Samsung just unveiled the new Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 at Unpacked 2024 last week. Despite whatever else Samsung might be cooking up in the background, these are the only two new foldable devices we got this year so far.
Nevertheless, older reports suggest that Samsung may be working on an “Ultra” version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. On the other hand, a newer rumor passed around last week claimed that the Z Fold 6 Ultra got canceled. And fortunately, if you're a fan of the idea of an “Ultra” foldable, new evidence suggests otherwise. Samsung has not shelved this project yet.
Our colleagues at GalaxyClub just found new proof that Samsung is still playing around with the mysterious Galaxy Z Fold variant we've come to call “Ultra.” More specifically, it looks like Samsung is testing new firmware for a device that carries model number SM-F958N. Test firmware exists for country codes KOO, KTC, SKC, and LUC.
It's important to underline that the test firmware didn't exist on Samsung's servers last week, but it does now. This suggests that, no matter what happens with the Ultra, Samsung did move one step forward with the phone's development. Nevertheless, it's fair to say there's never a guarantee that a product will go on sale until it does, so we'll have to wait and see how the story pans out eventually.
It's probably better not to wait for this new foldable
Another thing to keep in mind, aside from the fact that development could go either way eventually, is that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra might be developed exclusively for the South Korean market. This information isn't new, but the firmware number and country codes found on Samsung's test servers seem to add a little bit more weight to that theory. All those country codes correspond to South Korea.
Even if Samsung is serious about launching a new foldable phone, this mysterious Galaxy Z Fold device likely won't be released before the end of the year. And if availability will be limited, you probably shouldn't hold out from pre-ordering the existing Galaxy Z Fold 6 if you want one.
Right now, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the best foldable you can buy unless you're specifically looking for a flip phone, in which case you should look no further than the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
The Fold 6 introduces a new thin design and boasts specs like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a bright 2,600 nits LTPO foldable AMOLED 2X display.
This year, the Z Fold's durability was improved around the hinge and the armor aluminum frame, and Samsung made the foldable display crease less visible. The phone is now IP48 rated instead of IPX8.