Pricing to test success of Samsung's Galaxy Z 7 series

An invitation image for the unveiling event of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics will unveil its latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 on July 9 during a Galaxy Unpacked event in Brooklyn, New York.

With the phones expected to feature upgraded specs with thinner and lighter profiles compared to their predecessors, the pricing of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z 7 series will be a decisive factor in their commercial success. As Samsung’s profitability has increasingly depended on its smartphone business amid a slowdown in the semiconductor sector, the performance of the new Galaxy Z series is more critical than ever.

According to Samsung, the Fold 7 and Flip 7 will be unveiled at the event in Brooklyn at 10 a.m. (local time). The event will be livestreamed on a number of Samsung websites and its official YouTube channel. Many of the phones’ specifications have already been leaked.

The Fold 7 is expected to feature a 6.5-inch external display and an 8 to 8.2-inch internal display. When folded, its thickness is estimated to be between 8.9 and 9.5 millimeters, and when unfolded, between 4.2 and 4.54 millimeters. The device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and is expected to weigh around 215 grams.

Given that the previous Fold 6 measured 12.1mm when folded and 5.6mm when unfolded, the new model is expected to be 20 to 30 percent thinner. It will also be about 10 percent lighter than the Fold 6’s 239 grams.

An invitation image for the unveiling event of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

The Flip 7 is also expected to feature a slimmer profile, with a 4.1-inch cover display and a 6.9-inch internal screen. Its folded thickness is expected to be 13.7 millimeters and 6.5 millimeters when unfolded. The weight is expected to remain the same as its predecessor, at around 187 grams.

Since the new models will offer upgraded performance tailored for artificial intelligence features and slimmer profiles, industry officials expect that there are enough reasons for Samsung to introduce price hikes. At the same time, however, they noted that the company appears to be reviewing the prices carefully, as higher prices could hurt its efforts to expand market share.

Expected prices are varied. According to GSM Arena, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 are expected to be priced at 200 euros ($214) and 100 euros higher, respectively, than their predecessors in the European Union. However, German tech outlet WinFuture and leaker Roland Quandt suggested the Fold 7’s price may remain unchanged, while the Flip 7 could even see a price cut of nearly 100 euros.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Samsung is carefully handling the new phones’ pricing, as the foldable phone market approaches a major inflection point.

According to data from Meritz Securities, Samsung was the world’s biggest foldable smartphone manufacturer with a 33 percent market share in 2024. However, the company’s foldable phone shipments declined 36.4 percent year-on-year to 6.36 million phones.

The global foldable smartphone market is also nearing its saturation point, growing only 2.9 percent year-on-year to $25.1 billion, according to market tracker Counterpoint Research. However, the market is expected to see a strong rebound in 2026, driven by Apple’s entry into the space, achieving 10 to 20 percent year-on-year growth.

“The foldable phone market in 2025 is likely to show limited positive momentum, with related stocks already reflecting concerns over possible negative growth,” Meritz Securities analyst Yang Seung-soo said. “Apple’s expected entry into the foldable segment in 2026 is likely to mark an inflection point that could drive structural growth in the market.”

Given that competition is expected to intensify after Apple enters the foldable market, there are concerns that raising prices too quickly could undermine Samsung’s advantage as the first-mover in the market.

A product image of Samsung Exynos processor / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

The pricing of the Flip 7 remains another question. Flip 6 sales stood at 2.89 million phones last year, down 21 percent from 3.66 million for the Flip 5. With the market showing signs of waning interest in clamshell foldables, Samsung faces limitations in raising prices.

Although it is not confirmed yet, Samsung is expected to equip the Flip 7 with its in-house mobile application processor, the Exynos 2500. Since using its own chip could help the company cut production costs, calls are growing for the Flip 7 prices to remain steady or even decline.

The sales performance of the Fold 7 and Flip 7 is expected to play a crucial role in Samsung’s overall profitability.

In the first quarter of this year, the company posted 6.7 trillion won ($4.97 billion) in operating profit, up 1.2 percent year-on-year, as strong sales of the Galaxy S25 series released in January helped offset a profit decline from its semiconductor business. With the slowdown expected to continue for the chip business, a similar situation is expected for the third quarter.