December 18, 2023 – According to a report published today by ETNews, Samsung is planning to eliminate the digitizer in its next-generation foldable smartphones, aiming to achieve a slimmer body while retaining the S Pen functionality.
The digitizer, a device that converts analog signals into digital signals, has been a crucial component in enabling the S Pen’s handwriting capabilities in Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series since the Galaxy Z Fold3. However, the South Korean tech giant is now eyeing a new technology that can facilitate handwriting input without the need for a digitizer.
Industry insiders have revealed that Samsung is considering adopting this technology in the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold7, which is tentatively scheduled to be released next year. The new technology, which is reportedly based on electrostatic principles, is similar to the Active Electrostatic (AES) technology used in Apple’s Pencil. Unlike the traditional Electromagnetic Resonance (EMR) technology that requires a digitizer integrated into the screen, the AES technology integrates the power generation device into the pen, allowing for a thinner device body.
In addition to removing the digitizer, Samsung also plans to use titanium alloy for the backplate material of its next-generation foldable smartphones, replacing the current carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). This change is expected to further enhance the durability and lightness of the devices.
Samsung has already taken a step in this direction with the release of the Galaxy Z Fold SE in October, which does not feature a digitizer. As a result, the device is 1.5mm thinner than the Fold 6, measuring 10.6mm in thickness. However, it also comes with the tradeoff of losing the S Pen handwriting function.
The company’s exploration of new technological solutions to balance the thinness of foldable smartphones with the S Pen handwriting function represents a significant shift in the development of Samsung’s foldable phone lineup. By eliminating the digitizer and adopting new handwriting input technology, Samsung aims to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the realm of foldable devices.
