Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event this summer was packed with exciting new launches, including the latest foldable smartphones and smartwatches. From the ultra-thin Galaxy Z Fold 7 to the refreshed Galaxy Watch 8 lineup, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of mobile innovation. Here’s a detailed look at everything you need to know about the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, and the Galaxy Watch 8 series.
📱 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: The Thinnest Foldable Yet
It’s been about six years since Samsung kicked off the foldable smartphone market with the Galaxy Fold in 2019. Since then, foldables have evolved significantly, becoming more powerful, durable, and equipped with better cameras. However, despite reaching the seventh generation, foldables remain a niche product. Samsung’s answer to attracting more buyers? Making the devices as thin as possible.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a standout in this regard. Compared to last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Fold 7 is much thinner, slightly taller, and less wide, giving it a more traditional smartphone feel—especially when viewed from the side where its slim profile is immediately noticeable.
Interestingly, while the Fold 7 looks like a dramatic redesign compared to the Fold 6, it closely resembles the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition that was only released in Korea last year. For most of the world, however, this will feel like a fresh new look.
The most impressive feature is just how thin the Fold 7 is. When unfolded (excluding the camera bump), it measures only 4.2 millimeters thick—an incredibly slim profile. Folded, it’s about 9 millimeters thick, roughly the same as the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Holding it for the first time, the thinness is striking. While other companies like Honor, OnePlus, and Oppo have made thin foldables, Samsung’s Fold 7 feels exceptionally sleek. Despite this thinness, Samsung managed to increase the display sizes: the inner display now measures a massive 8 inches, essentially a pocket-sized tablet, while the outer cover display is also larger.
Weight-wise, the Fold 7 is lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is noticeable when holding both side by side.
Unfortunately, durability hasn’t improved much. The Fold 7 retains the same IP48 rating as its predecessor, which is decent but not a step forward.
Under the hood, the Fold 7 packs a punch with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor—the same top-tier chip found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra—ensuring powerful performance. It also inherits the Ultra’s 200-megapixel primary camera sensor, bringing flagship-level photography to a foldable device.
One notable change is the selfie camera placement. Samsung has moved away from the under-display selfie camera inside the foldable, opting instead for a traditional camera cutout. This decision likely stems from the poor quality of hidden cameras in previous models, so now both the inner and outer selfie cameras deliver better results.
With these upgrades and design changes, the Fold 7 comes with a higher price tag: $1,999. Yes, the Fold 7 is officially a two-thousand-dollar smartphone. While tariffs and global economic factors contribute to this hike, it’s a reality buyers must face.
📱 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Clamshell Style with Big Improvements
If the Fold 7’s price is daunting, Samsung offers another foldable option: the Galaxy Z Flip 7. This clamshell-style foldable brings several appealing upgrades, though not without some trade-offs.
The biggest upgrade is the cover display, which now occupies the entire top half of the phone, eliminating the awkward folder icon shape from previous models. This full-size cover display runs at a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, doubling the 60Hz of its predecessors. This means you can use the Flip 7’s cover screen as a mini smartphone, reducing the need to unfold it for everyday tasks.
When unfolded, the Flip 7’s inner display has grown to 6.9 inches, nearly matching the size of the Galaxy S25 Plus.
Battery life also sees a boost with a larger 4,300mAh battery, a significant upgrade over last year’s model.
For the first time ever, the Flip 7 supports Samsung DeX, a desktop-like experience previously exclusive to Galaxy S phones and the Galaxy Z Fold series. This is a huge deal for productivity enthusiasts who want a foldable phone that doubles as a portable workstation.
Samsung also integrated AI features like Gemini, accessible directly from the cover display, including Gemini Live. This convenience means Flip 7 users can enjoy AI-powered tools without unfolding their device.
However, there are some downsides. The Flip 7 runs on an Exynos processor instead of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which might disappoint those expecting flagship Snapdragon power. Camera hardware remains largely unchanged, with improvements coming mostly from software and AI enhancements.
Price-wise, the Flip 7 increased by $100 to $1,099, which may feel steep for some, but it offers a compelling foldable experience nonetheless.
📱 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: The More Affordable Foldable Option
Samsung surprised us by launching the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, marking the first Fan Edition (FE) model in their foldable lineup. This model aims to offer a foldable experience at a lower price point, but it comes with some compromises.
The Flip 7 FE resembles last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 in many ways. It retains the smaller outer cover display with the folder cutout and a smaller inner screen. Specs are dialed back compared to the Flip 7, meaning less powerful hardware overall.
In exchange, the Flip 7 FE costs $899, making it more affordable than previous Flip models. However, this price is still close to the Flip 6’s current price of around $1,000, which might make the FE model less attractive to savvy buyers.
While it’s encouraging to see Samsung address demand for cheaper foldables, the Flip 7 FE might not be the perfect budget option many hoped for.
⌚ Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Series: Classic Meets Sporty
Samsung also unveiled two new smartwatches: the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. The Classic is a welcome return after Samsung’s occasional “leapfrog” approach to releasing this model.
The Watch 8 Classic features the beloved rotating bezel and borrows heavily from the design DNA of the Galaxy Watch Ultra, including the “squircle” shape and the quick button (an orange button that launches apps and activities).
Specs-wise, the Classic matches the Ultra’s 3,000 nits brightness, RAM, and processor. It even offers an upgrade in onboard storage with 64GB—double that of the Ultra. The starting price is $499, which is $150 less than the Ultra. While the Ultra offers better battery life and durability, the Classic is a more formal, stylish alternative.
Confusingly, the Ultra model does not have the rotating bezel, which may force Samsung fans to choose between their preferred design and features.
For those seeking a more affordable option, the standard Galaxy Watch 8 is available at $350. It keeps the squircle design but lacks the rotating bezel and quick button, with slightly weaker specs. Still, it covers all the essential smartwatch features at a reasonable price.
Samsung did not launch a new Ultra model this year but refreshed the existing Ultra with a new titanium blue color and doubled the storage capacity, adding fresh appeal for potential buyers.
🛒 Availability and Final Thoughts
All these devices are available for pre-order now, with general availability starting July 25. Samsung has made impressive strides with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, delivering tangible upgrades and sleek new designs—especially the Fold 7, which looks stunning.
The price increases are a downside but reflect current market realities. The Flip 7 FE is an interesting attempt to offer a more budget-friendly foldable, though its pricing might limit its appeal compared to the Flip 6.
With the addition of new smartwatches catering to different tastes and budgets, Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event showcased a well-rounded ecosystem for tech enthusiasts.
What do you think? Are you planning to pre-order any of these new Samsung foldables or watches? Let us know in the comments below!
❓ FAQ
What is the thickness of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7?
When unfolded (excluding the camera bump), it’s just 4.2 millimeters thick. Folded, it measures about 9 millimeters, similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Does the Galaxy Z Fold 7 have an under-display selfie camera?
No, Samsung replaced the under-display selfie camera with a traditional camera cutout on the inside for better image quality.
What processor powers the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7?
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, while the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is powered by an Exynos processor.
Is Samsung DeX available on the Galaxy Z Flip 7?
Yes, for the first time, the Flip 7 supports Samsung DeX, allowing a desktop-like experience.
What are the price points for the new foldables?
- Galaxy Z Fold 7: $1,999
- Galaxy Z Flip 7: $1,099
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: $899
What’s new in the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic?
The Watch 8 Classic has a rotating bezel, quick button, 64GB storage, and shares many features with the Galaxy Watch Ultra but at a lower price of $499.
Is there a new Galaxy Watch Ultra?
Samsung did not launch a new Ultra model but refreshed the existing one with a titanium blue color and doubled storage capacity.
