If last week’s Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 leaks sounded too good to be true, then you’ll be happy to know that the biggest improvement – a much bigger screen when closed – has been confirmed by the phone’s upcoming firmware.
The leaked firmware, analyzed by Max Weinbach from the XDA developers in a highly detailed Twitter thread, points to a 25: 9 aspect ratio for the front display. That’s an unusual figure, but exactly the same as the long, slim dimensions of the Galaxy Fold when closed.
For reference, the original Galaxy Fold had a 21: 9 aspect ratio with more normal sound for its front display, but the display on the deck sat like a strange island in the front, with the kind of bezels we think they were confined to history books. Compare the original Galaxy Fold photo below with the renders of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 at the top of the page, and you will instantly see why it is such an exciting upgrade, both in aesthetics and usability.
That’s it for the camera. Now about other random stuff I found! Processors We have the sdm8250 which is Snapdragon 865 and Snapdragon 865+. I also see Exynos 990 BUT there is no newer chip. This means that any chip Samsung uses is based on the 990. pic.twitter.com/iAirV1EvN718 July 2020
It’s worth reading the entire thread, but here are some other highlights. For starters, you can take photos with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 closed, using the front display as a viewfinder. If you don’t mind looking a little ridiculous, you can also take selfies using the main camera with the device deployed (the internal screen will turn off in this use case).
Pro Video mode will now allow you to choose which audio source you want to record from, be it the front microphone, the rear microphone, both, or an external source via USB or Bluetooth. Videos can now be shot in the 21: 9 to 8K aspect ratio, and Single Take, Samsung’s method of capturing multiple shots at once to give you an additional option, can be set anywhere from 5 to 15 seconds.
Overall, the Galaxy Fold 2 is shaping up pretty well. Along with the above, the rumors point to a Snapdragon 865 Plus device with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB or 512 GB of on-board storage. The displays must support a 120Hz refresh rate, and a triple camera array is backed by two selfie lenses.
Is coming soon. Samsung has its next Unpacked event slated for August 5, where the Fold 2 will at least preview it alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Tab S7, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and Galaxy Watch 3.
