE units, while it plans to produce no less than three million Z Flip 7 phones and two million Z Fold 7 units next year.
The 2025 Galaxy Z Flips will debut silicon capacitors
Samsung can make the capacitors made of silicon wafers so small that, hailing from the micrometers scale, they can be as thin and tiny as the Exynos 2500 chip packaging material itself.
This has allowed Samsung to position them right next to the system chip itself so that they can increase the data transfer rate compared to the current solution in mobile chipsets. It remains to be seen to what extent will that benefit the Galaxy Z Flip FE and Galaxy Z Flip 7, but the debut of an Exynos chipset in Samsung’s foldable phone is shaping up to be more exciting than previously envisioned.