Samsung's next update to its lineup of folding smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, has been rumored to have a boxier design when it launches this summer, with squared edges similar to those of the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Now, new leaks say it'll be thinner and lighter as well.

A known tipster, Ice Universe, posted on X on Wednesday that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 would have an unfolded thickness of 5.6 millimeters, and a folded thickness of 12.1mm. That would make the device up to 10% thinner than last year's model. Ice Universe also posted that the device will weigh 239 grams, putting it on par with the OnePlus Open and making it a little lighter than the 253-gram Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Samsung didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The buzz of rumors around the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 suggest that the folding smartphone is being prepped for a launch this July. Though foldable smartphones aren't big sellers, they do make for a premium, futuristic-looking product that's particularly popular among techies.

When it inevitably launches, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will give Samsung an opportunity to talk about innovation, using devices like its folding smartphones to gesture at magical-seeming technologies that used to exist only in sci-fi.

Other companies have followed a similar approach, with Motorola in particular drawing attention during Mobile World Congress in March by showing off a smartphone designed to bend around your wrist like a bracelet. Unlike those prototypes though, Samsung offers its folding phones for sale, not just as a concept device.

One rumor that hasn't surfaced about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is word about the price. Folding phones in general are still expensive, launching with price tags around $1,800 before discounts and incentives. That cost is far higher than the price of the Galaxy Z Fold's more standard, candy bar-shaped cousins, such as phones in the Galaxy S24 line, which typically start at $800. Another downside is that foldables are fragile, though Samsung has improved on that with more-resilient screens and hinges.

 

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5.

James Martin/CNET

With its $1,800 price and top-tier specs, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is already a premium smartphone. However, Samsung may take that up a notch with the introduction of a Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra, according to a leak from the blog Galaxy Club.

The report says Samsung is working on a new Galaxy device with a model number that appears to be a cross between the numbers typically used for the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy S Ultra line. However, it also notes that this model may only be available for the South Korean market. Crucially, it doesn't suggest what would be added to make the foldable Ultra to distinguish it from the standard Z Fold.

The new rumor follows a report from Korean news outlets The Elec and ETNews that indicated Samsung is also working on a lower-end version of the Z Fold. Taken together, both reports suggest that Samsung could be expanding the Z Fold into its own product lineup in an attempt to appeal to new audiences.

A Samsung representative said the company doesn't provide comment on rumors or speculation.

It's also not the first time rumors have indicated that a supposed Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra could be in development. WinFuture reported back in February that an Ultra is in the works, although neither report includes details about what would separate this high-end model from the standard Galaxy Z Fold. Rumors of a Galaxy Z Fold Ultra have also coincided with speculation that Samsung may add an embedded S Pen to its book-shaped foldable. If Samsung is working on making that happen, perhaps it's saving it for the Ultra model, which would fit with the approach it's taken for the Galaxy S series.

As I've written in the past, branching out beyond one Galaxy Z Fold model could go a long way in making foldables more popular. A cheaper Galaxy Z Fold may be more attractive to those who want a larger screen that fits in their pocket, but aren't willing to pay close to $2,000. An Ultra model, on the other hand, could satisfy those who are interested in foldables but don't want to deal with some of the shortcomings on today's devices. That all depends on what Samsung has in store for a Galaxy Z Fold Ultra, if it's even working on one at all.

Regardless, Samsung clearly has big plans in mind for its foldable lineup. The company's display division has been flaunting new concept devices at CES for the past two years, showing that Samsung is investing in coming up with new flexible designs. Samsung also held what may be its flashiest product launch ever last year in Seoul to introduce the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, with K-pop stars and the American actress Sydney Sweeney in attendance. It was a statement indicating how important Samsung views foldables as being to its mobile product portfolio. 

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 stole the show last year with its new cover screen. But perhaps these rumors regarding cheaper and Ultra variants of the Z Fold suggest it's time for Samsung's larger foldable to shine. We'll likely know more this summer, when Samsung is expected to announce the next Z Flip and Z Fold.