Samsung’s New Foldables Take Aim at Rivals

Just a few years ago, foldable phones were little more than ambitious tech dreams—futuristic and fragile concepts that sparked curiosity more than confidence. Today, they have evolved into one of the fast-growing segments of the smartphone industry.

Samsung Electronics, which entered the foldable race in 2019, has played a defining role in shaping this category. Now in its sixth year, the South Korean tech giant faces mounting pressure from Chinese rivals like Huawei and Honor, along with growing speculation about Apple’s eventual entry into the foldable space.

Despite their appeal, foldables are still a niche product in the global smartphone market. According to IDC and Counterpoint Research, foldables accounted for just 1.2% of global smartphone sales in 2023, though that figure is projected to grow to 3.5% by 2027, with annual shipments reaching 48.1 million units.

Samsung’s share of the global foldable market has declined from 54% in 2023 to 45% in 2024, according to Canalys. This is largely due to gains made by Chinese brands. Of the 17.2 million foldables sold globally in 2024, only 9.4 million units were sold outside mainland China. The competition, however, is intensifying. Oppo launched the Find N5 on February 20, while Honor—spun off from Huawei in 2020—unveiled its ultra-thin Magic V5 on July 2. Meanwhile, persistent leaks suggest Apple could debut its first foldable iPhone as early as 2026 or 2027.

In response, Samsung showcased its latest foldables during its high-profile Galaxy Unpacked event in Brooklyn on July 9, unveiling three new models: the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7 and the more affordable Z Flip 7 FE. Pre-orders began the same day, with official sales starting on July 25.

As more players crowd the foldable space and consumer interest gradually builds, Samsung’s next challenge lies not just in innovating, but in making foldables more durable, affordable and appealing to mainstream buyers. Samsung’s new foldables are expected to launch in Nepal soon. While local pricing and launch dates have not been confirmed, consumer anticipation is already high.

Galaxy Z Fold 7: Slimmer, Sharper and Smarter

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a major refinement of Samsung’s flagship foldable lineup. It is 3.2mm thinner and 24g lighter than its predecessor, the Z Fold 6, and features larger displays: a 6.5-inch cover screen and an expansive 8-inch main display.

Samsung achieved the slimmer profile using thinner Armor Aluminum and a redesigned hinge. However, the new design drops S Pen support, as the specialized screen coating from earlier models has been removed.

The Fold 7 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, paired with 12GB of RAM, delivering strong performance for multitasking, AI features and gaming. The 4,400mAh battery remains unchanged from the previous model. Camera upgrades, however, are significant. The main sensor is now a 200MP wide camera, offering four times more detail and 44% brighter images, according to Samsung. The 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto cameras with 3× optical zoom remains the same. For better selfies, Samsung has replaced the under-display camera with a 10MP hole-punch front camera.

Starting at $1,999, the Fold 7 is available in Blue Shadow, Jet Black, Silver Shadow and an online-exclusive Mint finish. In Nepal, the phone is expected to be priced at Rs 249,999 for the 12GB/256GB variant, Rs 275,999 for the 12GB/512GB mode and Rs 300,000 for the top-tier 16GB/1TB version.

Galaxy Z Flip 7: Style Meets Performance

While the Fold 7 targets power users, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is aimed at style-conscious and budget-aware consumers.

The Flip 7 features major upgrades in design, battery, hardware and software. Its outer FlexWindow now measures 4.1 inches, offering 2,600 nits of brightness and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The inner display is grown to 6.9 inches, and the device is slimmer at 13.7mm, down from 14.9mm.

Battery life has also improved, thanks to a 4,300mAh cell, delivering up to 31 hours of video playback. In a strategic shift, Samsung has replaced Qualcomm’s chips with its in-house Exynos 2500 processor.

This brings Samsung DeX support to the Flip series for the first time, enabling a desktop-like interface when connected to external displays. The camera setup remains largely the same as the Flip 6, with a 50MP wide sensor and a 12MP ultrawide lens, now enhanced with AI-powered features accessible via the FlexWindow.

Available in Blue Shadow, Jet Black, Coral Red and an online-exclusive Mint color option, the Flip 7 comes in two storage variants, 256GB and 512GB, starting at $1,099. In Nepal, prices are expected to be approximately Rs 159,999 for the 12GB/256GB version and Rs 170,000 for the 12GB/512GB model.

Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: A More Affordable Gateway to Foldables

Rounding out the trio is the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, Samsung’s most affordable foldable yet. Priced from $899 for the 128GB model, it undercuts the regular Z Flip 7 by $200, though it still doesn’t quite qualify as a “budget” device.

In Nepal, the Z Flip 7 FE is expected to be priced at around Rs 135,000 for the 128GB variant and Rs 150,000 for the 256GB model.

The Flip 7 FE resembles a refined version of the Z Flip 6, featuring a 3.4-inch AMOLED cover display for quick access to widgets and notifications, along with a 6.7-inch main screen. It is powered by the Exynos 2400 processor, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of base storage.

The camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor and a 12MP ultrawide lens, delivering capable performance for casual users, especially those exploring foldables for the first time. The device runs on Android 16 with One UI 8 and supports most of the AI and FlexWindow features found on the higher-end Flip 7.

(This interview was originally publihsed in August 2025 issue of New Business Age Magazine.)