Samsung Galaxy Z Fold9 Could Bring Back the Under-Display Camera to Challenge iPhone Duo

Samsung could be preparing to bring back one of its most distinctive foldable smartphone features. The upcoming Galaxy Z Fold9 is reportedly expected to reintroduce an under-display selfie camera, potentially giving users a completely uninterrupted viewing experience on its large inner screen.

The feature was previously available on several generations of Samsung’s book-style foldables before disappearing with the Galaxy Z Fold7. However, Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo may be giving Samsung another reason to reconsider its decision.

According to a new leak, Samsung is developing a Galaxy Z Fold device with an under-display camera, major internal changes and only minor adjustments to its overall thickness and design.

Although the Galaxy Z Fold9 has not been officially announced, the rumoured feature could become one of its most interesting upgrades for 2027.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold9 May Bring Back the Under-Display Camera

The biggest revelation comes from a tipster on X, who claims that Samsung is preparing to bring back the under-display camera technology on its next-generation foldable smartphone.

Samsung previously introduced this technology with the Galaxy Z Fold3 in 2021. It continued using an under-display selfie camera through the Galaxy Z Fold4, Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Fold6.

However, the company abandoned the technology with the Galaxy Z Fold7, replacing it with a conventional punch-hole selfie camera.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra also retained the visible camera cutout.

If the latest rumour proves accurate, the Galaxy Z Fold9 could reverse that decision.

An under-display camera is positioned beneath the smartphone’s display, allowing the screen to cover the camera when it is not being used. This eliminates the traditional visible camera cutout and creates a cleaner viewing area.

For a foldable smartphone with a large inner display, removing the selfie camera cutout could make watching movies, playing games and reading content more immersive.

However, under-display camera technology has historically involved compromises in image quality because light must pass through the display before reaching the camera sensor.

Samsung would therefore need to improve the technology to make its return worthwhile.

Why Did Samsung Remove the Under-Display Camera?

Samsung’s decision to remove the under-display camera from the Galaxy Z Fold7 was likely influenced by the balance between display quality and selfie photography.

Although hidden cameras provide a cleaner screen appearance, they can struggle to match the image quality of conventional selfie cameras.

The display layers positioned above the sensor can affect light transmission, potentially reducing sharpness and overall image quality.

A traditional punch-hole camera does not face the same optical obstruction, allowing manufacturers to deliver more predictable selfie performance.

Samsung may have decided that a visible camera cutout was a better compromise for its newer foldables.

However, display technology continues to improve, and the company could now be exploring a more advanced implementation.

If Samsung manages to improve image quality while maintaining a nearly uninterrupted display, the Galaxy Z Fold9 could offer a better balance between aesthetics and photography.

The actual camera specifications and technical improvements remain unknown.

Galaxy Z Fold9 Could Be Designed to Compete With Apple’s iPhone Duo

Apple’s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, has reportedly introduced an under-display selfie camera on its inner screen.

This gives Samsung another reason to revisit a feature it previously abandoned.

The foldable smartphone market is becoming increasingly competitive, with Apple entering a category that Samsung has helped develop over several generations.

For years, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series has been one of the most recognisable book-style foldable smartphone families.

However, Apple’s arrival could encourage Samsung to rethink some of its design decisions and restore features that users previously appreciated.

The Galaxy Z Fold9 is reportedly being positioned as a direct competitor to the iPhone Duo.

Bringing back the under-display camera could help Samsung offer a similar uninterrupted inner-screen experience.

It would also give the company an opportunity to demonstrate improvements in its display technology.

That said, the iPhone Duo comparison does not guarantee that Samsung will bring back every feature found on Apple’s foldable. The final Galaxy Z Fold9 specifications will depend on Samsung’s hardware decisions.

Galaxy Z Fold9 Could Retain a Similar Design and Thickness

The latest leak also suggests that Samsung is planning major internal changes while keeping the overall thickness and external design relatively similar.

An earlier claim from the same tipster suggested that the Galaxy Z Fold9 could measure approximately:

• Unfolded thickness: 3.9mm
• Folded thickness: 7.9mm

These figures would represent a considerable reduction compared with the reported dimensions of the wide-format Galaxy Z Fold8, which measures approximately 4.5mm when unfolded and 9.7mm when folded.

However, there is an important inconsistency.

The tipster reportedly described the upcoming device as having minimal changes to its overall thickness, while the leaked measurements suggest a noticeable reduction.

It is also unclear whether the dimensions refer to the standard Galaxy Z Fold9 or a different model in Samsung’s expanding foldable lineup.

Consequently, these measurements should be treated cautiously rather than as confirmed specifications.

Samsung has not revealed any official information about the Galaxy Z Fold9’s dimensions, weight or construction.

Major Internal Changes Could Improve the Foldable Experience

Apart from the possible return of the under-display camera, the tipster has also mentioned major internal changes.

Unfortunately, the leak does not provide specific details about which components Samsung intends to modify.

These changes could involve the display assembly, internal camera placement or other hardware components required to accommodate the hidden selfie camera.

Samsung has spent several generations refining its foldable hinge technology, display durability and internal layout.

The next generation could continue that process while focusing on improvements that are less visible from the outside.

A foldable smartphone has several engineering challenges that conventional phones do not face, including the flexible display, hinge mechanism, internal space management and heat distribution.

Any major internal redesign would need to maintain durability while delivering the performance and reliability expected from a premium smartphone.

For now, the exact nature of the reported internal changes remains unknown.

S Pen Support Could Also Return to Samsung’s Foldable Lineup

The under-display camera is not the only feature that Samsung fans have been discussing ahead of the Galaxy Z Fold9.

There have also been rumours about the possible return of S Pen support.

Samsung removed native S Pen support from the main Galaxy Z Fold lineup with the Galaxy Z Fold7 as it focused on making its foldable devices thinner.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 generation continued this approach.

For users who relied on the stylus for handwriting, drawing, document annotation and productivity, its absence represented a notable change.

The S Pen has traditionally been one of the features that helped distinguish Samsung’s premium foldables from competing devices.

Its possible return could make the Galaxy Z Fold9 more attractive to professionals and users who prefer stylus-based interactions.

However, this feature remains unconfirmed, and the latest under-display camera leak does not establish that Samsung has finalised plans to bring back the S Pen.

Samsung’s 2027 Foldable Lineup Could Become Bigger

Samsung is reportedly preparing a broader foldable smartphone portfolio for 2027.

The expected lineup could include the Galaxy Z Fold9, Galaxy Z Fold9 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip9, a second wide-format foldable and a successor to its tri-fold smartphone.

If these plans materialise, Samsung could offer more choices than ever before in its foldable category.

The standard Galaxy Z Fold9 could focus on the traditional book-style experience, while an Ultra model may target customers looking for more premium hardware.

The company could also continue experimenting with wider displays and multi-fold designs.

A broader lineup would allow Samsung to target different customer preferences, including portability, productivity, screen size and camera capabilities.

However, the reported devices and their specifications have not been officially confirmed.

When Will Samsung Galaxy Z Fold9 Launch?

Samsung has not announced an official launch date for the Galaxy Z Fold9.

Based on the company’s previous foldable release schedule, a launch during the middle of 2027 is possible.

The Galaxy Z Fold9 is expected to arrive alongside other next-generation Galaxy foldables, although the final product lineup remains uncertain.

Pricing, availability and regional launch details are also unknown.

For buyers in India, there is currently no confirmed information about the Galaxy Z Fold9’s expected price or local availability.

More details should emerge as development progresses and additional leaks, certifications and official announcements become available.

What the Under-Display Camera Could Mean for Samsung

The possible return of the under-display camera suggests that Samsung may be reconsidering some of the compromises it made while developing thinner foldable smartphones.

A hidden selfie camera could provide a cleaner inner display, making the Galaxy Z Fold9 more appealing to users who consume a lot of content or use the unfolded screen for productivity.

It could also help Samsung compete more directly with Apple’s iPhone Duo, which has brought new attention to the foldable smartphone category.

However, the biggest challenge will be delivering acceptable selfie quality without sacrificing the display experience.

The leaked thickness figures also raise questions about the final design, and the source has not provided enough information to establish whether the reported specifications are accurate.

Final Thoughts

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold9 could bring back the under-display selfie camera after several generations of conventional punch-hole designs.

If the rumour proves accurate, it would represent an interesting change in Samsung’s foldable strategy, particularly as Apple enters the market with the iPhone Duo.

The reported internal redesign and possible improvements to the device’s thickness could make the next Galaxy Z Fold even more interesting.

However, all these details remain unconfirmed, and the current information comes from a single tipster.

Samsung has not officially revealed the Galaxy Z Fold9, so buyers should wait for more reliable information before treating the rumoured features as final specifications.

For now, the possible return of the hidden selfie camera is one of the most interesting developments surrounding Samsung’s 2027 foldable lineup.