Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 news: Slimmer design but back to Exynos?

The Galaxy Z Fold series has become synonymous with cutting-edge foldable technology.

Although it hasn’t been long since the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, rumours surrounding the next entry in the series – the Galaxy Z Fold 7 – are already building anticipation.

Despite being early in the development cycle, leaks suggest Samsung’s next foldable could be slimmer and larger, with significant improvements across the board.

Here’s what we know so far.

When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 be released?

Samsung’s release cycle for flagship devices is well-established, with new Galaxy Z Fold models debuting annually at the company’s Unpacked events around the mid-point of each calendar year.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 launched in 2024, so it’s safe to assume that the Z Fold 7 will follow suit in 2025.

If past trends hold, we can expect the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to be revealed in July or August 2025, coinciding with next year’s Unpacked event.

How much will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 cost?

Pricing rumours for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 are speculative at this point, but looking at recent models can give us a reasonable estimate:

Sadly, it doesn’t look like things will be getting any cheaper for the next generation. According to leaker PandaFlash on X, both the Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 will have the same prices as their predecessors in “most markets”.

That’s likely to include the UK and US, so you’ll still probably have to pay almost £2,000/$2,000 or even more for the device. Of course, this may turn out to be incorrect and there may be significant price reductions, but that doesn’t seem likely.

Luke Baker

Once the phone is officially announced, it will likely be available for pre-order immediately after the Unpacked event, just as previous models have been, with an on-sale date 1-2 weeks later.

What specs and features will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 have?

While we’re still far from an official spec sheet, early rumours provide an exciting glimpse into what the Galaxy Z Fold 7 might offer.

Samsung seems focused on creating a slimmer, more lightweight device without compromising on screen size or performance.

A second model?

Samsung appears to be planning two versions of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for release next year, according to a report by a Dutch site GalaxyClub.

Three codenames for upcoming foldables have been revealed: ‘B7’ for the Galaxy Z Flip 7, ‘Q7’ for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and ‘Q7M’ for an unidentified foldable.

The ‘Q7’ codename aligns with Samsung’s convention for its Fold series, suggesting that both Q7 and Q7M may be part of the Fold lineup. However, the ‘M’ in Q7M remains a mystery.

Luke Baker

Typically, Samsung’s Special Edition phones include an ‘A’ suffix, as seen with the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition coded as ‘Q6A.’

The absence of this ‘A’ designation raises the possibility that the Q7M might be a different model, for example, the Galaxy Z Fold FE, a more budget-friendly version of the Fold series.

Design

One of the standout rumours (via Korea Economic Daily) is that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be thinner and lighter than its predecessors. This report suggested the Fold 7 would be around the same thickness as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is just 8.6mm thick.

Leaked CAD renders published by Android Headlines appear to confirm this. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 will supposedly measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, and 9.5mm when folded – potentially dropping to closer to 9mm if you don’t include the camera bump. This would make it the slimmest Galaxy Fold yet, even edging past the Fold Special Edition’s 10.6mm folded thickness.

This matches up with a previous rumour from Kro on X, who suggested the Fold 7 would beat the Special Edition in terms of thinness. As with all CAD-based leaks, some physical elements may change in the final product, but the broad strokes appear to be accurate.

It’s a little thicker than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but not by much. This would be a significant achievement, considering the Z Fold 6 comes in at 12.1mm when folded.

Luke Baker

Back in late August, Honor teased Samsung as it promoted the Magic V3, which comes in much slimmer at 9.2mm.

Samsung has a history of slimming down its foldables, and the Z Fold 7 could continue that trend while ensuring the phone maintains its durability in spite of a thinner profile.

Despite the slimming, don’t expect major design changes. PandaFlash claims Samsung will keep the flat frame and camera rings of the Fold 6.

Display

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 could feature a larger display, with rumours (via KED Global) pointing to an interior foldable screen that expands to 8 inches, up from the Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch main panel. This would make it one of the largest foldable screens on the market (Huawei’s Mate XT notwithstanding).

This is largely echoed by leaked CADs from the reputable Android Headlines. They suggest the inner screen may increase to 8.2 inches, and the cover screen to 6.5 inches. That’s up slightly from the Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch inner panel.

Luke Baker

Additionally, according to a report from SamMobile, Samsung might employ blue phosphorescent OLED technology (PHOLED), which could allow for a brighter display while using less power. This change could contribute to the device’s slimmer design by reducing battery size without sacrificing screen quality or longevity.

PandaFlash adds that Samsung will use “highly efficient” displays, contributing to a boost in battery life – up to 55 minutes longer in internal tests compared to the Fold 6. This would help offset the 4400mAh battery, which is expected to return unchanged.

S Pen

According to The Elec, Samsung Display is reportedly developing a technology to enable S Pen input without a digitiser, which could eliminate the trade-off between a slim design and stylus support in future foldable devices.

If successful, this innovation would allow Galaxy foldables to retain both features without compromising thickness. However, no timeline for mass production has been confirmed.

But, according to Kro on X, the slimmer form factor has forced Samsung to scale back some S Pen features, though it’s not yet clear which ones. The S Pen for the Z Fold series already lacks Bluetooth, unlike the S Pen Pro, and this trend may continue or even expand.

Interestingly, PandaFlash suggests a new, thicker S Pen may launch alongside the Fold 7, possibly with an improved tip for a better writing experience. Samsung isn’t restricted by an internal slot, which could give them freedom in pen design.

Performance

There was previously some confusion over the chipset, but it now appears that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will indeed use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 “Elite for Galaxy”, according to a leak from the highly-regarded PandaFlash. This aligns with Samsung’s history of using top-tier Snapdragon chips in its book-style foldables. The Exynos 2500, meanwhile, looks set for the Flip 7 and Flip FE models instead.

A previous rumour (via GSMArena) suggests the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 2500 chipset, rather than one of Qualcomm’s top Snapdragon processors, which have traditionally powered the company’s foldables.

As IDC analyst Brian Ma said in an X post, Samsung is “aiming to secure design wins for mobile models scheduled for release in 2H” with the Exynos 2500, but it looks like this will not appear in the Fold 7 anymore.

PandaFlash previously suggested on X that the Z Fold 7 will offer 12GB of RAM across all models, alongside options for 256GB, 512GB and 1TB of internal storage.

Luke Baker

Cameras

Camera specs for the Z Fold 7 remain speculative, but based on Samsung’s track record, we can expect improvements across the board.

The biggest change may come in the form of a new 200Mp main camera, according to GalaxyClub. This would mark a major leap from the 50Mp sensor on the Fold 6 and bring the Fold 7 in line with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The 12Mp ultrawide and 10Mp telephoto lenses are expected to return, but the under-display camera on the inner screen may finally be getting an upgrade too, per the same report. It’s unclear if that will include a higher megapixel count, but an improved sensor for better light capture seems likely. The outer front-facing camera is expected to remain at 10Mp.

Luke Baker

The Z Fold 6’s triple-camera setup was already impressive, featuring a 50Mp main sensor, a 12Mp ultrawide lens, and a 10Mp telephoto lens. It’s likely that the Z Fold 7 will bring other incremental upgrades, potentially adding new sensor technology or improvements in AI-driven photography features.

Expect enhancements in low-light performance, zoom capabilities, and possibly an improved under-display camera, for an uninterrupted viewing experience on the inner screen.

Battery & Charging

A thinner device often raises concerns about battery capacity, but Samsung could mitigate this with more power-efficient components, such as the aforementioned rumoured PHOLED display.

Early reports (via LifeWire) suggest Samsung might use a smaller battery without sacrificing battery life. But now, it seems that the Fold 7 will use the same battery as the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Luke Baker

The Z Fold 6 features a 4400mAh battery with 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, so expect at least that as a baseline on the Fold 7.

Howeve, it looks like we’ll see some other improvements. As confirmed by China’s 3C certification database and reported by MyFixGuide, it will support 25W wired charging, just like its predecessor. No signs of the long-awaited 45W upgrade – despite cheaper Samsung models now offering it.

Software

By the time the Z Fold 7 launches, it will likely run on Android 15, dressed with Samsung’s own One UI 7 experience on top.

Leaks suggest that the foldable-specific version of One UI 7 will be a massive overhaul compared to previous versions. Expect a redesigned user interface with new icons, animations, and improved multitasking capabilities, tailored to foldable devices.

A vertical app drawer and other UI tweaks could make the experience on the Z Fold 7 feel fresh, improving user productivity with the larger screen.

Luke Baker

This is all we currently know. In the meantime, check out our list of the best foldable phones to see what the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be up against.