[London (UK) = E-Daily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] SamsungElectronics(005930)has redesigned the display structure and battery of its 8th-generation Galaxy Foldable. It has reduced screen creases and thickness using Flex Titanium and increased capacity and charging performance by adopting a silicon-carbon battery.

Moon Sung-hoon, Executive Vice President in charge of hardware at SamsungElectronics’ MX Business Division, said during a product briefing held in London, UK, on the 23rd (local time), “True innovation cannot be achieved by improving just one component,” adding, “We designed the entire product—from the display structure, hinge, and battery to heat dissipation—to function as a single system.”

The core technology SamsungElectronics has introduced in this product is “Flex Titanium.” It is a structure that combines a titanium plate supporting the very bottom of the display module with a titanium alloy film placed directly beneath the panel.

The titanium plate itself was also used in the previous model, the Fold 7. This time, however, the lattice structure in the folding area was modified. Relatively large holes were precisely arranged at the bottom of the plate, while smaller holes were placed at the top. The larger holes were created using wet etching—a process that removes part of the material with a chemical solution—while the finer details were machined with a laser. This design ensures that the folding area moves flexibly and absorbs external impacts while maintaining the titanium’s rigidity.

A newly added titanium alloy film has replaced the previous polymer material. The alloy—a mixture of vanadium, aluminum, and chromium—was processed to a thickness of several tens of micrometers, about one-third the thickness of a human hair. This film supports the folding area directly beneath the display, reducing screen sagging.

Vice President Moon explained, “The titanium alloy film supports the crease area from below, minimizing sagging,” adding, “The titanium plate and alloy film work together to enhance the folding experience and durability.”

The use of Flex Titanium reduced the thickness of the display module by approximately 10%. SamsungElectronics utilized the space saved to accommodate other components such as the battery, heat dissipation system, and camera. The Fold 8 Ultra achieves a thickness of 4.1 mm when unfolded while featuring a 5,000 mAh battery.

He also added that it would be difficult to attribute the reduction in the finished product’s thickness solely to the display component. Vice President Moon stated, “Reducing the thickness by 0.1 mm isn’t achieved simply by redesigning a single component,” adding, “All elements—including the display, reinforcing materials, and the battery—must be considered together.”

The battery also features a silicon-carbon composite anode material, a first for a Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Silicon-carbon can store more energy per unit volume, making it ideal for increasing the battery capacity of thin smartphones. However, the issue of silicon becoming more reactive—expanding and contracting during repeated charging and discharging cycles—remains a challenge to be addressed.

SamsungElectronics did not stop at simply adjusting the ratio of silicon to carbon; it redesigned the entire battery cell. A thin carbon coating was applied to the anode to control the reactivity of the silicon. Coating and doping technologies were applied to the cathode to ensure structural stability even under high-voltage conditions. The electrolyte and separator were also redesigned to control silicon expansion and facilitate smooth ion movement.

Vice President Moon explained, “Simply improving the silicon-carbon anode material wasn’t enough to complete the battery,” adding, “After finding the optimal combination of anode, cathode, electrolyte, and separator, we evaluated performance under high and low temperatures, long-term use, and the potential for battery swelling.”

Samsung emphasized that it increased the battery capacity of the new Galaxy Z series by approximately 15% while maintaining a thin and lightweight design. The Fold 8 Ultra and Fold 8 are the first foldable devices to feature 45W fast charging. The design independently controls two battery paths to accelerate charging speed and manage heat generation. The Fold 8 Ultra can charge up to 67% of its battery capacity in just 30 minutes.

Samsung has taken a cautious approach to the battery capacity race. This is because while increasing capacity extends battery life, it also increases the device’s weight and bulk.

Vice President Moon stated, “If the battery capacity increases but the foldable device becomes heavier and bulkier, it’s hard to say that we’ve enhanced the customer experience,” adding, “The challenge for developers is to increase capacity while maintaining the device’s slim, durable, and lightweight characteristics.” He also emphasized that an approach focused on reducing current consumption to extend battery life is equally important alongside increasing battery capacity.

The company does not plan to uniformly apply silicon-carbon batteries to all future Galaxy products. Following the briefing, when asked about the possibility of silicon-carbon becoming the mainstream material in the smartphone battery market, Vice President Moon replied, “It’s an attractive material to use as long as safety is guaranteed,” adding, “I think that could happen.” However, he noted that the decision to adopt it will be based on a comprehensive evaluation of each product’s thickness, weight, battery life, and consumer experience.

Durability testing was also expanded to better reflect real-world usage conditions. SamsungElectronics conducted over 100 reliability tests on the new Galaxy Z series. In addition to drop tests in a fixed direction, the company simulated drop scenarios from dozens of different angles. The devices were also tested for repeated folding, pressure, external impacts, and exposure to moisture, including sweat.

The hardware innovations in the 8th-generation Galaxy Foldables were not achieved by simply boosting the performance of a single component. The screen structure was made thinner using titanium to free up internal space, and silicon carbide was used to increase the energy density within that space. Furthermore, charging, heat dissipation, and durability testing were all integrated into the design. This embodies Samsung’s solution for reliably packing more features into a slim foldable device.