Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 (W20 5G): Screen, specs, release date, news and rumours
After a long and winding road to get its [first Galaxy Fold][2] to market, Samsung has a second-gen device in the works. But unlike the original, it's rumoured that the Fold 2 – also known as the W20 5G, if you like coded language – will sport a clamshell folding design.
This feature rounds up all the leaks, rumours and speculation surrounding the next-gen Galaxy Fold, in addition to what we want to see features. Here's everything we know so far...
## Samsung Galaxy Fold 2: Release Date & Price
* Announcement: TBC (mid February possible)
* Launch: TBC
* Price: TBC
Samsung usually announces its flagship Galaxy S range – [which will be the S11 and S11+][3] – ahead of [Mobile World Congress (MWC)][4]. For 2020 that means with the flagship out of the way, Samsung has the stage to show-off its next-gen Fold device, so we might see a glimpse of the Fold 2 at MWC 2020 in mid February.
However, nothing is confirmed yet. So while we can speculate mid-Feb for things to get real, we'll just have to wait and see. As for the price, we'd be plucking that out of thin air – but, based on the original's sky-high asking price – don't expect the Fold 2 to be cheap by any means.
## Samsung Galaxy Fold 2: Design & Display
* Clamshell design rumoured
* Smaller than original Fold
* Ultra Thin Glass (UTG)
Where the Fold 2, or W20, is rumoured to differ dramatically from the original is with its design: the second-gen Fold is said to sport a clamshell design, which would suggest a smaller folding device, [akin to the Moto Razr][5].
Right now, however, nobody has seen this rumoured device. Switching from a phone that opens into tablet-like size into a phone that folds down into a half size is a significantly different approach.
There has been some association with Samsung trademarking Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) and utilising it as part of the Fold 2 project. UTG is so much thinner than normal glass, making it durable and scratch resistant – although we're still not 100 per cent sure it's applicable in a folding-screen device. We shall have to wait and see.
## Samsung Galaxy Fold 2: Specification
* 5G connectivity
At this early stage there's no concrete specification. But with those dual screens, expect premium levels of power – perhaps the [Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 platform][6]?
Otherwise the only obvious expectation is for 5G connectivity, as the W20 5G name states. That's something the original Fold was sorely lacking, so for next-gen speeds to be possible in the Fold 2 makes perfectly good sense.
## Samsung Galaxy Fold 2: What We Want
* Improve presence of crease
* Camera improvements front and rear
* Get rid of the screen notch / punch-hole
* Price drop to make device more accessible
With information a little thin on the ground at the moment, it's anyone's guess what the Galaxy Fold 2 will be like. But that doesn't stop us having wishes and expectations.
Assuming the Fold 2 is like the original, we'd love to see a reduction in bezel, the banishing of screen notches and the punch-hole for the camera. All that is possible, putting it within reach for Samsung to make a much improved device.
That said, if the Fold 2 W20 5G is a smaller clamshell device, then it's a total change of pace. In that instance we'd want to see a battery capacity that'll promise to last – the Moto Razr has a worringly low capacity, for example – and maximum screen real-estate from the smaller footprint product.
There also needs to be all-round improvement for the cameras, which is something that Samsung is known to be working on for the S11 and S11+ flagships. Carrying such features over the next-gen Fold makes perfect sense.
Oh, and let's not forget about price. The original Fold is pricey, at around $2,000. So we'd like the Fold 2 to be more accessible for a wider audience to consider.
* [Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Folding masterpiece or fundamentally flawed?][2]
## Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 rumours: What's happened so far?
Here are all the rumours and leaks surrounding the Galaxy Fold 2 so far.
### 13 December 2019: Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) trademark application
As we [first touched upon back in October 2019][7], Samsung is looking to patent 'UTG' (that's Ultra Thin Glass), which it is producing via Dowoo Insys. It's scratch-resistant, tougher than plastic coatings, but doesn't necessarily get around the problems of glass fragility - especially for a folding device.
### 6 June 2019: Notch-free, edge-to-edge renders (based on a US patent)
Way back before the original Fold even launched proper, renders appeared of what the next-gen device could look like, complete with edge-to-edge screen and no pesky notches in the way.
[1]: https://cdn.pocket-lint.com/r/s/748x/assets/images/150414-phones-news-samsung-galaxy-fold-2-w20-5g-image1-xarota8kmr.jpg?v1
[2]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/reviews/samsung/147776-samsung-galaxy-fold-review
[3]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/samsung/148818-samsung-galaxy-s11-plus-specs-release-date-news-features
[4]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/139358-mobile-world-congress-announcements-smartphones
[5]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/reviews/motorola/150059-motorola-razr-review-flip-phone-2019
[6]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/qualcomm/150325-qualcomm-snapdragon-865-everything-you-need-to-know
[7]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/samsung/149811-samsung-has-a-new-plan-for-the-screen-for-galaxy-fold-2
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