• The Galaxy Z Fold7 has launched with significant hardware improvements – it is thinner and lighter than its predecessors, while the main camera system has been upgraded with a 200MP lens.
• Samsung is expanding its foldable portfolio with the Flip7 FE to address a new buyer segment. The standard Flip7 features a larger external screen, covering the front of the device.
• AI is no longer just an add-on; it is an increasingly prominent part of the foldable user experience, highlighting productivity and personalization features.

At its second Galaxy Unpacked event of 2025, Samsung unveiled its latest generation of foldable smartphones, comprising the Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Flip7 and Galaxy Flip7 FE. With these new foldable devices, Samsung looks to deliver for its users on multiple fronts. According to Counterpoint’s latest Global Foldable Smartphone Market Forecast, Q1 2025, Samsung’s foldable smartphone shipments are projected to grow 27% YoY in Q3 2025, driven by a more diversified portfolio that includes the new lower-end Flip7 FE model.

A new thinner and lighter design, a higher-resolution camera on the Fold and a bigger cover screen display on the Flip are some of the crucial upgrades in the new foldables. Below are our initial impressions following some hands-on time at the launch event.

Galaxy Z Fold7: Productivity powerhouse, now slimmer and smarter

The Galaxy Z Fold7 (from $1999.99) is an incredibly significant device to launch in 2025. Samsung has worked hard on further eliminating key entry barriers for new foldable buyers while creating an exciting new generation that delivers value for existing users. The new flagship is lighter at 215 gm (compared to 239 gm for the Fold6) and thinner at 8.9 mm when folded and 4.2 mm when unfolded (compared to 12.6 mm and 5.6 mm on the Fold6). This is a significant design and engineering upgrade and the biggest in the last seven generations of the Z series.

In hand, the weight and thickness differences are noticeable and a welcome improvement over the previous generations. Changing these key dimensions illustrates that Samsung can deliver a “step change” hardware design to compete head-on with Chinese OEMs that have released increasingly thin book-type foldables all under 9 mm when folded. The phone also creates differentiation, giving a “wow” moment to those holding the device in their hands. This will be a massive update for Samsung Fold loyalists looking to upgrade from the Z4 or Z5 generations.

While solving the thin-and-light pain points, Samsung also solved another major pain point by designing in a larger 6.5-inch cover display. The users will enjoy the larger real estate for the cover screen, especially those who are heavy users of the cover screen in the folded mode. Typing on a narrow external display could be tricky and pushes users to open the phone to the larger screen more, diminishing the usability of the external screen.

To further eliminate trade-offs over candy-bar-style flagships, Samsung has brought to the Fold a ground-up designed 200MP wide-angle lens with a slimmer actuator to shave off some thickness and camera bumps.

With the hardware improvements, Samsung gets closer to presenting a well-rounded premium flagship experience without tradeoffs – both screens are more useful, and the folded device is slimmer and lighter. It doesn’t weigh more than other flagship devices, and the camera is equal to other flagship non-foldables.

Beyond the sleek new physique, the Z Fold7 also features an upgraded Galaxy AI experience, more optimized for the larger screen. Multimodal Gemini Live can now be used without toggling between apps, allowing users to stay on the larger screen for longer. Additionally, AI Results View and Drag & Drop can be used across app split views and floating windows, and image editing with generative AI iterations can be viewed side by side. Samsung is working hard to create a differentiated user experience that feels more like apps. Interfaces were made for the larger screen and not just expanded from the traditional screen size.

Galaxy Z Flip7: Pocket-sized AI with a bold new face

The standout feature for the Galaxy Z Flip7 (from $1099.99) is the expanded 4.1-inch external screen, which Samsung calls FlexWindow. With the cover screen, Samsung moves to soften the widget-based restrictive interface, integrating Gemini Live and Samsung’s Now Bar and Now Brief personalized content interfaces.

The Z Flip7 also has a larger 4,300mAh battery, addressing concerns about battery life in the previous Flip models. Enhanced durability (thanks to Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and a new hinge) and flagship cameras are further nods from Samsung to consumer concerns over foldables.

The Flip7 is geared toward content creation, highlighted by the integration of real-time filter views on the external display while taking selfies, and improved zooming and dual previews to frame an image.

Samsung is also taking a risk with the Flip7. The device will launch with Samsung’s Exynos 2500 chip globally, instead of a Qualcomm flagship chip. The company is betting that mainstream buyers will not care about the difference in processor to the Fold7 or previous Flips, and that the performance of the in-house chip will deliver satisfying results.

Galaxy Z Flip7 FE: Broadening the Z series reach

Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE, aiming to make the foldable experience accessible to a wider audience. To maintain differentiation between the Flip7 and Flip7 FE, the company sticks with the 6.7-inch main display configuration from the Flip6. While it shares the 50MP FlexCam with the standard Flip7, enabling high-quality selfies and videos in Flex Mode for hands-free content capture, the company uses last year’s Exynos 2400 chip to achieve a lower price point. Despite this, Samsung will deliver the latest Galaxy AI features on the FE version as well, including Now Brief.

With the FE, Samsung is positioning itself to counter Motorola’s efforts in clamshell foldables. Motorola has seen success over the last year by splitting its Razr family into a base variant and a flagship model. In the US, Motorola created its own market segment by addressing buyers in the prepaid channel. Samsung is now able to range a competing product. However, Samsung is not willing to be as aggressive with its FE pricing, as the FE edition starts at $900, $200 higher than Motorola’s entry-level device. It will be critical for Samsung to launch attractive promotions to make it possible for carrier partners to bring the FE edition to more price points.

Samsung does a lot right with Galaxy Z7 series

• The highlight of the launch was clearly the Fold7. The thinness and weight reduction are noticeable. Both displays stand out, and the camera seems finally to tick enough boxes as a flagship camera system. These hardware improvements and better AI app optimization create value that should make the $100 price increase less painful for buyers.

• With the Flip, Samsung is laying the groundwork to really expand the addressable market for foldable devices to include new user segments. The larger display on the Flip7 is a welcome change and the integration of Gemini Live is a key usability improvement. However, the company could have been more aggressive with the FE variant, especially in pricing. There are buyers looking to get into the foldable form factor but cannot justify the purchase of such an expensive device.

• We expect the share of flip models in Samsung’s foldable shipments to increase from 57% in 2024 to 63% in 2025. This will also have industry-wide impact as the share of flip phones in the global foldable market is expected to increase from 49% in 2024 to 52% in 2025.

• Samsung is launching premium devices at a time of increased economic uncertainties. But the devices, in a vacuum, present attractive options for existing and new foldable users. It will be critical for Samsung, and its channel partners, to bring promotions that allow users to lower the out-of-pocket price of all three devices. If Samsung can do that, it will be possible to reinvigorate the segment for the company.