On July 9, 2025, Samsung held the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event and revealed two new foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 (including a more affordable Z Flip 7 FE). As one of the first major brands to invest in foldable technology, Samsung has led this space far ahead of rivals like Apple. With this new launch, Samsung brings bold updates and sleek design improvements that could help it regain ground in a market now crowded by challengers like Google, Motorola, and Huawei/Honor. Let’s break down what’s new, what’s not-so-new and what real users are saying.
I.Samsung Z Fold 7: Ultra-Thin Design & Outstanding Camera, but No S Pen Support
At first glance, the new Z Fold 7 looks different from its predecessor, the Z Fold 6. It’s thinner and wider, with an 8-inch inner screen when unfolded, offering better usability even when folded. Weighing just 215 g and measuring only 4.2 mm thick when open (8.9 mm when closed), it’s amazingly light and slim. But Samsung hasn’t sacrificed toughness: Despite its slimmer design, durability has improved significantly, thanks to an upgraded hinge and thicker ultra-thin glass, extending its overall lifespan.Photography lovers will appreciate the Z Fold 7’s enhanced camera system. It features a 200MP wide-angle lens which is the same as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and that’s a huge leap from the Z Fold 6’s 50MP sensor. It also runs on a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip specially optimized for Samsung, boosting CPU performance by 38%, GPU by 26%, and NPU by 41% compared to the previous Z Fold 6.
(Image Credit: Samsung Official Youtube Video)
However, the Z Fold 7 isn’t perfect. First, while Samsung improved efficiency for about an extra hour of usage, the battery capacity remains the same as the Z Fold 6 (4,400mAh), and charging speed hasn’t increased. More surprisingly, Samsung removed S Pen support, which may disappoint users who enjoy writing or drawing on the large foldable screen.
Opinions on the S Pen are split: some find it unnecessary, while others consider it a key Samsung feature. Online reactions are mixed too, with some Reddit users stating, "No S Pen = Deal Breaker for me," and Samsung’s comment section on its Youtube video also filled with confusion over the decision. While data shows low S Pen usage on Ultra models, it might have been more useful for Fold users. Still, Samsung chose a thinner design over S Pen support, so I guess whether this was the right call will depend on the market’s response.
II.Samsung Z Flip 7: Bigger Battery and a Sleeker Cover Screen
Just like the Z Fold 7, the Z Flip 7 gets a fresh look—though it isn’t notably thinner, the cover screen now stretches edge-to-edge with no black bar around the camera, and its resolution jumps from 720×748 to 1048×948. The main display grows slightly to 6.9″, while the cover is 4.1″, giving you more room for widgets and quick replies. Importantly, Samsung boosts battery capacity to 4,300 mAh, pushing video playback up to a very respectable 31 hours—about 7 hours more than the Z Flip 6. However, the 50 MP main camera and Exynos 2500 chipset carry over with only modest performance gains. Some Reddit users even wonder if the small upgrades justify the price, especially now that Samsung’s tradein credits have shrunk.
(Image Credit: Samsung Official Youtube Video)
Samsung also offers a cheaper Z Flip 7 FE, which costs €200 less. But to hit that lower price, they made some big cuts:
Less RAM – Only 8GB instead of 12GB, which could slow down AI features.
Older-style outer screen – It still has the thick black bar (unlike the cleaner look on the regular Z Flip 7).
For some buyers, this might not feel like enough of an upgrade. In fact, many are wondering: "If I’m spending this much, why not just get last year’s Z Flip 6 with 12GB RAM—especially if it’s on sale?"
III.Threatened Market Leader or Pioneer in a New Era? The Future of Samsung’s Foldables
Though foldable phones always grab attention, they still make up just 1-2% of global smartphone shipments. Worse for Samsung, its dominance in the foldable market is being challenged by rivals like Google, Motorola, and Huawei/Honor, who are steadily eating into its share.
In my view, foldables still have huge potential—but three key issues hold them back:
High prices: At $2,199, the Z Fold 7 (or like Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold at $1799) costs nearly twice as much as a regular flagship, making it a high end niche.
Durability concerns: Since their debut, foldables have faced skepticism over reliability. Even premium models often report hinge or screen failures, and despite improvements, their defect rates remain higher than traditional phones.
Limited use cases: For most users, standard smartphones are already big enough. Whether book-style (Fold) or clamshell (Flip), foldables haven’t yet proven a must-have for everyday life.
Personally, I’m a fun of clamshell designs like the Z Flip 7 as they bring back the satisfying snap of flipping a phone shut to end a call :) . Plus, they’re far more affordable than book-style foldables, so I’m optimistic about the Flip 7’s prospects.
For those craving bigger screens, rumors suggest Samsung will also launch a tri-fold phone later this year (possibly China-exclusive). It’s encouraging to see Samsung keep innovating. Foldables could be truly popular someday, their versatility is unmatched, but both manufacturers and consumers still have a long way to go.
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