Latest news with #GalaxyFold7
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Phone Arena
I love the Galaxy Fold 7. I just can't open It without a fight
In the race for the thinnest and lightest phone, we thought Samsung had fallen behind. After all, we saw the Honor Magic V5 a month ago, and supposedly that was the world's thinnest folding phone. The Galaxy Fold 7 was close, but not quite as thin, at least on paper. Well, one quick reality check later, it turns out Honor tricked us, measuring the phone without the pre-applied screen protectors. However, considering that you should not remove the inside screen protector, I call this cheating (it would be fair to not include the screen protector for the outside screen in the measurement, though). So at the end of the day, if you apply common sense measurements, the Galaxy Fold 7 turns out to actually be a tiny bit thinner, making it officially THE WORLD'S THINNEST FOLDABLE PHONE. Congrats, Samsung! I have to admit: I was blown away the moment I first saw the Fold 7 in person. It's remarkably slim, and it weighs less than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (how is that even possible?!). However, after that initial excitement wears off, you start to notice things and the one thing that bothers me with this otherwise sexy design is... I just can't open the Galaxy Fold 7 without a fight! It's just too thin for my fingers to pry it open, and the flat sides don't make it any easier. On a few occasions, I almost dropped the phone while trying to open it. I have to admit a few things here: it's not like I have big hands and big fingers that might prove clumsy. It's the opposite, I have slender fingers and I also often carry my phones without a case. And by this, I mean that I am confident in my dexterity — I have not dropped a phone in years. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 had me on my tippy-toes all the time. It also not just any phone, it's a freaking $2,000 phone, I don't want to drop it in the first days of using it. Vivo X Fold 3 Pro (on the top) uses angled sides which make opening it a lot easier (Image by PhoneArena) There is a simple solution that Samsung could have and should have adopted — angled sides (rather than flat ones). Vivo has done this with the X Fold 3 Pro, possibly realizing the thinness of the phone is becoming a real issue. And this simple design tweak has proven very effective in reducing my anxiety when using a book-style foldable. However, few other phones have made this change, and I think that's a missed opportunity to fix a real problem. Unfortunately, it would be another year until Samsung has a chance to fix this. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is hitting store shelves soon, so it's too late for changes now. So as much as you may love the new slim design, I strongly advise you to test it in store. Try opening the Fold 7 a few times and then decide whether you should buy that phone. Actually, this applies to any foldable phone , really. After all, what good is the latest and most modern design if you cannot use it… Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Samsung may follow Apple in making India a key hub for smartphone exports to the US
Samsung is considering expanding its smartphone manufacturing for the US market from India, as uncertainty looms over possible US tariffs. If implemented, the shift would echo Apple's strategic move to turn India into a major global export base, signalling the country's growing importance in the global electronics supply chain . The development comes amid concerns over trade policies being pursued by US President Donald Trump, which may result in higher tariffs on imports from certain countries. In this backdrop, Samsung is reportedly weighing tariff differentials and exploring the possibility of relocating a portion of its production from Vietnam to India. 'Samsung has production presence in several countries. Uncertainty in the US is currently very high and because of that we have been preparing against a number of different scenarios. We are ready to produce for the US from multiple factories, including India,' Won-Joon Choi, Samsung's global president and chief operating officer (mobile experience division), told ToI, during the global launch of the Galaxy Fold7 and Flip7 smartphones. Live Events He added, 'We are already manufacturing some of the smartphones that are going to the US at our factory in India.' Samsung currently operates a major smartphone manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, which primarily serves the Indian domestic market with limited exports. In contrast, its factories in Vietnam cater more to overseas demand, including shipments to the United States. Shift in sourcing depends on Trump's tariff decisions Samsung is closely tracking the Trump administration's tariff stance, which could prompt a restructuring of global production lines. 'One of the things that we have prepared was to have diversification of our factories for the product we will ship to the US. Depending on the final decision by the Trump administration, we have already established a system in which we can shift from one (location) to another to respond to the final decision more flexibly,' Choi said. He also stressed that Samsung's global manufacturing strategy has always included contingency planning for geopolitical and trade-related disruptions. 'Even without taking the tariff situation in consideration, we operate with multiple factories across the globe and we have always tried to optimise our operations as efficiently as possible so that we achieve business stability and provide price stability to our consumers,' he said. India seeks parity as Vietnam eyes 20% tariff While Vietnam currently remains a key export hub, reports suggest that shipments from the country to the US may attract a 20% tariff if new US trade rules come into force. India, too, has been lobbying Washington for lower duties on electronics exports, particularly as companies like Apple and Samsung ramp up their local output. Choi confirmed that Samsung is fully prepared to execute a shift in production, should the need arise. 'Some of the things that we need to plan — set the right equipment, set the factory line ready, and get our factory to be certified so that we can make the products and ship to the US. We have all those things ready.' Rare earth disruptions not a concern, says Samsung On the issue of China's restrictions on rare earth mineral exports, Choi said Samsung has preemptively diversified its sourcing strategy to reduce dependency. 'Samsung has long been managing its global supply chain, preparing for different cases. Even for the rare earth metals, we have been trying to source from different companies and different countries… so I can tell you that for the near-term, there has been no production disruptions.'
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Amid looming US tariffs, Samsung may make India a hub for US
NEW YORK: Samsung is ready to shift a part of its smartphone production from Vietnam, if US tariffs become lower in India. This would see the world's biggest smartphone maker following American rival Apple in making India a top hub for making smartphones for the US market. "Samsung has production presence in several countries. Uncertainty in the US is currently very high and because of that we have been preparing against a number of different scenarios. We are ready to produce for the US from multiple factories, including India," Samsung's global president and chief operating officer (mobile experience division) Won-Joon Choi said on the sidelines of the company's global launch of Galaxy Fold7 (priced upwards of Rs 1.75 lakh) and Flip7 (Rs 1.1 lakh) devices here. "We are already manufacturing some of the smartphones that are going to the US at our factory in India." He said the company has been watching US president Donald Trump's tariff announcements carefully and this can lead to change in sourcing across global factories. "One of the things that we have prepared was to have diversification of our factories for the product we will ship to the US. Depending on the final decision by the Trump administration, we have already established a system in which we can shift from one (location) to another to respond to the final decision more flexibly. " Samsung has large production hubs in India as well as Vietnam. While the India factory, at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, is used largely to meet domestic demand apart from exports, the Vietnam location is primarily used for export needs. The US is Vietnam's largest export market and there are indications that Hanoi may be given a comfortable 20% tariff for shipments to the US. India has also been seeking lower duty for electronics exports to the US, which are led by multi-billion-dollar iPhone shipments, Samsung's devices, and other telecom players. "Even without taking the tariff situation in consideration, we operate with multiple factories across the globe and we have always tried to optimise our operations as efficiently as possible so that we achieve business stability and provide price stability to our consumers," Choi said. He said situation in the US remains uncertain, and the company has been analysing the situation very carefully. "Some of the things that we need to plan - set the right equipment, set the factory line ready, and get our factory to be certified so that we can make the products and ship to the US. We have all those things ready." Speaking about impact from restrictions placed on rare earth minerals from China, he said the company is prepared to handle such situations. "Samsung has long been managing its global supply chain, preparing for different cases. We have long been trying to diversify our global supply chain, so even for the rare earth metals, we have been trying to source from different companies and different countries. We have long been seeking diversification so I can tell you that for the near-term, there has been no production disruptions. " (The correspondent is in US at the invitation of Samsung) Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Digital Trends
09-07-2025
- Digital Trends
Samsung: here's what happened to the S Pen on the Galaxy Z Fold 7
The Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 is one of the most stylish foldable smartphones on the market, but despite also being one of the most expensive, one question popped up: where has the S Pen gone? The answer: it's no longer supported, thanks to the need to make the device thinner and more attractive to hold. Recommended Videos Of course, the Z Fold 6 didn't have a slot for the S Pen on the device either, but was offered with a case that had a place to hold the S Pen (although you had to buy it separately. With the Fold 7, there's no compatibility with the S Pen as the digitiser has been removed to help make it thinner as well. 'There's no compatibility with the S Pen as the digitiser has been removed to help make it thinner,' Kadesh Beckford, Samsung's smartphone specialist product manager, told us. He cited analysis of usage patterns to show that the S Pen wasn't really as much of a consideration for Z Fold customers compared to a sleeker design. 'We've looked at what customers have asked for… and the reality is that the S Pen didn't come with the previous foldable devices, it's not built in like the S25 Ultra so it's an additional purchase for our customers. 'The [customer] insights were overwhelming: they wanted a thinner and lighter device.' This is an interesting move for Samsung, given the Z Fold essentially replaced the Galaxy Note, which first launched the S Pen back in 2011. The Note was always the more expensive Galaxy smartphone in the year, and launched in the summer, usually to provide more competition to the iPhone in September. While the Galaxy S25 Ultra has assumed all the features of the Galaxy Note – a larger display to write on, with a dedicated slot for the S Pen – to not even embed the functionality is a surprising departure from Samsung. Opinion: a welcome move In my view, removing the S Pen will do far more for the desirability of the Samsung Z Fold 7 than to keep it thicker with S Pen support. I've covered the launch of Samsung phones since the first Android phone appeared, and I remember vividly when the Samsung Galaxy Note was first unveiled at IFA in 2011. The S Pen was more of a quirk than an amazing feature – it was basically a simple plastic stylus that allowed you to interact with the smartphone without using your finger. It's important to remember that only three or four years prior, most 'smartphones' had a stylus, something Steve Jobs famously eschewed for the iPhone. So to see Samsung add a stylus to its most expensive smartphone (or phablet, as it came to be known) brought a lot of questions. But the brand has done a grand job of differentiating between 'productivity' phones (i.e. the Galaxy Note, Z Fold) and more mainstream, consumer-facing phones. The S Pen has been pretty polarizing over the years – fans of the technology adore it, but it requires larger handsets (that are less wieldy to hold) to allow for the slot to house it. Keeping the stylus outside the phone means it's easy to lose – so for me, it's either 'house it in the handset, or drop it'… so well done to Samsung for making that choice. I've never been a fan of the functionality, as no matter hope much the materials have been optimized, writing on the screen just feels too slippery. It's become a lot better in the years since, with far more useful functionality, but the sheer design leap that the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 has taken is more than worth losing the S Pen. Sure, it's one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, and removing functionality seems a little bit odd in light of that, but this feels like the right compromise.
Phone Arena
09-07-2025
- Phone Arena
Galaxy Fold 7: Samsung finally nailed it! (hands-on)
The Galaxy Fold 7 is here! That alone is good news, but what makes it great is that Samsung's latest foldable has become considerably thinner, lighter, and sleeker! I'm very happy that I already got some time with the new phone, and I can confidently say that this is the Galaxy Fold that foldable fans have been waiting to see from Samsung. Perhaps even more importantly, it's the Fold that finally closes the gap between Samsung and its fast-evolving foldable rivals from China. One of the most dramatic and welcome changes to the Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 is in its physical footprint. When closed, the Fold 7 measures just 8.9mm thick, matching the Oppo Find N5, and only slightly edged out by the Honor Magic V5, which comes in at 8.8mm. Unfold it, and the Fold 7 becomes an astonishingly thin 4.2mm device. It's really nice. That's a massive drop from the Fold 6's chunky 12.1mm thickness when closed. But the Galaxy Fold 7 is not just slimmer – it's lighter too! At just 215 grams, the Fold 7 becomes the lightest book-style foldable ever released. That's a 10% reduction in weight compared to its predecessor, and it definitely makes a noticeable difference in the hand. And while I can't prove this personally, Samsung hasn't just put the Fold 7 on a diet – it also claims the device has actually gotten stronger and more durable. There's a brand-new Armor FlexHinge with a multi-rail design for improved strength and smoother folding. The back of the phone is now protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the front by even tougher Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, and the frame is made from Samsung's strongest Armor Aluminum yet. While this design is not dust-resistant yet, it should make it harder for careless users to accidentally crack, scratch or break the Fold 7 . The Fold series has long been criticized for its narrow and awkward cover display, and rightfully so, but the Galaxy Fold 7 finally addresses that kink. The outer screen now has a much more practical 21:9 aspect ratio, and at 6.5 inches, it actually feels like a regular phone when closed. It's perfectly usable for typing, navigation, and day-to-day tasks – something that couldn't always be said of previous Folds. My initial impressions are that it really feels that good. With its reduced thickness and wider stature, the Fold 7 is now absolutely in line with those forward-looking foldables we've seen out of companies like Oppo, Vivo, Huawei and Honor. I can't wait to use the Fold 7 more so I can give you a fuller picture of what it's like in day-to-day use. Unfold the Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 and you're greeted by a large, 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, now supported by a new grade 4 titanium lattice beneath the panel. I'm still not sure what the titanium lattice is, but it definitely sounds cool. That said, the ultra-thin glass has, somewhat ironically, become 50% thicker this year, which is not only going to make the flexible display more resistant to damage, but also lead to a reduction of the crease. From what I've seen during my hands-on session, the crease is definitely less prominent on the Fold 7 – easily among the best I've seen on a foldable to date. I'd say it's right up there with Oppo's best efforts, but don't quote me on that yet. I'll need more time with the device before giving a final verdict. For the first time, Samsung is giving the Fold series the same flagship camera sensor as the S Ultra series. The Galaxy Fold 7 features the 200MP main sensor from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, complete with 2X lossless crop zoom! This is a major leap from the Fold 6, and I expect significantly sharper, more detailed photos in pretty much all conditions. The rest of the camera setup includes a 10MP 3x telephoto, a 12MP ultra-wide, and dual 10MP selfie cameras – one on the cover screen, and one under the main screen. The under-display camera also gets a wider field of view this year, growing from 85° to 100°, with the idea to let you fit more people in the frame. I haven't had time to test the full camera suite just yet (it's a lot of cameras!), but stay tuned for our full review where we'll put all of these through the PhoneArena Camera Test. As expected, AI is everywhere on the Galaxy Fold 7 . Samsung has been an early adopter of AI tech in its phones, and this trend doesn't change with the Fold 7 . There's the new ProVisual Engine, which helps reduce noise and motion blur when capturing moving objects – great for kids, pets, or city shots in motion. Generative Edit now includes Erase Suggestions, proactively identifying distractions and helping you clean up images with just a tap. From my early look, it works really, really well. Then there's Audio Eraser, which can intelligently strip out background noise, including wind, crowd noise or chatter, not just from video recordings, but also from voice memos and even call transcripts. And yes, Gemini Live is built in and tightly integrated. You can summon it with the power button, ask questions about what's on screen – even in a game – and choose how results appear: in a convenient pop-up or in side-by-side view. It's a versatile, multi-modal experience, and it works seamlessly across both the cover and main display. I can't wait to put all these AI features through their paces for my full review! The Galaxy Fold 7 feels like the foldable Samsung fans have been waiting for. It's not just thinner and lighter – it's more refined in pretty much every way. The new screen ratio makes it more usable when closed, the crease is less annoying, and the design finally feels modern and competitive with what we've seen from Oppo, Honor, Vivo and Huawei. If there's one area of concern, it's the battery. The Fold 7 still uses the same 4,400mAh cell as before, and that might end up being a limiting factor, especially for heavier users. I'm also not sure what type of impact the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy will have on power consumption. In other words, it would've been nice to see silicon-carbon battery tech here, but here's what – let's hold final judgment until we've tested it properly on the PhoneArena Battery Test. Sadly, the Galaxy Fold 7 is also getting more expensive. It now starts at $2,000 for the base model with 256GB storage and 12GB RAM. The 512GB version comes in at $2120, and the top-tier 1TB variant jumps to $2420 but finally brings 16GB of RAM to the table. Pre-orders are open now, and Samsung is expected to start shipping units on July 25. The silver lining here is that Samsung also tends to offer strong pre-order deals and trade-in values, so be sure to check your options before hitting that buy button. What do you think about the Galaxy Fold 7 ? Is Samsung finally catching up, or even pulling ahead in the foldables game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
