[EXCLUSIVE] Fold 2 will not be paired with S Pen: source

Samsung Electronics won’t likely support the upcoming Galaxy Fold 2 with a digital pen, according to a source at the company with knowledge of the matter, defying a wave of speculation that the new folding phone will come equipped with the S Pen stylus.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said on Monday that the successor to the ill-fated Galaxy Fold “is not ready” this year for paring with the accessory, although the tech company’s ultimate goal is to fit its future foldable phones with the S Pen.

“The Galaxy Fold 2 won’t come with the S Pen,” the source said, “because there are technical problems to be resolved,” while declining to specify the issues.

He also confirmed that the smartphone maker will embrace ultrathin glass, or UTG, that was used on the Galaxy Z Flip, instead of the plastic screen used on the Fold.

The details about display are important because Samsung had to delay the launch of the previous Fold following reviewer revelations that its screen broke easily.

Industry insiders predicted that Samsung will pull out all the stops to promote the folding phone and the Galaxy Note 20 due to the disappointing sales of the flagship Galaxy S20 model.

The Galaxy Fold 2 will come out “before autumn,” according to Koh Dong-jin, CEO and president at Samsung Electronics.

Market analysts expect the rollout to be in August.

Except for the release date, much about the new model remains unknown.

But it is rumored to feature 256 gigabytes of internal storage for a lower starting price than its predecessor.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]