No More UDC? Galaxy Z Fold 7 Goes Back to Punch-Hole Camera

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Samsung might be pulling the plug on one of its most ambitious camera technologies, at least for now. Recently leaked renders showed the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 without an under-display camera (UDC) on the inner screen, and the same has been confirmed by other industry insiders. The company is favoring a more traditional punch-hole solution over this once-cutting-edge feature.

Galaxy Z Fold 7 returns to a punch-hole camera, ending the UDC experiment

Samsung introduced its first UDC technology with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in 2021. It was a bold move, offering users an uninterrupted display on the foldable’s inner screen. The same feature carried over to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Fold 5, and Fold 6 last year, gradually improving in transparency and image quality with each iteration.

However, even after four generations, the under-display camera hasn’t quite delivered the image quality consumers expect from flagship phones. While it offered a more immersive viewing experience, camera performance often lagged behind traditional solutions. It looks like Samsung no longer sees enough value in further refining the UDC. Significant improvements would reportedly require costly upgrades to both hardware and software, pushing up production expenses in an already competitive market.

Instead, the company could opt for a high-quality punch-hole front camera inside the Galaxy Z Fold 7, a proven and well-received alternative that doesn’t sacrifice image performance for aesthetics. This change would also help reduce manufacturing costs and improve consistency in photo and video quality, especially important for a premium device like the Fold. Samsung did drop the UDC from the Galaxy Z Fold SE “limited edition” foldable last year, so this was coming.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 will go official alongside the Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE next month. The Galaxy Watch 8 series will also launch at this event, likely on July 9 in New York City. Stay tuned for more.

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Written by

Sumit Adhikari

Sumit, a life-long Samsung user, is passionate about technology and has been professionally writing on tech since 2017. He’s a mathematics graduate by education and enjoys teaching basic mathematics tricks to school kids in his spare time. Sumit believes in artificial intelligence and dreams of a fully open, intelligent and connected world.

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