I’ve been critical of Samsung over the past few years because I know how good it can be. Even though the OEM continues to produce some of the best Android phones, it doesn’t mean Samsung is putting in the effort. When a company has the reach, money, and experience that Samsung has, it can be easy to slip into complacency. However, if the leaks surrounding the next generation of foldables from Samsung are true, the tech behemoth could bring me back to the fold.
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Samsung’s foldables are more exciting than their flagship phones
It’s about time
Finally listening or a long time to design?
I was once a Samsung lover. I remember when I got the Galaxy S3 and experienced the incredible leap forward it was at the time. I enjoyed the OLED panel, fast internals, good camera, and the brand’s excitement for the phone. I was a Samsung fan for many years after that, even if I did hop back and forth between brands. I found Samsung to be exciting and innovative in more than just its phones.
My view of Samsung began to change in early 2021, and the last Samsung phone I bought was the Z Fold 4 in 2022, which I later traded in for the OnePlus Open, which I still use today. Since then, I’ve said in various ways that Samsung phones had become boring and that the company was coasting on its previous successes.
Some may say that the new Galaxy S25 Edge is an example of the company making a turn towards innovating again, and that could be the case, but I disagree. I see the Galaxy S25 Edge as a proof of concept that Samsung can go thin with its phones, and the fruits of the slim slab phone are showing in leaks for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7. These rumors are pointing towards the first folding phone in years that I’m genuinely interested in.
The reasons for Samsung’s timing are ones that I’m curious about. Did the company sit back and watch to see if these super-thin folding phones, like the Honor Magic V3 or Oppo Find N5, could withstand daily use? Was it hoping that thinness was a fad? Perhaps it took this long for one of the largest and most advanced technology companies to develop a phone that rivals its competitors?
It’s about more than just being thin
But that’s a big selling point
While I don’t think an ultra-thin phone like the Galaxy S25 Edge is something people want, an ultra-thin phone that folds in half is. Aside from durability, making foldable phones thinner is something I’ve longed for. Since I can’t get my hands on the Honor or Oppo phones, I haven’t been able to experience what it’s like not to feel like I have two phones in my pocket.
If rumors are true, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be its thinnest foldable yet, and by far. I never had issues with the hardware of its phones, but more so with the designs. If the phone maintains the level of engineering I’ve come to expect from Samsung, and can be really thin, it’s a fantastic start to being a winner for me. However, it’s about more than being thin, as I said about the Galaxy S25 Edge.
It’s time for Samsung and other foldable device makers to equip their most expensive phones with top-of-the-line cameras. Book-style foldables are among the most expensive phones on the market and have less than the best cameras.
If rumors are true, we could see Galaxy Ultra-level cameras in the Fold 7. However, one of the rumors that has me less than enthused is the potential for a small battery. That would be a big bummer. However, if we can get best-in-class cameras, internals, and a thin phone, I’ll deal with the battery life so long as I get a day out of it.
I may just be getting my hopes up
But I hope not
While we don’t have official dates for when Samsung will unveil its latest foldable offerings, rumors suggest a July 9 release date. In previous years, I would have been interested, maybe even excited, about what Samsung may do with its foldable lineup. While leaks began to trickle out, the tiny flame of hope slowly faded away. However, this year, it feels different. Even with the disappointing Galaxy S25 lineup and the uninspired S25 Edge that followed, I find myself tentatively ready to click pre-order when the chance arrives.
