Samsung says the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s missing S Pen is a ‘trade-off’ that could return

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 represent a big leap forward for Samsung’s mobile arm, but they’re far from perfect devices. In a new interview, we’re getting some insight into the sacrifices made to achieve these new designs, and whether the S Pen could make a comeback in the future.

Samsung MX Managing Director Kang Min-seok sat down with Korea’s ET News to discuss everything that went into crafting the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, including some of the more controversial choices behind both products. To its credit, Samsung isn’t shying away from the controversy around the Fold 7’s missing S Pen support. While some people find the missing digitizer, the removed under-display camera, and the lack of improvements to battery or charging to be complete non-starter, Kang says those sacrifices were made on purpose.

“The Fold 7 emphasized that consumers want a ‘thin and light product,’” Kang told ET News in a machine-translated interview. “Please think of it as a ‘trade-off’ where you lose one if you choose one.”

Kang confirmed that any removed or static features were made to chase that ultra-slim 8.9mm chassis, though he did stress that the company is “pursuing a perfect product balance, not just thinness and lightness.” That drive should bleed into future generations of the Fold series, as Kang specifically notes Samsung is “researching and developing thinner and innovative technologies for the S Pen” in order to “reconsider it when the level of perfection increases and there is consumer demand.”

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Elsewhere, Kang confirmed the Fold 7’s redesigned frame was crucial for achieving its new 8.9mm chassis, with the “Armor Flex” hinge both 27% thinner and 43% lighter than the hinge used on the Fold 6. Likewise, despite its larger 8-inch footprint, the foldable display is 39% thinner and, once again, 43% lighter than its preceding model, all while adding titanium to the bottom of the device allowed for a more resilient body.

Samsung focused on its camera system as well, reducing the size of its 200MP sensor by 18% compared to what already existed. The Fold 7 may have a chunky camera bump with some serious table wobble, but clearly, it could’ve been much worse.

Meanwhile, on the Flip 7, Samsung utilized new high-density circuit boards to deliver more space between components, allowing for the 300mAh growth in battery capacity despite the slimmer overall chassis. Kang claims the company sees both phones as products that have “been perfected in all experiences,” though obviously, both phones — and, more specifically, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 — have their fair share of controversial design decisions that’ll keep fans talking for the next 12 months. Even with a fairly revolutionary leap forward for its foldables, it’s clear Samsung is still taking its smartphones one generation at a time.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 are now available for pre-order at Samsung’s website. In addition to saving up to $1,000 in trade-in value, you can score a storage upgrade for free on both devices, and $50 in additional credit for using 9to5Google‘s links.

Samsung’s new foldables, alongside the budget-ish Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, and the Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic, start shipping on July 25th.