Samsung Unveils Slimmer, Smarter Foldables Amid Escalating Competition from Chinese Rivals
Samsung Electronics launched three new foldable smartphones on Wednesday, intensifying its efforts to maintain dominance in a segment where it’s losing ground to Chinese competitors. The South Korean tech giant introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, both thinner than previous iterations, and a more affordable variant, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 represents Samsung’s push to retain its leadership in the premium foldables market. The new device is notably slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, measuring just 8.9mm when folded and an ultra-thin 4.2mm when open. Weighing in at 215 grams, it matches the svelte profiles of rival devices like the Honor Magic V5 and Oppo Find N5. It also features a 6.5-inch cover screen and an expansive 8-inch internal display, complemented by a high-end camera setup that includes a 200-megapixel primary lens, a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and dual 10-megapixel front cameras.
However, battery capacity remains a weak point. The Fold 7 packs a 4,400 mAh battery, considerably smaller than the Magic V5’s 6,100 mAh and Find N5’s 5,600 mAh. Samsung claims the Fold 7 can handle 24 hours of video playback. The device will retail in the U.K. starting at £1,799 ($2,434).
The Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung’s clamshell-style foldable, also sees refinement in form and function. When unfolded, the device is just 6.5mm thick, down from 6.9mm in the previous model. It features a 4.1-inch cover display and a 6.9-inch internal screen. Camera specifications include a 50-megapixel main sensor, 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 10-megapixel front-facing camera. Battery life sees a boost with a 4,300 mAh power cell capable of up to 31 hours of video playback.
Samsung is also expanding access to foldables with the new Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE (Fan Edition), a less expensive alternative designed with more modest specifications. While slightly thicker and smaller than the premium Flip 7, the FE variant starts at £849 compared to the Flip 7’s £1,049 entry point in the U.K.
The announcement comes as Samsung’s share of the global foldable smartphone market declined to 45% in 2024, down from 54% the year before, according to Counterpoint Research. Chinese vendors like Honor and Oppo have rapidly gained traction by offering ultra-slim foldables with superior battery life, challenging Samsung’s dominance. While global foldable sales reached 17.2 million units last year, that number drops to 9.4 million when excluding China, highlighting the country’s growing influence in this sector.
Samsung is also continuing its investment in on-device artificial intelligence. The Fold and Flip 7 models are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, co-developed with Qualcomm, which enables local AI processing. Key AI features include intelligent photo editing tools, such as automatic subject removal from images, and an audio eraser that cleans background noise in videos. Flip 7 users can also access Gemini Live, Google’s AI assistant, overlaid on the camera interface, useful for features like AI-powered fashion recommendations.
Despite the design and AI enhancements, analysts remain cautious. Sheng Win Chow, senior analyst at Counterpoint, emphasized that hardware refinements alone won’t be enough to drive broader adoption. “Lasting leadership depends on redefining what foldables do, not just how they look,” Chow noted.
As Samsung battles in a crowded and increasingly sophisticated field, its latest foldables will need to deliver not just in style but in user experience to maintain relevance. The next phase of competition appears set to center not on form, but on function.