The Galaxy Z Fold 7 stands out as the first foldable cellphone I really purchase

It’s been just below six years for the reason that first Galaxy Fold launched, and within the time since then, foldable telephones have grow to be among the many most fascinating within the Android world. I’ve personally examined and reviewed a lot of them, together with fashions from Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and others.

However as a lot as I respect what foldables provide, and as somebody who’s been reviewing telephones for 10 years, I’ve but to truly buy one for myself. Why? One of many important issues that’s stored me away is the {hardware}. Foldable telephones have gotten considerably thinner and lighter for the reason that first Galaxy Fold, however a lot of them are nonetheless bulkier than what I’m comfy carrying daily.

Nonetheless, which will quickly change. The most recent Galaxy Z Fold 7 leak showcases a Samsung foldable that appears unbelievably skinny. If the leak is correct, the Fold 7 stands out as the first folding cellphone I lastly spend my cash on.

A number of leaks have now steered that Samsung is cooking up an ultra-thin design for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, with Samsung itself even teasing the design in some latest press releases. However it wasn’t till yesterday’s leak from OnLeaks that we acquired our first good glimpse of what this skinny design will appear to be — and it’s nothing in need of spectacular.

Whereas the precise numbers are nonetheless up within the air, earlier leaks have steered that the Fold 7 could possibly be as skinny as 4.54mm and even 3.9mm when unfolded and roughly 9.0mm thick when folded shut. For comparability, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 measures 5.6mm when unfolded and 12.1mm when folded.

These numbers have been floating round for some time now, and whereas they definitely sound spectacular, it’s completely different to see along with your eyes the distinction these millimeters make.

Wanting on the Z Fold 7 subsequent to the Z Fold 6, it’s onerous to imagine this yr’s Samsung foldable may very well appear to be this. It appears to be like like a cellphone I may carry daily with out subject. One I may simply slip into my pocket, use one-handed, and many others. I’ve not felt that manner about some other US folding cellphone so far, and it’s thrilling to see Samsung may get there with the Fold 7.

After all, Samsung received’t be the primary firm to launch a super-thin folding cellphone. OPPO launched the Discover N5 earlier this yr with an incredibly skinny physique at simply 4.21mm when unfolded. And final September, the HONOR Magic V3 debuted with an equally spectacular 4.4mm unfolded design.

I like what OPPO and HONOR have performed with these telephones, and I say that as somebody who used (and fell in love with) the Magic V3 final yr. However there’s an enormous subject with each telephones: they aren’t appropriate for the US market.

Not solely are the telephones not offered right here, however even should you undergo the difficulty of importing one, you’d nonetheless must take care of missing provider bands, unoptimized software program, no guarantee help, and so forth. OPPO and HONOR’s {hardware} is precisely what I would like out of a foldable, however neither one is a practical buy.

That’s exactly why the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is so thrilling. It received’t be the primary foldable cellphone with a ridiculously skinny design, however will probably be the primary one which is sensible to purchase should you dwell within the US. It’ll work along with your provider’s 5G community, it’ll have software program that’s absolutely optimized for the North American market, and will one thing go fallacious, you’ll have guarantee and insurance coverage choices to get it fastened.

These are all issues that different US foldables (just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Professional Fold) have already got going for them, however once more, I come again to the {hardware} subject. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is shaping as much as ship the advantages of a longtime US folding cellphone whereas additionally providing the skinny design I’ve been ready for — and it might be a mix that’s too highly effective to disregard.

A robust mixture certainly, however will it’s sufficient to push me to purchase my first folding cellphone? It’s definitely getting shut, although I’m not 100% offered fairly but.

Whereas Samsung’s design for the Z Fold 7 looks as if a surefire winner, a few of the rumored specs nonetheless go away me unsure. The brand new 200MP main digital camera seems to be all however assured, however it appears equally probably we’ll be caught with the identical (and getting old) 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto cameras. I’m additionally nervous in regards to the battery, which is speculated to stay at simply 4,400mAh. Even with the spectacular {hardware}, will I be OK with middling secondary cameras and such a disappointing battery capability? For a cellphone that’s more likely to price $1,900? I’m not so certain.

It’s on no account a assure that I’ll purchase the Galaxy Z Fold 7, however this new have a look at its design does have me critically enthusiastic about it in a manner I wasn’t beforehand. I hope Samsung outfits the remainder of the cellphone with the specs it deserves, as a result of in that case, 2025 could lastly be the yr I buy my first foldable. Simply don’t inform my pockets.