The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 recently hit retail shelves with impressive hardware and a $100 premium over the predecessor. Although the foldable has been around for just over three months, reports about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 are already beginning to trickle in.

According to the Korean-language publication Dealsite, Samsung is expected to bundle a couple of improvements with the next-gen Z Fold flagship. Prominent among these changes will be the utilization of “laser-drilling metal plate technology,” reportedly aimed at reducing creases on the screen (via @Jukanlosreve on X/Twitter).

The site notes that this metal plate tech will also be used on Apple’s upcoming foldable phone, which has reportedly been delayed to 2027. Furthermore, Samsung could also use a larger battery pack with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, potentially in the 5,000mAh range, offering a decent upgrade over the Z Fold 7’s 4,400mAh unit.

An unexpected return of the S Pen?

Lastly, the report claims the S Pen stylus, which was removed from the recently released foldable, might return with the Z Fold 8 next year. Exactly how Samsung will achieve this feat is unclear at the moment. In the company’s own words, the S Pen stylus and the touchscreen digitizer layer were removed from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to make it thinner and lighter.

So this either means Samsung is bringing the digitizer back or has figured out a way to make the S Pen work without one. We think it’s the latter, given that a top Samsung executive told ETNews in July that the company is “researching and developing a thinner and more innovative S Pen technology.”

However, none of this guarantees the return of the S Pen stylus with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, though it shouldn’t be particularly shocking if Samsung manages to pull it off. Of the three rumored features mentioned in the Dealsite report, the upgraded battery capacity and the laser-drilled metal plate for crease reduction are more likely to materialize.

There’s plenty of time until July 2026, when Samsung is expected to unwrap its next-gen foldables. But in the immediate future, the manufacturer is gearing up for the release of its first-ever trifolding smartphone, with some potential bad news on the horizon for US customers.

What potential upgrades would you like to see on the Galaxy Z Fold 8?