SAMSUNG is back with more foldable smartphones and this time I think they’ve nailed this risky move.
The South Korean firm has been going at it since 2019 but the market share remains pretty small compared to traditional size mobiles.
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Chief among the concerns is how bulky they are – and this year really feels like Samsung has given its devices an Ozempic jab.
I was among the first to get hands-on with the Galaxy Z Fold7, Flip7 and the new Flip7 FE briefly at the launch event.
So I’ve not put them through their paces (that’ll come very soon with a more comprehensive review) but I’ve certainly got a good feel and play around.
First up, the Fold7, this is the one that opens out into a mini tablet so you can get an amazing big screen experience when watching Netflix or use multiple apps simultaneously.
While I’ve always admired the Fold range, it never felt quite like a “proper phone” when folded.
Now, when folded you wouldn’t even notice that there’s a massive screen right in the middle.
And I think that’s the way it should be, the big display serves as an added bonus when you need it but most of the time you use it closed.
At 8.9mm, it’s really not far from the iPhone 16 Pro Max which is 8.25mm.
And in terms of weight, it’s now 215g – that’s lighter than an iPhone 16 Pro Max (227g).
They’ve even managed to put the same mighty 200MP camera from the Galaxy S25 mobiles but it protrudes less to maintain that thin effect.
It feels natural to hold and looks mega slick.
Then there’s the Flip7, Samsung’s clam shell-style foldable which has also been on a tech diet.
It’s now 6.5mm thin when folded.
And despite this, Samsung has somehow managed to pack a bigger battery inside.
What I love about the Flip7 is the external screen (officially known as the “FlexWindow”) is now 4.1-inches and does lots more.
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For example, you can use Gemini AI directly, so sometimes you don’t even have to open the device up.
It too is an absolute delight to hold and so nice that it takes up for less space in your pocket.
But the most exciting announcement for me is the Flip7 FE.
For those who don’t know the FE editions already, it’s Samsung’s more budget-friendly version of its premium handsets.
On first look, I actually struggled to tell the main Flip7 and the FE version apart.
But the Flip7 FE is actually quite a bit chunkier and the screen less impressive, as well as a smaller display surface on the external screen.
That said, at £850 it’s great that Samsung is trying to open the foldable market up to others – if only it could squeeze the price a tiny bit more, maybe with time.
The Fold7 goes from £1,799 all the way up to £2,149 depending on the storage size you pick, while the Flip7 ranges from £1,049 to £1,149.
It’s a big ask – so it’s just as well Samsung is now doing a 100 buy and try scheme allowing people to get a full refund if they’re not convinced.
I’ll be back with full reviews once I’ve received some samples soon.
