Samsung finally did it. After years of lagging behind Chinese competitors, the company has finally made a book-style foldable smartphone that’s as thin and light as a regular slab smartphone — something the competition has been doing for a couple of years now.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is just 8.9mm thick when folded, nearly matching the thickness of the Google Pixel 9 Pro, a traditional slab phone. When unfolded, the new foldable is just 4.2mm thick. Similarly, the flagship Galaxy Z Flip 7 has shed nearly 10% of its thickness. So, how did Samsung manage this? The company has finally shared some insight.

In a recent Samsung Newsroom post, the company detailed several technical improvements that made the new foldables thinner than ever. Samsung credits a new hinge, a redesigned display panel, and a smaller camera module for these advancements.

Making the Fold and Flip 7 thinner took more work than you’d think

On the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung has introduced its third-generation Armour FlexHinge, which is 27% thinner and 43% lighter than the one on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Internally, the new hinge uses updated alloy components and a wider wingplate that supports both the wider cover and inner displays while also helping reduce the crease on the inner screen.

Additionally, Samsung says it has restructured the display panel to further reduce thickness. Although the company didn’t explicitly confirm it, it appears they removed the digitizer layer that enabled S Pen input — a layer no longer necessary since the Z Fold 7 doesn’t support the S Pen. Removing it must have contributed to a slimmer profile.

A person holding the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, showing the buttons

For the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung says the new FlexHinge is 29% slimmer than the one on the Galaxy Z Flip 6. The camera modules on both the Fold 7 and Flip 7 have also been redesigned, using a smaller actuator that still delivers fast autofocus despite the reduced size.

These are some of the changes that have allowed Samsung to make both foldables thinner than their predecessors. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is now the lightest foldable phone on the market, thanks to reduced thickness and lighter internal components.

And, as a foldable phone enthusiast, it’s great to see Samsung finally deliver on long-standing customer requests. We’ve been asking for a thinner, wider Galaxy Z Fold for years — and the company has finally delivered. Moreover, judging by early pre-orders, it looks like customers are loving the new form factor too.


  • Render of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in blue against a white background.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

    RAM

    12GB

    Storage

    256GB

    Battery

    4,400mAh

    Operating System

    One UI 8

    Weight

    215g

    IP Rating

    IP48

    The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a generational upgrade. It’s the thinnest and lightest in the series to date, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor and featuring a 200MP pro-grade camera. With an improved, durable Armor FlexHinge and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, the device boasts a wider 6.5-inch cover screen and unfolds into a stunning 8.0-inch main display.



    $2000 at Samsung


  • Two Galaxy Z Flip 7 models shown in a render against a white background.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

    SoC

    Exynos 2500

    RAM

    12GB

    Storage

    5256GB/12GB

    Battery

    4300mAh

    Operating System

    Android 16 with One UI 8

    Front camera

    10MP

    The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a compact, pocket-sized AI phone featuring the largest-ever 4.1-inch, edge-to-edge FlexWindow and the slimmest design in the series yet. It packs a flagship-level 50MP camera and the largest battery ever in a Galaxy Z Flip, delivering powerful performance and enhanced AI functionality directly from the cover screen.



    $900 at Samsung