Samsung plans for its first major foldable display upgrade on the Galaxy Z Fold 7
Samsung reports indicate Samsung may introduce larger foldables in 2025 as the unique industry stalls for the first time since its inception.
Samsung may be investing in larger displays for its foldables in 2025, taking inspiration from the design of a limited release model it launched earlier this year.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is set to be the foldable of the coming year, which could feature a major increase in display size in comparison to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Samsung may have plans to outfit the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with the same display panels used to build the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition– a Korea exclusive foldable model that was released in late October, according to display analyst Ross Young recently detailed on X (via GSMArena).
If accurate, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 would take on the dimensions of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition, which features an 8-inch foldable main screen and a 6.5-inch cover display. This is a sizable difference from the 7.6-inch main display and 6.3-inch cover display on the standard Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Samsung has remained consistent with the size of its displays since it introduced the second-generation of its foldable in 2020. There is the potential that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition was used as a test before potentially transitioning to a device that will be more globally available.
The brand may be looking to make some changes to its design strategy as Digital Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) projected a stall in the foldable smartphone display market even though smartphone sales have increased overall. The firm expects to see the foldable smartphone display market increase by 5% in 2024, but decrease by 4% in 2025. DSCC noted that with the increased popularity of foldable smartphones and with Samsung as a primary supplier of foldable displays, the industry saw an impressive growth of 40% per year between 2019 and 2023.
The unique form factor of foldables smartphones, such as being able to morph from a slate sized device to a tablet sized device at will, is a major appeal for consumers. However, the extraordinary price of foldables could be contributing to the industry cap for these devices.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 started at $1,900, and many similarly designed devices are priced an upward of $1500 in the U.S. Samsung also sells the Galaxy Z Flip series, which folds on its x-axis and mimics the style of a flip phone. This device starts at $1,100 in the U.S. Its lower prices makes it a popular option among consumers.
There is also a rumored Galaxy Z Flip 7 that is expected to receive a display bump to 6.85-inches for its main foldable display, paired with a 4-inch cover display, according to Young. This is up from the 6.7-inch main display, and 3.4-inch cover display seen on the Galaxy Z Flip 6.