"When developing the Galaxy Z Fold7, making it thin and light was the most challenging aspect. We continuously collaborated with developers and redesigned almost every component. There was all-encompassing innovation to provide a user experience optimized for a large screen."
On July 10th, during a media briefing held at the Taepyeongno Building in Seoul, a Samsung Electronics official responded this way when asked about the most significant effort put into the development of the Galaxy Z Fold7. Samsung Electronics' latest foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold7, has been unveiled with the thinnest and lightest form factor in the history of the Z Fold series, earning evaluations that it has secured strong competitiveness in the "thickness war" of the foldable phone market.
'Ultra-Slim' Innovation: Thickness Changes of the Galaxy Z Fold7 in Numbers
The Galaxy Z Fold7's thickness is a mere 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded. This is only 0.1mm thicker than the Honor Magic V5, known as the world's thinnest ultra-slim foldable phone, and it matches the Oppo Find N5 in thickness both when folded and unfolded. Android Headlines, an IT specialized media outlet, highly praised Samsung Electronics for "securing competitiveness to compete with Chinese foldable phones like the Oppo Find N5 and Magic V5" through the Galaxy Z Fold7.
Compared to the first Galaxy Fold launched in 2019, the thickness has been reduced by a remarkable 48%. At that time, the Galaxy Fold had a substantial thickness of 17.1mm when folded and 7.6mm when unfolded. While the thickness of the Galaxy Fold series from the first model to last year's Galaxy Z Fold6 decreased by 29% over six years, the Galaxy Z Fold7 achieved a groundbreaking change, becoming 26% thinner in just one year.
Core of Evolution: Innovation in Hinge Technology
The thickness reduction of Samsung's foldable phones is thanks to the continuous advancement of hinge technology. The hinge is a core component responsible for the folding and unfolding functions of a foldable phone, playing a crucial role in protecting the display and maintaining device stability.
2020 Galaxy Z Fold2: Introduced 'Hideaway Hinge' technology, meticulously placing over 60 components inside the hinge to allow for flexible opening and closing of the device. This reduced the thickness to 16.8mm when folded and 6.9mm when unfolded.
2021 Galaxy Z Fold3: Further reduced thickness to 16mm when folded and 6.4mm when unfolded, based on the same standards. Water resistance was also added, enhancing durability.
2022 Galaxy Z Fold4: Changed the hinge from a gear structure to a linear motion method, reducing the number of components. This made it even thinner at 15.8mm when folded and 6.3mm when unfolded. The weight also became lighter than its predecessor, improving portability.
2023 Galaxy Z Fold5: Introduced a new type of hinge called 'Flex Hinge,' dramatically reducing thickness. This hinge allows the display to fold into a water-drop shape, rolling into the hinge along four drive axes. As a result, the thickness when folded decreased by 2.4mm compared to the previous model, reaching 13.4mm, and it became 0.2mm thinner at 6.1mm when unfolded. Alongside this, display crease issues were also improved, enhancing user satisfaction.
2024 Galaxy Z Fold6: Further reduced thickness to 12.1mm and 5.6mm, showcasing an even sleeker appearance. Through a left-right symmetrical dual-rail hinge structure and design advancements, not only could it fully fold and unfold, but the stability of 'Flex Mode,' which allows use at various angles between 75 and 115 degrees, was further improved.
2025 Galaxy Z Fold7: Achieved a groundbreaking thickness reduction compared to its predecessor, reaching astonishing figures of 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded. This is analyzed as a result of not only hinge technology advancements but also the redesign of internal components and maximized integration. Overall hardware optimization, including improved battery efficiency and enhanced heat management technology, also contributed to the thickness reduction.
Market Changes Brought by Thickness Innovation
Until now, foldable phones, despite their innovative form factor, have been perceived as "thick and heavy." This was a major factor making users accustomed to regular smartphones hesitate to purchase them. However, the Galaxy Z Fold7 significantly improves these weaknesses, likely attracting a new user base.
The thinner design is expected to greatly enhance portability and grip. The discomfort of putting it in a pocket or using it with one hand will be reduced, increasing its utility in daily life. This means that foldable phones are no longer solely for early adopters but can become an attractive option for the general public.
Samsung Electronics emphasized, "The Galaxy Z Fold series has continuously evolved to provide better usability by reducing thickness every year. In particular, innovation in hinge technology has played a key role in these changes, and [the Galaxy Z Fold7] presents new possibilities in users' lives with advanced technology and ultimate usability."
Beyond simply reducing physical thickness, Samsung Electronics has applied sophisticated technology to optimize core functions such as display quality, camera performance, and battery life within the thinner form factor. Furthermore, they have further enhanced the user experience unique to foldable phones, such as multitasking features leveraging the large screen and S Pen support, maximizing productivity and entertainment elements.
The advent of the Galaxy Z Fold7 is expected to be a significant turning point that will reshape the foldable phone market. As Samsung Electronics leads the era of thin and light foldable phones, other smartphone manufacturers are also anticipated to further accelerate the thickness competition. This intense technological competition will ultimately provide consumers with a wider range of more innovative products.
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