Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold7 confirms the enduring popularity of folding smartphones as a premier handheld gadget choice
In the world of technology, the race for innovation continues, and this time, it's all about folding smartphones. Here's a closer look at the key upcoming devices from Samsung, Google, and Apple.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Released in July 2025, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is currently the most advanced and refined foldable from Samsung. This device boasts an 8-inch expansive main foldable screen, a thin, lightweight design, and a widened 21:9 cover screen for improved usability when folded.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 also features a flagship-grade 200MP main camera system, closing the hardware gap with Chinese rivals. It runs on the latest One UI 8 with AI-driven multitasking optimized for foldables, offering strong ecosystem support and all-day battery life. Pricing is premium but competitive for flagship foldables, typically above $1,500.
Samsung has also hinted at future innovation, with plans for a tri-fold device on the horizon [1][3][4][5].
Google's Foldable Phone
Google has yet to launch a folding phone, and there is no confirmed release or detailed specs for an upcoming foldable in 2025. As such, performance, design, and pricing comparisons are currently unavailable for Google’s foldable. However, the company is rumoured to be exploring this form factor in the market [2].
Apple's Rumoured Foldable Device
Apple is still absent from the folding phone market, but rumours point towards an iPhone Fold or foldable iPad Mini-like device launching circa late 2026 to early 2027. The design is expected to be notebook-style (book fold rather than flip), potentially the size of a small tablet when unfolded. Price speculation places it north of $2,000 USD, which would surpass current foldable pricing tiers [2].
Comparison Summary
| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (2025) | Google (No current foldable) | Apple (Rumored 2026-7 foldable) | |----------------|----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| | Release | July 2025 | No release yet | Estimated late 2026 - early 2027 | | Design | Book-style fold; ultra-thin, lightweight; 8" main screen plus wide cover screen | Unknown | Book-style fold, tablet-sized when open | | Performance | Flagship chipset; flagship 200MP camera; AI-powered One UI 8 optimized for foldables | Unknown | Expected flagship class | | Price | Premium foldable price range (around $1,500+) | Unknown | Rumored >$2,000 USD | | Software | Currently strong Samsung foldable ecosystem support, multitasking features | No foldable software yet | iOS adaptation for foldable TBD |
In conclusion, Samsung leads the polished foldable smartphone market with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in 2025, Apple is expected to enter in 2026-7 with a premium foldable device, and Google currently has no announced foldable model. Samsung’s Fold 7 offers superior hardware refinements and competitive pricing relative to its foldable peers, while Apple’s rumored device aims for a larger form factor and higher price point that might define the premium segment in foldables going forward [1][2][4][5].
Meanwhile, five tech companies from China - Honor, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus - are also releasing folding phones, adding to the competition in this rapidly evolving market.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Series, including the Watch8 and Watch8 Classic, has also been released, offering enhanced fitness capabilities and a range of sensors [6][7]. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7, another new foldable device from Samsung, features an outer display called 'FlexWindow', which is 4.1" in size and runs from edge to edge of the case. The cover display of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is an AMOLED unit that's 6.5" in size [8][9].
With the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung leads the polished foldable smartphone market in 2025, offering superior hardware refinements and competitive pricing relative to its foldable peers.
Apple's anticipated entry into the foldable market, rumored for late 2026 to early 2027, is expected to come with a premium device, potentially defining the premium segment in foldable devices.
Google, however, has yet to launch a foldable phone, with no confirmed release or detailed specs for an upcoming foldable in 2025.
China is also contributing significantly to the foldable phone market, with five tech companies - Honor, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus - releasing their own foldable devices.
In the realm of technology, manufacturing, finance, retail, and data-and-cloud-computing industries are closely monitoring the evolution of this rapidly expanding market, as foldable smartphones and artificial intelligence continue to redefine the landscape of the smartphone industry.
