Is the Foldable Future Finally Here? How the Galaxy Z Fold 7 Changes the Game for Apple and Beyond

A Bold New Era for Foldable Phones 📱✨

Foldable phones have long been the “next big thing” that always seemed just around the corner but never quite arrived. For years, skeptics dismissed them as gimmicky or bulky, more like tech experiments than serious consumer products. But with the unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, the narrative is shifting. This latest iteration might not only be the best foldable yet—it could finally offer a vision compelling enough to influence Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone. For the first time, foldables aren’t just futuristic—they feel ready for the mainstream.

The Evolution of Foldables: What’s New in Galaxy Z Fold 7 📐

For years, the Galaxy Z Fold line was seen as a prototype pushed into production. Its thickness, due to the dual-display foldable structure, made it awkward in the hand and hard to justify. Even as Samsung improved the design with each version, many tech enthusiasts felt like they were carrying two phones stacked together, all for a feature—an expanding screen—that didn’t solve a clear problem.

However, this narrative began to shift with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The key breakthrough? Its ultra-thin design. At just 8.9mm when closed and 4.2mm when unfolded, it now mimics the profile of a typical phone—finally removing the bulky stigma. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro is 8.2mm, and the upcoming iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be 5.5mm. Suddenly, the foldable phone isn’t just a niche gadget—it’s a viable daily driver.

This redesign has done something no previous model could: make people, especially longtime iPhone users, actually want one. Where earlier folds seemed impractical, the Fold 7 appears polished, purposeful, and premium—offering screen real estate without visual compromise.

Yet, the \$1,999.99 price tag remains daunting. It’s a \$100 increase from last year and dangerously close to the \$2100–\$2300 price range predicted for Apple’s own foldable iPhone. Still, the Fold 7 demonstrates that the hardware is finally ready, paving the way for a competitive future in the foldable space.

What Undercode Say: Is This the Turning Point for Foldable Phones? 📊

Samsung’s Winning Formula

Samsung’s dominance in the foldable market hasn’t always been because of superior innovation—it was often due to a lack of serious competition. But the Fold 7 shifts the dynamic entirely. It’s not just better than what came before—it redefines what’s expected. Slimmer, sleeker, and more refined, it’s the first foldable that feels like a phone first, not a compromise.

A Wake-Up Call for Apple

For Apple, the Fold 7 isn’t just another Samsung device—it’s a warning shot. The refinement seen in this model sets a new bar for foldables, one that Apple will be pressured to meet or exceed if it wants to compete. Apple has always been a late mover that perfects technology others pioneered. With the Fold 7’s slim profile and near-tablet display, the blueprint is clearer than ever. If Apple can add its ecosystem polish, it might finally be time for a foldable iPhone to emerge.

Why Thickness Matters

Previous models failed not because the concept was flawed but because execution felt clunky. The bulkiness made foldables a hard sell. With Samsung solving that problem, the last major barrier is gone. Now it’s about functionality, app optimization, and long-term durability—all areas where Apple tends to excel. The Fold 7 is no longer just a beta gadget—it’s an industry-ready format.

Consumer Adoption Still Has Hurdles

Even with improvements, foldables still face the price barrier. At nearly \$2,000, it’s not a mass-market device yet. Still, with consistent innovation, price points tend to drop. If the Fold 7 signals that foldables are finally good enough to live up to the hype, we might see broader adoption by 2026, especially if Apple throws its weight behind the format.

✅ Fact Checker Results

Claim: Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner than previous models
✅ True – Now 8.9mm closed and 4.2mm open, much slimmer than Fold 6’s 12.1mm.

Claim: Apple is preparing a foldable iPhone in the \$2100–\$2300 range
✅ True – Multiple supply chain leaks support this price estimate.

Claim: Foldable phones are still a niche market

✅ True – Despite growth, foldables make up under 5% of the smartphone market globally.

🔮 Prediction: What Comes Next for Foldables?

The Fold 7 will likely push the foldable conversation forward at a pace we haven’t seen before. With its game-changing thinness and increasingly polished design, it’s the first foldable that genuinely feels mainstream-ready. Expect:

A major increase in consumer curiosity, especially from Apple users.
A likely foldable iPhone preview by late 2025, capitalizing on this shift.
Increased pressure on app developers to optimize interfaces for foldable layouts.
And most importantly, price adjustments that will make foldables more accessible by 2026.

If Samsung keeps this momentum and Apple joins the game, we could soon witness the true foldable revolution—no longer just “next-gen,” but this-gen.

References:

Reported By: 9to5mac.com
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