Samsung is bringing some material, albeit still-iterative, improvements to the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8, especially in relation to its punch-hole aesthetics.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 to sport a substantially reduced punch-hole, owing to the use of improved HIAA tech and High-Refractive Index (HRI) lenses
First, the tipster Ice Universe detailed earlier today that the punch-hole cutout for the front camera on the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 is set to undergo a marked reduction of 32 percent, declining from a diameter of 3.7mm on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to just 2.5mm on the Z Fold 8.
Then, the tipster Schrödinger added additional color to the report by noting two key technological advancements that have reportedly allowed Samsung to markedly reduce the size of the punch-hole cutout on the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
First, Samsung is apparently bringing an improved version of Hole-in-Active-Area (HIAA) technology to the proverbial table, one that allows for a substantially reduced buffer zone that exists between the punch-hole and active pixels on any given OLED panel. Samsung reportedly used advances in vacuum sealing and ultra-precise laser etching methods to reduce the size of this buffer zone.
Concurrently, to prevent image degradation caused by a reduced number of light rays that are typically incident on a smaller punch-hole, Samsung is apparently planning to use High-Refractive Index (HRI) lenses that bend light more efficiently, allowing even a smaller aperture to capture more light.
Finally, Schrödinger thinks Samsung might move certain ancillary sensors, such as proximity detectors and ambient light callibrators, under the display on the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
As such, it seems Samsung is about to take an iterative but still-significant step towards a true under-display camera setup with these changes on the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Elsewhere, we know the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 bears the following dimensions:
- Folded: 158.4 x 72.8 x 9mm
- Unfolded: 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.5mm
This means that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will be slightly thicker than last year's Z Fold 7, which bodes well for the reintroduction of the S Pen, especially as adding the corresponding digitizer would presumably increase the device's thickness. Moreover, we have the same 8-inch inner display and 6.5-inch outer display. The form factor also remains the same, with flat sides and crisp corners. Also, the camera bump this time will be around 5.5mm thick.
Notably, in what will be the first significant bump in battery capacity since the Z Fold 3, which actually saw a slight decrease in its capacity, the Z Fold 8 will feature a 5,000mAh battery. The foldable will also support wired charging at 45W. Finally, the Z Fold 8 will feature a near-crease-free foldable display.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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