The Ultra Experience Unfolds July 9 in New York
Samsung’s next generation of foldable smartphones, the highly anticipated Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, are poised for their official debut at the Galaxy Unpacked event in New York City on July 9, 2025. Streamed live via Samsung’s channels, this event marks a pivotal moment for the company’s foldable ambitions, promising significant refinements focused on thinness, display quality, and durability. Early leaks and official teasers paint a picture of iterative but meaningful evolution, targeting the pain points that have long challenged foldable adopters.
Design and Build: The Relentless Pursuit of Thinness
Samsung’s mantra for its 2025 foldables is clear: thinner, lighter, more advanced. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 appears set to claim the title of world’s thinnest foldable phone when unfolded. Multiple sources converge on a startling 4.2mm thickness in its open state, a dramatic reduction from the Z Fold 6’s 5.6mm, potentially undercutting even the Oppo Find N5. Folded, it measures 8.9mm. Equally impressive is its weight, tipped at a remarkably light 215 grams, enhancing pocketability and one-handed use despite its expansive screens. Samsung attributes this to refined hinge mechanics and materials science, also promising improved dust resistance alongside the expected IPX8 water rating.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 follows suit, shedding bulk when closed. It’s expected to measure 13.7mm folded (down from 14.9mm on the Flip 6) and 6.5mm unfolded. Weight sees a marginal increase to 188g (from 187g), likely due to a larger battery. While retaining its clamshell identity, subtle aesthetic shifts towards slightly boxier edges are rumored, potentially improving grip. Durability remains paramount, with Samsung touting enhanced hinge mechanisms rated for 200,000+ folds and stronger display layers to combat scratches and the infamous crease. Both models are expected in familiar Samsung color palettes, with Jet Black, Silver, and Blue for the Fold, and Jet Black, Blue Shadow, Coral Red, and Green Mint (online exclusive) for the Flip.
Displays: Bigger, Brighter, Less Creased
Display technology receives substantial attention. The Z Fold 7 is slated for an 8-inch main folding display paired with a 6.5-inch outer cover screen. Crucially, Samsung seems focused on minimizing the visibility of the inner display’s crease, leveraging technology previewed at MWC 2025. Early adopters hope this brings it closer to the near-seamless experience offered by Chinese rivals. Peak brightness is rumored to hit a dazzling 2,600 nits on both internal and cover displays, ensuring superb outdoor visibility. The aspect ratios may also see subtle tweaks for better usability.
The Z Flip 7’s upgrades are arguably more transformative for its user experience. Its cover screen leaps from 3.4 inches to a much more functional 4.1-inch panel, finally approaching the utility offered by competitors like the Motorola Razr. The main internal display also grows slightly to 6.9 inches. Both panels are also expected to reach 2,600 nits peak brightness. However, the success of this larger cover display hinges critically on Samsung’s software philosophy. Historically, Samsung has treated the Flip’s front screen more like a smartwatch companion, limiting full app functionality and forcing users into the Samsung Keyboard, which many find inferior to alternatives like Gboard. If Samsung doesn’t significantly open up One UI 8’s cover screen capabilities – allowing full app support and third-party keyboard integration – this hardware win could be undermined, leaving Motorola with a software advantage despite similar hardware.
Performance, Cameras, and Battery: A Mixed Bag
Under the hood, the Z Fold 7 is universally expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite “for Galaxy” chipset, the same powerhouse driving the Galaxy S25 Ultra, paired with 12GB of RAM and storage options up to 1TB. This promises flagship-level performance for productivity and multitasking. Its camera system sees the most significant leap: a 200MP main sensor, lifted directly from the S25 Ultra, replaces the Z Fold 6’s 50MP shooter. This is a monumental upgrade on paper, finally addressing a key criticism where foldables lagged behind premium slabs. The ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are expected to remain at 12MP and 10MP, respectively, while the under-display camera (UPC) on the inner screen may see incremental improvements, though a resolution leap seems unlikely.
The Z Flip 7’s performance story is less clear-cut. Reports conflict on whether it will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite or Samsung’s own Exynos 2500 chipset. Yields issues with the Exynos 2500 previously led Samsung to use Snapdragon exclusively in the S25 series globally, making the Snapdragon option more likely, especially in North American markets. RAM and storage are expected to mirror the Flip 6: 12GB RAM with 256GB/512GB options. Disappointingly, the camera hardware appears static: a dual-camera setup with 50MP main and 12MP ultra-wide sensors, plus a 10MP inner selfie cam. Samsung will rely heavily on software enhancements via its ProVisual Engine AI and the new chip’s ISP for any camera improvements. Battery capacity, however, gets a welcome boost to 4,300 mAh (from 4,000 mAh), crucial for offsetting the larger displays. Both models are expected to retain 25W wired and 15W wireless charging.
Software, AI, and the Ecosystem Launch
Both foldables will launch with Android 16 overlaid with Samsung’s One UI 8.0. Expect a heavy emphasis on Galaxy AI features expanding upon those introduced with the S25 series, potentially including new on-device AI tools for photography, productivity, and search. Multi-tasking capabilities on the Z Fold 7 should be further refined. S Pen support remains, though rumors suggest a potential redesign for the stylus itself. The software experience on the Z Flip 7’s cover screen will be critical; failure to enable full app functionality and keyboard choice could squander the hardware’s potential.
Samsung is already drumming up pre-launch interest with a reservation program. Signing up before July 9 guarantees a $50 Samsung credit towards pre-orders (usable towards the phones or accessories like the expected Galaxy Watch 8), enhanced trade-in values (potentially up to $1,150 savings), triple reward points, and entry into a sweepstakes for a $5,000 Samsung credit. Reservations require no deposit or obligation.
Early Verdict: Refinement Over Revolution
Based on the substantial leaks and official hints, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 represent Samsung’s most confident stride yet in foldable evolution. The Z Fold 7, potentially branded simply as an “Ultra” experience rather than a separate Ultra model 15, focuses on becoming dramatically thinner and lighter while finally granting a truly flagship-grade camera with its 200MP sensor. If the crease reduction is significant, it could eliminate another major user friction point. It positions itself as the ultimate foldable productivity powerhouse.
The Z Flip 7’s narrative is about maximizing the flip phone’s form factor. The larger 4.1-inch cover screen is a direct response to consumer demand and competitor pressure. However, its impact rests entirely on Samsung’s willingness to liberate its software. Combined with the battery boost and potential thermal improvements via a larger vapor chamber, it could be the most compelling Flip yet – if users aren’t fighting the software to use the front screen effectively. The rumored static main cameras remain a weakness against competitors who are pushing imaging harder on their flips.
Pre-launch reservations offer low-risk incentives for the curious. However, the true test comes on July 9th. Will Samsung’s thinness quest compromise battery life or feel in hand? How effective is the crease reduction? And critically, has One UI 8 unlocked the Z Flip 7’s cover screen potential? Samsung appears closer than ever to delivering foldables that transcend the “novelty” label, but key questions remain unanswered until the full Unpacked reveal.
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