Seoul, South Korea – Samsung Electronics is poised to unveil its slimmest and lightest foldable smartphone to date at an upcoming Unpacked event in July, marking a significant move to regain ground in the fiercely competitive foldable market currently being dominated by Chinese manufacturers. This strategic launch comes as rival brands like OPPO and Honor have been aggressively pushing the boundaries of foldable design with increasingly thin and lightweight devices.

 
The Race for Slimness

When Samsung first introduced the foldable smartphone in 2019 with the original Galaxy Fold, it revolutionized the industry. However, Chinese manufacturers quickly entered the fray, prioritizing sleeker designs and lighter builds to differentiate their offerings. This focus on thinness has become paramount for consumer adoption, as highlighted by Ben Wood, Chief Analyst at CCS Insight. "Users are reluctant to carry thick and heavy devices, even for the benefit of a larger screen," Wood explained, emphasizing the critical need for Samsung to innovate further in this area. He added, "Samsung needs to step up its game in the foldable market."

Current market data illustrates the challenge for Samsung. While the Galaxy Z Fold6, released last year, measures 12.1mm thick when folded and weighs 239g, competitors have achieved more impressive figures. OPPO's Find N5, launched earlier this year, boasts a folded thickness of 8.93mm and a weight of 229g. Honor's Magic V3 is even lighter at 226g with a folded thickness of 9.2mm.

Samsung appears to be directly addressing this competitive pressure. In a recent blog post, the company teased its upcoming Galaxy Z series, stating it will be "the thinnest, lightest, and most advanced foldable phone to date," emphasizing its "precisely engineered and durable" design. Industry analysts, including Wood, believe that if Samsung can achieve a thinness comparable to Honor's latest models, it would represent a significant design improvement over previous iterations and a strong move to reclaim market leadership. Rumors suggest the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold7 could be as thin as 8.2mm when folded and an astonishing 4.1mm when unfolded, potentially featuring an 8.2-inch inner display and a 6.5-inch outer display, along with a significantly reduced crease.

 
Expanding the Foldable Horizon

The competition shows no signs of slowing down. Honor is set to launch its latest foldable, the Magic V5, on July 2nd in China, reportedly aiming to be even thinner than the Find N5, further intensifying the battle for the slimmest device. The Magic V5 is also rumored to pack a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC and offer advanced AI features for "PC-level productivity."

Despite the rapid technological advancements in foldable phone design, the overall market penetration remains relatively low. CCS Insight projects that foldable phones will account for only 2% of the total smartphone market share this year. Experts believe that the introduction of even thinner foldable phones could help stimulate growth by making the form factor more appealing to a broader consumer base.

"A thinner foldable phone, closer to the size of a conventional 'bar' type smartphone, could re-engage consumers and encourage them to reconsider foldables," Wood noted. He also pointed out that many consumers currently do not see a compelling reason to switch to a foldable device, which has limited their widespread adoption.

 
Apple's Anticipated Entry

Adding another layer to the foldable landscape, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities indicated that Apple is collaborating with Samsung on a foldable iPhone, with a potential launch as early as 2026. This move by a major player like Apple, despite the current small scale of the foldable market, could significantly boost the segment and further legitimize the form factor for mainstream consumers. Apple is reportedly focused on eliminating the display crease, a common concern in existing foldable phones, before its market entry. Samsung Display aims to have a production capacity of 7 to 8 million foldable panels ready for Apple's 2026 iPhone, with reports suggesting Samsung may supply its most advanced, thinner OLED panels for the device.

Samsung's July Unpacked event, reportedly scheduled for July 9, 2025, in New York City, is expected to not only showcase the new Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, but also potentially other devices like the Galaxy Watch8 series, underscoring Samsung's comprehensive strategy in the evolving mobile technology space.

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