A pivotal year approach for Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series, testing the device's market potential.
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For the past couple of weeks, Samsung has been ramping up promotions heading into its next Unpacked event, where we're expected to see the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, Galaxy Watch 8, and who knows, maybe a Galaxy Ring 2 (though a Galaxy Ring 2 in 2025 seems unlikely, more on that later). Needless to say, Unpacked is about to be one heck of a show.
The marketing blitzkrieg from Samsung appears to focus on the larger Galaxy foldable, starting off with a sneak peek at a book-style foldable, accompanied by the caption, "Welcome to the next wave of Ultra." A later blog post offered a tantalizing glimpse of the unknown device, touting it as "Thin, Light, and Built to Last."
The latest teaser delves into the camera system and how AI could revolutionize the equipment, addressing a longstanding issue with the previous device. With the constant stream of features from Google, courtesy of their tools like Gemini Live, improvements in the camera system seem unlikely to be surprising.
A Cloud of Doubts
However, a recent report from The Elec casts a shadow of doubt on the anticipated success of the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. The report suggests that Samsung has scaled back their projected sales figures for both the devices. According to the report, Samsung was initially expected to produce approximately 1.6 million units, with the Fold 7 accounting for 800,000 units. Now, the number of units has reportedly been reduced to around 1.34 million devices, with the Fold 7 dropping to around 630,000 units.
Assuming the report is correct, one can't help but wonder what's going on behind the scenes. After all, Samsung hasn't generated this much buzz for their foldable phones ahead of an official announcement in years, and the timing of it all just feels off.
Could Samsung be planning to introduce an Ultra edition of their foldable phone? Highly unlikely. There are numerous factors that work against this idea, especially considering the ongoing trade and tariff dispute between the United States and the economic instability in the region, making a high-end Ultra device cost-prohibitive for many.
Struggling to Keep Up
Regardless of what Samsung ends up releasing in 2025, if the sales don't match their expectations, they only have themselves to blame. Although the software experience outshines the competition, Samsung has fallen behind in the design department.
The competition, including the rumored Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Oppo Find N5, and the Honor Magic V3, make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 seem dated. Not only do they offer better camera hardware, but they also come with larger batteries and less noticeable creases.
Samsung's lackluster approach to innovation has led them to be a follower rather than a leader, as they've been swift to copy Apple's moves. With a 24% drop in sales in Q1 this year, according to Counterpoint Research, it's clear that consumers are voting with their wallets.
Enter the Galaxy Fold FE?
There's always the possibility that Samsung will launch a more affordable Galaxy Z Fold FE in an attempt to boost sales. But I can't help but feel that such a move wouldn't be wise at this point. Samsung hasn't demonstrated that they can keep pace with the competition in terms of hardware, and launching an FE version of the Galaxy Z Fold would be a poor choice, serving as little more than a band-aid solution.
Regarding the possibility of a second-generation Galaxy Ring, the Galazy Ring 2, also known as Project Moohan, is still in the works. It's tentatively expected to arrive in early 2026 alongside the Galaxy S26 series, featuring a slimmer design and improved battery life [1][2][3][5]. No significant new functionalities or enhancements beyond these basic expectations have been confirmed.
The upcoming Unpacked event will be the time to gather more insights on what Samsung has in store for us. Here's hoping that Samsung can shape the future of technology in a meaningful way and regain the lead in the foldable device market.
Keep up to date with the latest news and insights on Samsung's upcoming foldables by Exploring Our Ultimate Guide.
- In light of Samsung's scaling back on projected sales figures for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, it seems that the company may face challenges in regaining the lead in the foldable device market.
- Amidst the announced gadgets for the upcoming Unpacked event, it remains to be seen if Samsung's smartphones, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, can measure up against the competition in terms of their design and hardware offerings.
