Latest news with #ZFlip
Tom's Guide
9 hours ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 prices revealed — here's what we know
Last year was seemingly the year of price hikes for many tech companies, especially Samsung, before President Trump introduced tariffs this year. So far in 2025, Samsung has managed to keep prices relatively the same for its latest handsets. A new rumor from tipster PandaFlashPro on X claims that the trend will continue with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. "Few Countries will get Price Increases, while Most of Markets will keep Prices Similar to the Previous ones," they posted. They say that this information is "confirmed," we assume by one of their sources. However, they have not provided any information about which countries will get a price increase. However, the tweet ends with $1899 and $1099 for the Z Fold and Z Flip, respectively. This suggests that, at least in the US, the price will remain the same as the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 at launch. Last year's models did get a disappointing $100 price bump. At the same time, the tipster also posted about the Z Fold 7's camera, specifically the zoom capabilities. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The Z Fold 7 will have a wide camera (1x) and an ultrawide lens (0.6x) with 2x "optical quality." There will also be 3x optical zoom, presumably via the telephoto camera. They finally said that they will be capable of 10x, 20x and 30x digital zoom. We expect Samsung to announce the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 in early July during the company's annual summer Galaxy Unpacked event. We could also see One UI 8, based on Android 16, debut then as well. Samsung typically reveals its new wearables at that time so we should also see the Galaxy Watch 8 and either Galaxy Watch 8 Classic or Ultra, and potentially an updated Galaxy Ring 2.
Phone Arena
6 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Samsung wants the world to know the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 will be like no previous foldable
After leading the way among the world's top Android smartphone vendors in terms of quick, stable, and expansive software updates the last few years, Samsung unquestionably dropped the ball with the One UI 7 rollout, which started many months behind schedule and ran into a host of different issues on a number of different devices . But because this is a company that tends to learn from its mistakes, it perhaps shouldn't come as a shock that the One UI 8 update will be an entirely different story, at least if Samsung's current plans don't get derailed by any unexpected bugs. Said next-gen foldable devices are not officially named yet, but everyone knows we're talking about the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 here, and a first-of-a-kind budget-friendly Z Flip FE (or Flip Xe) could join the two predictable sequels to the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 at an Unpacked event in July. This is allegedly the next-gen Z Fold 7 in the flesh. | Image Credit -- Setsuna Digital on Weibo Of course, we don't have an exact date for that Unpacked shindig either, but it's pretty clear that Samsung's 2025 foldables will run the latest One UI iteration a lot earlier than usual. The aforementioned Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 , mind you, barely received their Android 15 -based One UI 7 goodie packs last month (after a couple of failed attempts), while the summer 2023-released Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 joined the stable One UI 6 party more than three months after their commercial debut. Clearly, Samsung is looking to turn the page to an exciting new chapter from a software support standpoint, doing something that has never been done before and many thought was impossible to do. Obviously, this wouldn't have been possible without Google, and the industry-leading smartphone maker is giving credit where credit is due, praising the search giant for its great partnership, "open communication", and "real-time feedback." This all allowed Samsung to kick off an unusually early One UI 8 public beta program for Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra users in Germany, Korea, the UK, and the US today, with the next step taking place "this summer" for the company's aforementioned new foldables, likely followed by a stable global update for the S25 family. Probably not. Sorry, Samsung, but your foldable sales struggles look far too serious to be fixed with new software... that's likely to quickly expand to the Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 anyway. Fortunately, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is widely expected to increase the size of its predecessor's 7.6 and 6.3-inch screens (most likely, to around 8.2 and 6.5 inches respectively) while also upgrading the primary rear-facing camera from 50 to 200 megapixels. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 will likely rock an all-screen cover design. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 , meanwhile, should ditch its own predecessor's sleek but small 3.4-inch folder-style cover display in favor of a larger and more straightforward 4-inch secondary panel while slightly bumping up the sizes of the main screen and battery as well. On top of everything, the raw power will naturally be improved too, not to mention the Z Fold 7's reduced thickness and the Z Flip 7's familiar but undeniably stylish design. All in all, of course, it remains hard to predict how the two flexible Snapdragon 8 Elite powerhouses will do at the global box-office, but running a fresh new set of silky smooth software optimizations and UI treats certainly won't hurt their sales figures.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Samsung faces pricing dilemma in US amid Trump's 25% tariff plan
US President Donald Trump's latest announcement of a minimum 25 percent tariff on all smartphones manufactured overseas and imported into the US has sent ripples through the global tech sector, with Samsung Electronics bracing for potential fallout. A 25 percent tariff could raise retail prices of Galaxy smartphones by 30 to 40 percent in the US, significantly undermining Samsung's ability to generate the usual post-launch momentum, according to industry sources on Wednesday. Samsung produces about half of its smartphone volume in Vietnam. This includes a wide range of flagship devices — from the Galaxy S series and foldable Z Flip and Z Fold models to the more affordable Galaxy A series — many of which are exported directly to the US market. While Trump argues that American companies can avoid tariffs by shifting production to the US, sources say such a move is far from feasible for Samsung. High labor costs and lower operational efficiency make large-scale manufacturing in the US economically unviable. The most immediate concern is Samsung's upcoming foldable lineup, scheduled for launch in the second half of this year. If Trump's proposed tariffs are enforced, the Galaxy Fold series could face substantial import duties, directly affecting pricing strategies in North America — one of the world's most lucrative markets for premium smartphones. Apple continues to dominate the US smartphone market, maintaining a market share of 50 to 60 percent each quarter. This sustained dominance poses a challenge for competitors such as Samsung, which already struggles to gain significant ground and finds it difficult to compete on price alone. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Apple led the US smartphone market in the first quarter of this year with a 57.1 percent share, followed by Samsung at 26.5 percent. Motorola came in third with 4.2 percent. The pressure is compounded by a stark profitability gap. Samsung's smartphone division posted an operating profit margin of 9.1 percent, far below Apple's robust 31 percent. This means the tariff shock would hit Samsung harder, limiting its capacity to absorb the added costs. In a bid to protect its US market share, Samsung may consider offsetting the cost burden by slightly raising smartphone prices in other markets, including Korea. 'Samsung might avoid raising US prices too sharply to defend its market position and instead spread the cost across global markets,' said an industry source who requested anonymity. 'But that could trigger backlash from domestic consumers, who may question why they're being made to share the cost of a US-specific policy.' As of now, Samsung has not made an official comment regarding its pricing strategy or contingency plans in response to the tariff announcement. yeeun@
Korea Herald
25-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Trump 25% tariffs threaten Apple, Samsung, global supply chains
Additional tariffs could raise US smartphone prices by up to 30%, analysts warn US President Donald Trump's threats to impose a 25 percent tariff on Apple and Samsung Electronics are putting the top two smartphone makers and their partner firms on edge, as the decision could disrupt the supply chains and drive up the price of phones in the all-important American market. Trump threatened on Friday (US time) that he would impose a 25 percent tariff on Apple products unless they are built in the US on his social media platform, Truth Social. 'I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,' Trump wrote. 'If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25 percent must be paid by Apple to the US.' Just hours later, Trump expanded the 25 percent levy threat to include all smartphone makers, naming Samsung. 'It would be also Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn't be fair,' Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the new tariffs would take effect by the 'end of June.' It's still uncertain whether Trump will actually follow through with the proposed smartphone tariffs, or his remarks are primarily a strategic salvo aimed at pressuring Apple, with which Trump is reportedly at odds, to increase production in the US. But if Trump actually goes ahead with the tariffs, it could upend the smartphone industry, raising the price of the gadgets, making it difficult for Samsung and Apple to remain price competitive in the US. Apple and Samsung make up for about 80 percent of all smartphone sales in the US, with Apple taking the bulk of about 65 percent of the market share and 18 percent by Samsung based on the shipment figure as of the fourth quarter last year, according to data from market analyst Counterpoint Research. Samsung does not manufacture smartphones in the US. Nearly half of the tech giant's global smartphone production is from Vietnam, and the rest takes place in South Korea, India, Brazil and Indonesia. Samsung smartphones, including from premium Galaxy S and foldable Z series to the mid-range A series, are most likely assembled in Vietnam, with some models also coming from India. This means Samsung's upcoming releases, including the Z Flip and Z Fold models slated for the second half of the year, could fall under the proposed tariff. A Samsung official in Seoul declined to comment on the matter. Industry analysts say if Trump proceeds with his proposed 25 percent tariffs on smartphones not built in the states, Apple and Samsung will have to raise prices for their gadgets to pass the extra cost onto consumers. They say American consumers might face around 20-30 percent hikes on the prices of iPhone and Samsung Galaxy devices, depending on the model. The potential price hike could dampen consumer demand, which would inevitably hurt sales volumes, especially in key markets such as North America, where premium models dominate. Amid a flurry of Trump's tariffs policies, Samsung has been taking some steps to mitigate the impact of the tariffs. Samsung, during the latest conference call in April, said it will consider relocating production of certain volumes of TVs and electronic appliances to reduce tariff impacts. But industry experts say, relocating Samsung's core smartphone manufacturing to the US in response to Trump's demands would be highly complex and costly. 'Producing smartphones in the US simply to avoid tariffs is not a feasible solution,' an industry source said on condition of anonymity. 'It's not just building the new assembly lines, but rebuilding the entire supply chain, which is costly and logistically complicated, as raw materials and equipment would also have to be moved together. Building phones in the US would make the phones costlier because of high labor costs and companies would rather decide to eat the cost than to relocate.' It goes without saying that the same goes for Apple. Analysts say Apple is unlikely to move iPhone production to the US in the foreseeable future, even under Trump's pressure. 'In terms of profitability, it's way better for Apple to take the hit of a 25-percent tariff on iPhones sold in the US market than to move iPhone assembly lines back to the US,' Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote on social media platform X.
Phone Arena
15-05-2025
- Phone Arena
Flip 7 vs iPhone 17 Pro: What kind of phone should $1,100 buy you in 2025?
With the Galaxy Z Flip 7 expected to arrive this summer and the iPhone 17 Pro this fall, we once again find ourselves comparing two fundamentally different devices—Samsung's iconic foldable and Apple's Pro flagship. Samsung's Flip series has come a long way, and with the Z Flip 7 , we're expecting improvements such as bigger screens, better battery, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite or Samsung's Exynos 2500 silicon. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro is said to come with a powerful A19 Pro chip, notable camera upgrades, but potentially with a higher price tag that may push it closer to the $1,300 range. In this comparison we explore how we expect these phones will differ from each other. Whether you're considering the Z Flip 7 for its foldable form factor and Galaxy AI, or eyeing the iPhone 17 Pro for its premium hardware and longevity, we'll break it all down. Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs iPhone 17 Pro expected differences: Table of Contents: Design Display Performance Camera Battery Specs Summary The Galaxy Z Flip 7 continues to popularize the flip form factor that no iPhone has yet dared to challenge. It folds into a compact, pocket-friendly square and then opens up into a tall 6.85-inch screen—slightly larger than the previous Flip, and notably taller than the 6.3-inch one expected on the iPhone 17 Pro. Leaked renders suggest Samsung may shrink the bezels further and potentially reduce the crease—the latter of which is still a problem on the current Z Flip. A bigger 4-inch cover screen also seems likely, which should dramatically improve usability when the phone is shut. What we are hoping to see with this larger cover display is better software optimization for it. Currently, there aren't many useful uses of the Z Flip's cover display, at least not without some serious tech savviness. As for the iPhone 17 Pro, while it won't fold, there are a few small tweaks we expect to see. Apple is said keep the titanium build, but the edges will be less sharp, making the phone more comfortable. According to leaks and renders, Apple is experimenting with a new rear camera layout that departs from the traditional triangle cluster. Instead, the lenses are expected to be arranged in a vertically stacked layout within a larger, pill-shaped island—visually distinct and possibly better suited for thermal management or larger sensors. Display Differences Both AMOLED panels will support 120Hz refresh rates, and if Samsung sticks to its previous formula, the color reproduction and brightness will be solid—though foldable panels still can't quite match the uniformity of a regular phone's display. Apple, on the other hand, may push the iPhone 17 Pro display to new brightness levels with its Samsung-made M14 OLED panel, potentially reaching 3,000 nits. The 6.3-inch LTPO OLED screen will again support ProMotion with 1–120Hz adaptive refresh. Apple is also expected to use BRS (Border Reduction Structure) display technology, which allows for slimmer bezels without sacrificing screen durability. Combined with the rumored use of 'metalens' optics—a breakthrough that enables smaller, flatter lens elements for Face ID and the selfie camera—the iPhone 17 Pro could sport a much smaller Dynamic Island and an even cleaner front design. Biometrics-wise, no changes are expected. Samsung will stick with a fingerprint scanner, and Apple will keep using Face ID. Samsung is likely to equip the Flip 7 with either the Snapdragon 8 Elite or its in-house Exynos 2500, paired with 12 GB of RAM. If Samsung follows the Flip 6's configuration, we expect strong performance, especially for multitasking and AI-powered features. Apple will introduce the A19 Pro chip inside the iPhone 17 Pro, expected to deliver better thermal efficiency and a small performance bump over the already speedy A18 Pro. The chip may use an improved 3nm node—maybe even 2nm, though that's unlikely according to the latest leaks. When it comes to software, Samsung is expected to launch the Flip 7 with One UI 8 and Android 15. This includes Galaxy AI features like Generative Edit and Smart Summarize, which are already in use on the S25 series. The iPhone 17 Pro will run iOS 19, but Apple Intelligence may not see much expansion this year. Siri 2.0 and other AI features have reportedly been delayed to 2026, meaning Apple could fall behind in the short term. Samsung also now beats Apple in software support, promising seven years of updates versus five or six from Cupertino. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is expected to carry over the same dual-camera system from the Z Flip 6: a 50 MP main sensor and a 12 MP ultra-wide, paired with a 10 MP selfie camera on the inside of the foldable display. While this setup proved to be a step forward last year—especially with improved color accuracy and better daylight performance—it still lacks the flexibility of a dedicated telephoto lens. Based on our tests of the Flip 6, the video quality was a step back compared to its predecessor, and the photo results, while decent, lagged behind what we saw from more conventional flagships like the Galaxy S24 or iPhone 16 Pro. Unless Samsung surprises us with under-the-hood image processing upgrades, the Flip 7 will likely offer the same "good enough" camera performance as before—great for casual use, but far from Pro-tier. On the other hand, it sounds like the iPhone 17 Pro will once again be one of the best camera phones on the market. It's expected to come with a 48 MP main sensor, a new 48 MP ultra-wide with macro capabilities, and a 48 MP telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom. More importantly, the main sensor is rumored to be the custom Sony IMX903, larger than before (1/1.14" vs. 1/1.28") and featuring a stacked architecture. That means it can absorb more light and process image data faster, improving both dynamic range and low-light clarity. Additionally, the new ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) lens coating should reduce glare and artifacts in nighttime shots—a common issue on previous iPhones. Apple may also finally enable 8K video recording, closing the gap with Android competitors. Last but not least, the front camera is rumored to jump to 24 MP, which could significantly boost detail in selfies and FaceTime calls, especially in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Battery life on both devices should be similar in day-to-day use, but the Z Flip 7 is rumored to get a bump to 4,300 mAh—up from 4,000 mAh on the Flip 6. That's impressive given the compact form factor. Apple, meanwhile, is expected to keep the 3,700 mAh battery seen on the iPhone 16 Pro , relying on stacked battery architecture and a possible vapor chamber cooling system to improve sustained performance and efficiency. Wired charging speeds remain nearly the same—25W for Samsung and 27W for Apple. Wireless charging will be available on both, though only the iPhone is rumored to add reverse wireless charging at a modest 7.5W. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 will appeal to those who want something different. Its foldable form factor is compact and fun, and if the larger screens and new Galaxy AI tools deliver, it may offer one of the most versatile Android experiences of 2025. It also keeps pricing in check—rumored to start again at $1,099. The iPhone 17 Pro, on the other hand, sounds like a much better purchase than its predecessor, with new camera hardware, a new chip, and potentially better battery life. But it might come at a higher price this year, potentially reaching $1,299, which could prove a little too steep. One more thing that is a major caveat for the iPhone is that Apple is still severely behind on the AI innovation train. Meanwhile, Galaxy AI already has features that can often come in handy, and it shares many of the new AI capabilities coming from Android itself. So, what should $1,100 buy you in 2025? If you're looking for a phone that stands out and does things differently—without falling short on essentials—the Flip 7 is finally looking like a balanced option. But if your priority is reliability and camera performance, the iPhone 17 Pro is still the safer bet.
