Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 probably won’t have an S Pen slot after all

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 (Image credit: AakashJhaveri)

The latest in Samsung’s folding phone lineup - expected to be called the Galaxy Z Fold 3 - could be shown off as early as July, though the latest leaks suggest we might be a little disappointed with its S Pen support.

The latest reports from South Korean site Naver say that despite still trying to incorporate the S Pen into the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s design until last month, plans have now been scrapped. Supposedly this was done to make the Galaxy Z Fold 3 more dust and water-resistant, and because the phone just wasn’t big enough to house all of its components and an S Pen.

Instead, Samsung could offer a phone case that can hold both the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and S Pen in a similar way to the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s stylus support.

What features could the Galaxy Z Fold 3 come with? 

Apart from the fact it will likely fold like a book, we don’t know anything about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 for certain. However, multiple leaks and rumors can give us an idea of what we should expect in July if there is a reveal event.

The most interesting leak is that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 could incorporate an under-display camera, and would be the first Samsung phone to do so. We’ve heard this one a few times and it means that the selfie camera notch would be removed, instead putting the camera behind the display. 

This would give you a bit of extra screen space, and a cleaner design at the cost of reduced photo quality.

It’s also been suggested that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will become Samsung’s new productivity-focused flagship. Reports have said that the Galaxy Note line will be discontinued, which explains why Samsung wants to incorporate the S Pen and give the Galaxy Z Fold 3 a less busy display.

Until we know more, we’ll have to take all of this with a pinch of salt.  We might soon find out for certain what the Galaxy Z Fold 3 looks like. As we learn more we’ll be sure to keep you updated.

Hamish Hector
Senior Staff Writer, News

Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.