Sleek design leaked ahead of launch

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is thinner and lighter than the Korean phone maker's previous model, but Samsung couldn't quite keep up with last year's Honor Magic V2. That foldable had a profile of 9.9mm, while the Fold 6 only shrank to 12.1mm.

Things get worse for Samsung, as Honor has been badmouthing the Fold at every opportunity this week. The Chinese vendor just launched the Magic V3 in Europe, which is now the world's thinnest foldable phone. At 9.2mm, the Magic V3 is even thinner than its predecessor.

Samsung is expected to respond this month with a slim version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. This phone has been popping up in various leaks recently, although we haven't seen any design renders or photos showing the handset's alleged design until this week. If the image you see below is accurate, we've just gotten our first look at Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE (Special Edition).

The name makes sense considering Samsung has been using the SE designation for a few years now, with the Galaxy S SE variants being one example. However, while SE phones are usually cheaper than the main flagships, the ultra-thin Fold 6 SE could be more expensive than the main Fold 6 model. At least, that's what some rumors say.

As for the picture below Android Headlines received, there's no way to say if it's true. However, it's common for all of Samsung's flagship phones to leak before launch, so there's no reason why the Fold 6 SE should be a better-kept secret.

The phone looks very similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 6. It has flat edges and almost rectangular corners. No one would blame you if you thought this was a regular Fold 6. There is no way to measure the thickness of the foldable device to confirm that it is a Fold 6 SE.

But if you've used the regular Fold 6, you might notice the differences right away. First off, the rear camera module has a more rectangular design. I suspect this has something to do with the fact that the camera also protrudes further than the Fold 6's module. Then again, the shape could just be a design decision.

However, the protrusion is a reference to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE's reduced thickness. The camera protrusion grows as the foldable device gets thinner. The Magic V3 proves this with its massive camera bulge on the back.

How thick will the Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE be? Rumor has it that it will have a 10.6mm profile, which is significantly thinner than the Fold 6. But it's still a long way from the 9.2mm profile of the Honor Magic V3.

Finally, the brushed metal look of the rear glass panel is another clue that the phone in the image above is not the Galaxy Z Fold 6. It's something else. Here's what the Fold 6's rear glass panel looks like:

Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE sometime in the next few weeks. If the leaks so far are correct, it will go on sale in late September. Unfortunately, leaks also suggest that the Fold 6 will initially only be available in China and Korea. It is unclear whether the phone will launch in international markets.