Samsung didn’t hit the mark with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 in 2024. Sales were soft, and it was to be expected, since the company didn’t give buyers too many reasons to get excited about last year’s foldable crop. Innovation matters, especially when you’re asking customers to part with big bucks. The Galaxy Z Fold phones don’t come cheap, and if you’re spending close to $2,000, you want excitement. We expected stronger sales this year, but it was a wait-and-see situation.
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Samsung recognizes this with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 in 2025, giving us more stylish devices with tangible improvements. It hasn’t gone unnoticed with buyers, as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is enjoying its highest pre-order sales figures for a Galaxy Z Fold ever — over 50% more than the previous generation. Combined, the new foldables account for a 25% increase in year-over-year pre-orders.
Carrier store pre-orders increased nearly 60%, something Samsung attributes to customers getting to touch and feel the changes. I don’t doubt that played a role, but it’s also easier for buyers to stomach the high cost of foldables through carrier finance contracts. Still, people have to decide to buy, and Samsung’s done an excellent job making that more attractive this year.
Samsung discovered what Motorola had already realized
Samsung didn’t just quote general percentages for pre-order sales. It also added something about color variants. Half of all Galaxy Z Fold 7 pre-orders were for the gorgeous Blue Shadow color, and Coralred accounted for 25% of Galaxy Z Flip 7 pre-orders.
Color and style matter, especially for the Galaxy Z Flip 7. It’s a more attainable phone for casual users, and people buy it for the design. That’s why the Motorola Razr enjoyed success despite several disadvantages compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 — it had a better cover screen display, and the phones were more attractive. Samsung leveled the playing field in 2025, and the sales figures are backing that up.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a more complicated case, but I see an increased appeal. First, it’s a significant improvement over the previous generation, so users who were holding onto older Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 5 devices would be keen to upgrade. It’s thin and light to carry, and the increased cover display size makes typing and apps more enjoyable.
Samsung’s also done more to entice casual users to give the Galaxy Z Fold 7 a chance. Its $2,000 price tag still keeps it mostly to enthusiasts, but carrier finance deals soften the blow — meaning people who are used to a $40 or $50 monthly phone payment might be willing to try.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has other advantages. It’s the first time the software has started to take advantage of the expansive screen real estate. I never recommended book-style foldables for anyone but enthusiasts, as I could never justify the high price for the functionality we received. Still, Samsung is changing that with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Editing photos is easier with side-by-side comparisons of the changes. Samsung’s 90:10 multitasking split is also an improvement, allowing me to quickly get information from one app or respond to a notification without pulling me away from my task. Content creators will love the way you can manipulate the display to take better selfies and vlog footage, and you’ll enjoy editing TikTok videos on the 8-inch internal panel.
All told, it’s no surprise Samsung is enjoying improved Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip sales this year — I’m just wondering what took so long.
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- SoC
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Snapdragon 8 Elite
- RAM
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12GB or 16GB
- Storage
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256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
- Battery
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4,400mAh
- Ports
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USB-C
- Operating System
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One UI 8
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the thinnest and lightest in the series to date, integrating a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor for enhanced AI capabilities and a 200MP pro-grade camera. Built for enhanced durability with an Armor FlexHinge and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, the device features a wider 6.5-inch cover screen and unfolds into an expansive 8.0-inch main display for immersive viewing and productivity.
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- SoC
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Exynos 2500
- RAM
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12GB
- Storage
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5256GB/12GB
- Battery
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4300mAh
- Operating System
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Android 16 with One UI 8
- Front camera
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10MP
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a compact, pocket-sized AI phone featuring the largest-ever 4.1-inch, edge-to-edge FlexWindow and the slimmest design in the series yet. It packs a flagship-level 50MP camera and the largest battery ever in a Galaxy Z Flip, delivering powerful performance and enhanced AI functionality directly from the cover screen.
