Galaxy Z Fold 7 release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
What we know so far
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is Samsung's upcoming foldable flagship. The phone has started appearing in leaks and rumors now as we approach its unveiling, which is expected sometime in the summer of this year.
So far, we've heard that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 may be heavily inspired in its design by the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, which is a super-slim device with slightly bigger displays exclusive to Samsung's home country and China. This may or may not mean that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will come without S Pen support, something which may upset many Samsung fans.
The phone is expected to come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, although rumors are throwing some Exynos 2500-like shadow on this hope. It's more likely the Fold may get Qualcomm's chip, but we don't know yet whether we'll see a regional split where some versions will come with Samsung's custom-made Exynos chip.
Apart from probably getting lighter and slimmer, we expect the Galaxy Z Fold 7 design to remain pretty much the same. Rumor has it the foldable will keep the price of its predecessor, but a price hike isn't entirely out of the cards yet.
So far, we've heard that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 may be heavily inspired in its design by the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, which is a super-slim device with slightly bigger displays exclusive to Samsung's home country and China. This may or may not mean that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will come without S Pen support, something which may upset many Samsung fans.
Apart from probably getting lighter and slimmer, we expect the Galaxy Z Fold 7 design to remain pretty much the same. Rumor has it the foldable will keep the price of its predecessor, but a price hike isn't entirely out of the cards yet.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is said to come with a huge upgrade in the camera department: it may get a 200MP main camera, similar to the Special Edition.
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Galaxy Z Fold 7 release date
Samsung holds annual Galaxy Unpacked events, where it traditionally announces its foldable phones, so we can expect the trend to repeat in 2025. The last Galaxy Unpacked event was held on July 10, 2024, where the Galaxy Z Fold 6 was unveiled, so we can expect a similar date for the 2025 event, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Stay tuned for updates!
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | July, 2025* | July, 2025* |
| Galaxy Z Fold 6 | July 10, 2024 | July 24, 2024 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 5 | July 26, 2023 | August 11, 2023 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 4 | August 10, 2022 | August 26, 2022 |
* - probable dates
Galaxy Z Fold 7 price and deals
Some rumors say to expect the same pricing strategy as last year, while others hint at a potential price increase given the Z Fold Special Edition is one pricy device (not that the current Folds aren't). So far, it can go either way. Here's what we expect in terms of the potential Galaxy Z Fold 7 price.
| Phone model | 256GB of storage | 512GB of storage | 1TB of storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Fold | - | $1,980 | - |
| Galaxy Z Fold 2 | $1,999 | - | - |
| Galaxy Z Fold 3 | $1,799 | $1,899 | - |
| Galaxy Z Fold 4 | $1,799 | $1,899 | - |
| Galaxy Z Fold 5 | $1,799 | $1,919 | $2,159 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 6 | $1,899 | $1,999 | $2,199 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | $1,899* | $1,999* | $2,199 |
*- anticipated prices
Galaxy Z Fold 7 deals to expect:
Samsung: Samsung traditionally offers generous trade-in deals on its own website, in addition to carrier deals. For example, the current Galaxy Z Fold 6 could be had with up to $1,200 off in trade-in credit, from Samsung's website.
Verizon: When such a premium phone is first introduced, carriers, including Verizon, offer generous deals. It's likely that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be available with a discount of up to $1000 with an eligible trade-in and a new line on an Unlimited plan.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile is also expected to be generous with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 deals, just like it's always been with premium Samsung Galaxies. You can expect a few deals to choose from: you may be able to pick from up to $1000 off with a trade-in and eligible plan (usually Go5G Plus or Go5G Next), or up to $600-$800 off with a new line.
AT&T: AT&T is also likely to offer up to $1000 off with an eligible trade-in and certain unlimited plans for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, just like it does for the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile is also expected to be generous with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 deals, just like it's always been with premium Samsung Galaxies. You can expect a few deals to choose from: you may be able to pick from up to $1000 off with a trade-in and eligible plan (usually Go5G Plus or Go5G Next), or up to $600-$800 off with a new line.
AT&T: AT&T is also likely to offer up to $1000 off with an eligible trade-in and certain unlimited plans for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, just like it does for the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
It's worth noting that according to a late 2023 leak, Samsung may have to deal with a higher-priced chipset in 2025, which could potentially lead to a bump in prices of its flagship phones, including the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7. For now, we can still reasonably speculate that its price will remain the same as the Z Fold 6, but we'll let you know whether this prediction could have any merit, as soon as more information on the matter comes up.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera
Galaxy Z Fold 6 camera for reference (Image credit - PhoneArena)
Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera setup:
- 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera, F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 123˚
- 200MP Wide-angle Camera, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 85˚
- 10MP Telephoto Camera, PDAF, OIS, F2.4, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 36˚, 3X optical zoom
- 10MP Selfie Camera, F2.2, Pixel size: 1.22μm, FOV: 85˚
- 4MP Under Display Camera, F1.8, Pixel size: 2.0μm, FOV: 85˚
Above are our safest, speculated camera specs of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, based on the Z Fold 6's specs. There's a good chance that the main camera will go up massively in megapixels, 200MP to be exact, judging by what we saw from the limited-region Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition.
As usual, we can expect a triple-camera setup on the back, with a wide main camera, ultra-wide one, and a telephoto, for optical zoom.
On the cover screen of the phone we'll get a cutout selfie camera, likely 10MP, and under the foldable screen - an additional, ''hidden'' 4MP selfie camera. That one is perhaps the most interesting one, technologically, albeit traditionally the weakest in performance. It's hidden behind an area on the folding screen where the pixels are less dense, and can capture images through those, giving the impression that there's no visible camera on the folding screen at all. Which is a good thing, unobtrusive.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 storage
Galaxy Z Fold 7 storage capacity:
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
- 1000 GB
Based on Samsung's track record with the Z Fold series, we can expect the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to start with 256GB of storage, with 512GB and 1TB variants also available, for a higher price. A recent leak also confirmed the storage capacities of the phone, corroborating what was earlier expected.
Of course, no chance of external storage (SD card slot), as is the norm for modern flagships, unfortunately, so whatever storage you get the phone with - you'll be stuck with that.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 design
Galaxy Z Fold 6 for reference (Image credit - PhoneArena)
Recently, reputable analyst Ross Young said that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will get bigger screens, as it will be a carbon copy of the limited-region Z Fold 6 Special Edition.
With that in mind, we can expect the Z Fold 7 to be bigger, wider, and more akin to other foldables on the market, as opposed to the still-narrow Galaxy Z Fold 6 and 5 (when closed). In addition, we can expect a slightly thinner and lighter build - 236 grams, down from the 239 grams of the Z Fold 6.
The widening of the cover screen is particularly interesting, as it's a feature many Z Fold users have been requesting for a while now. It means that, finally, Z Fold 7 users won't have to compromise with a narrow screen when the phone is closed, but will get a pretty traditional smartphone experience from the cover screen.
In turn the folding screen will offer an even bigger (wider) tablet experience, but we'll talk about screen specs more in the next paragraph.
A recent rumor also indicates that the crease will be dramatically improved, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 may have bigger vapor chamber for cooling. However, keep in mind that the source for this rumor doesn't have the best track record, so take this info with a grain of salt.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 display
Galaxy Z Fold 6 display for reference (Image credit - PhoneArena)
| Model | Cover screen | Folding screen |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | 6,5 inches | 8 inches |
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is expected to be a carbon copy of the South Korea-and-China-only Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE.
With that in mind, we can expect its cover screen to get wider and larger, at 6,5 inches, up from 6,3 on the Z Fold 6.
The main attraction - the folding screen - will also get larger at 8 inches, from 7,6 on the Z Fold 6.
Both screens on the Z Fold 7 will be dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, with 120Hz refresh rate, and 2600 nits of peak brightness, meaning flagship specs, and great visibility outdoors. Again based on what we see on the Z Fold 6 SE, we can expect the folding screen to have a 1968-by-2184 resolution, with 367 PPI (pixels-per-inch).
The folding screen, due to its unique properties, will be covered with flexible glass, while the cover screen will be protected by the more traditional Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, as that one doesn't need to fold.
Judging by my personal experience with modern Galaxy Z Fold phones, the folding screen is now quite resistant to minor scratches and fingernails, which wasn't always the case, and is good news. As for the crease in the middle of it, where the folding magic happens, we expect it to be slightly less noticeable, especially in low ambient light, albeit definitely still there, and easy to feel for. No major technological improvements there to be expected, so far.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 battery
Yet again based on the Special Edition Z Fold Samsung released in South Korea and China, we can expect the Z Fold 7 to pack a 4400 mAh battery, split around the folding hinge.
That's exactly the same size as the current Z Fold 6's battery, but the good news is we know it's more than sufficient, as our Galaxy Z Fold 6 review testing showed. We saw up to 12h and 42m of web browsing on a single charge, which was quite impressive. The slightly larger screens on the upcoming Z Fold 7 may have an effect on those numbers, but it'll likely be miniscule.
As for wireless charging, the Z Fold 7 will likely offer 25W speeds. No change for the wireless charging too - 15W speeds, and 4.5W speeds for reverse wireless charging. Overall, the battery situation on the Z Fold 7 is almost certain to be the same as it was on its predecessor.
While some Chinese rival foldables already switched to super fast charging, and a new battery technology, which allows for a thinner phone, we don't expect any of that on the Z Fold 7. However, it's worth noting that Samsung is said to be working on new battery technology of its own, specifically a folding battery, but whether or not that makes it into the Z Fold 7, or is slated for a later foldable, is up for speculation.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 features and software
Galaxy Z Fold 6 for reference (Image credit - PhoneArena)
Like Samsung's other upcoming foldable - the Galaxy Z Flip 7, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is expected to come with Samsung's upcoming OneUI 7 interface, running on top of Android 15. Good news for those who like to use their smartphones for longer than the average is the fact that we can expect regular software and security updates for a good seven years. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 should be nice and safe to use at least until 2031.
OneUI 7 is already rolling out in beta on some Samsung phones, so we know what it will offer - unsurprisingly - AI features. Samsung wants to integrate AI features into its flagship phones, which would let users, including those of the Z Fold 7, make the best out of their device. Writing assist tools, AI-powered content summarizing, call transcripts, and spelling and grammar checks are just some of the new features to expect.
OneUI 7 is also redesigned, and comes with even greater customization options. A new Now Bar (which is suspiciously similar to Apple's Magic Island) will offer instant access to live information, such as countdown timers, music, recordings, and more.
Like the Galaxy Folds before it, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will also come with Flex Mode, which activates when the bottom part of foldable phone is placed flat on a surface, with its top part standing vertically, akin to a tiny laptop. On top of the phone serving as its own camera, video-watching and video call kickstand this way, Flex Mode optimizes apps to split between the two parts of the screen for maximum convenience. For example YouTube would play a video on the top half, while Flex Mode will show playback controls on the bottom half.
A personal favorite of mine is Samsung DeX, which its Z Fold series, including the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7, come with. It's essentially a desktop mode that activates when the phone is connected to an external display, offering a taskbar, windowed apps; in my opinion - the most intuitive and comfortable Android desktop experience.
We can also expect the Z Fold 7 to have stylus support (an S Pen stylus specifically for Samsung's foldables is sold separately, though), and writing features accommodating it, should you need them.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 hardware and specs
Galaxy Z Fold 6 for reference (Image credit - PhoneArena)
Galaxy Z Fold 7 specs*:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- RAM: 12GB
- Battery: 4400 mAh
- Charging: 25W wired, 15W wireless
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Camera setup: 12MP Ultra-Wide, 100MP Wide-angle, 10MP Telephoto, 10MP Selfie, 4MP Under Display
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11, USB Type-C
So far, the majority of leakers are unanimous on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 getting Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. Some rumors indicate it may be a binned version with 7 cores instead of 8. It's also always possible that Samsung may got for a regional split between Qualcomm's chip and it's own Exynos, like it did with the Galaxy S24 series. This is the less likely rumor though, but it's there.
Earlier, we hoped for 16GB of RAM for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but a rumor indicates it may be stuck with 12GB, just like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. 12GB of RAM isn't terrible, per se, but phones are evolving now and 16GB is becoming standard, so hopefully Samsung is thinking about more RAM for the upcoming Fold.
Should I wait for Galaxy Z Fold 7?
- You should wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 if you've always wanted a wider Z Fold that feels like a traditional smartphone when closed, as opposed to the narrow options we've had thus far. This alone is a huge enough reason for me to wait for it, as I could never get used to the narrow Z Folds of the past. In addition, you should wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 if you're planning to upgrade to a reputable, widely-available foldable, with arguably the most features.
- You should not wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 if you already own a Pixel 9 Pro Fold, or a Galaxy Z Fold 5 or 6 that you're happy with, and don't mind the latter two's narrow and tall external screen. Besides the aforementioned bigger screens and its sharper design, the Z Fold 7 will likely not give you much of a good reason to upgrade. If you were planning to upgrade for OneUI 7 and its AI features, no need - those will all make it to your older Z Fold.
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