Samsung’s New Galaxy Fold Aims for Broader Appeal in the US

Last updated: July 17, 2025 7:13 PM

By Mary Woods

6 Min Read

Samsung's New Galaxy Fold Aims for Broader Appeal in the US

Samsung has introduced its latest foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, positioning it to attract a wider audience in the United States. This new model brings improvements in design, durability, camera technology, and overall user experience, addressing factors that have previously limited foldable phone adoption. Samsung’s goal is to make foldable devices more practical and appealing to everyday consumers.

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Key Takeaways:
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Key Takeaways:

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a significantly thinner and lighter design, enhancing portability and comfort.
A wider cover screen offers a more traditional smartphone experience when the device is closed.
The internal display’s crease is less noticeable, and the under-display camera is replaced with a more conventional punch-hole camera.
The phone runs on the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor and includes an upgraded 200-megapixel main camera.
Samsung continues to integrate and refine its Galaxy AI features to improve productivity and overall usage.
The starting price in the US is $1,999.

Samsung’s foldable phone journey began in 2019 with the original Galaxy Fold. That initial device was groundbreaking but faced challenges with screen fragility. Subsequent generations, including the Galaxy Z Fold 2, Z Fold 3, Z Fold 4, and Z Fold 5, brought consistent enhancements in hinge mechanisms, water resistance, and S Pen compatibility. Each iteration has aimed to reduce the compromises associated with foldable technology.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 marks a significant advancement. A major change is its refined design; when folded, it is notably thinner and lighter, feeling more like a standard smartphone. This design improvement is due to Samsung’s re-engineered Armor Flex hinge, which is more compact and robust, along with a rebalancing of the display layers. The cover screen is now 6.5 inches with a 21:9 aspect ratio, offering a more natural and convenient experience for tasks like typing or Browse without needing to unfold the device. The main internal display also expands to 8 inches, enhancing the tablet-like viewing experience.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor. This provides substantial performance gains, ensuring smooth multitasking, graphics-intensive gaming, and efficient operation of the integrated Galaxy AI features. For storage, Samsung offers 256GB and 512GB options with 12GB of RAM, and a 1TB storage option with 16GB of RAM.

The camera system has also received a significant upgrade. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 now features a 200-megapixel main sensor, similar to that found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This upgrade aims to deliver improved detail and low-light performance compared to the previous 50-megapixel sensor. The 12-megapixel ultrawide and 10-megapixel telephoto cameras remain. A notable change is the replacement of the internal under-display selfie camera with a 10-megapixel punch-hole camera, addressing user feedback regarding under-display camera quality.

The device boasts an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance, adding to its overall durability. While the S Pen support has been removed to achieve a thinner profile, the design and performance improvements are expected to make the Fold 7 a more compelling option for a wider user base. The phone ships with Android 16 and One UI 8, and Samsung commits to seven years of software updates.

In the US, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 carries a starting price of $1,999 for the 256GB storage model. While still a premium price point, Samsung’s continuous refinements indicate a clear strategy to evolve foldable phones from a niche product into a more mainstream offering. Discussions on online platforms like Reddit show user excitement about the new design and hardware, though the price and perceived durability continue to be common talking points.