Samsung’s latest Z Series foldable phones are here. Unveiled during the company’s annual Galaxy Unpacked event, the Galaxy Z Fold7, Flip7, and new budget-minded Flip7 FE have bigger screens and thinner frames. And they’re built to showcase Samsung’s multiplying Galaxy AI features, from the ability to chat with Google Gemini about what you see with the camera to smarter photo editing to more customized Now Brief daily summaries.

All three models will run Samsung’s latest One UI 8 operating system out of the box, but the OS will be gradually rolling out to other Galaxy models.

As in the past, Samsung’s premium foldable phones are pricey: The Galaxy Z Fold7 starts at $1,999—$100 more than the debut price of the Galaxy Z Fold6 last year. The Galaxy Z Flip7 and Flip7 FE start at $1,099 and $899, respectively. Pre-orders begin today for all three models; the phones will be available online and in stores on July 25.

Here are the highlights from the Z Series debut.

The Fold’s large, tablet-esque screen is now even bigger.

The Fold7 now includes a 6.5-inch outer display—which makes it feel similar to a regular smartphone when closed—and an impressive 8-inch display when open.

Most noticeably, the Fold7 is the lightest and thinnest iteration yet, Samsung says. It weighs just 215 grams and measures 4.2 millimeters thick when unfolded. When I held the Fold7 in one hand and the previous Fold6 in the other, the Fold6 ended up feeling downright chunky in comparison. It’s a pretty big upgrade—and maybe worth the $2,000 price tag—if you’re looking for as much screen as possible without having to lug around a heavy device.

One negative, though: Despite the Fold’s bigger screen being great for tabletlike tasks, the Fold7 no longer supports the S Pen stylus.

On the pocket-sized Flip7, the popular front-facing “flex window” is quite a bit bigger than its predecessors, too. Samsung ditched the black border, allowing the front display to run edge to edge instead. It now measures 4.1 inches, compared with last year’s 3.4 inches. That makes it easier to respond to notifications or interact with widgets, like your playlist or Now Bar, without opening the phone. (Custom wallpapers—which AI can now help you optimize, using your own photos, Samsung says—also look even better, I think.) And when the Flip7 is open, you get a sleek, 6.9-inch screen, making it as big as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The Fold7 now gives you a 200-megapixel main rear camera, going head to head with the premium camera on the S25 Ultra. That’s a decent leap from the previous Fold’s 50-megapixel camera, allowing for brighter and clearer photos and videos, Samsung says. (The Flip7’s 50-megapixel camera system stays the same, and the Flip7 FE’s camera matches it.) Samsung is promoting a few other camera improvements, too—like improved nighttime videography and a move from 8-bit to 10-bit HDR, which should allow for richer color and deeper contrast. Of course, CR experts will put the cameras on all three models to the test in our labs, rating their photos and videos on metrics like clarity, color quality, and low image noise.

Previously, you had to open your Galaxy Z Flip phone to ask Google’s Gemini Live a question. Now, it’s a bit easier: You can hold down the side button and chat with the AI-enabled digital assistant within the flex window, with the phone still closed. It’s not a groundbreaking improvement, but it’s another example of Samsung working to integrate AI in its devices. 

For example, you’ll now be able to share your screen or camera with Google Gemini to ask questions about what’s in front of you, use Audio Eraser to remove unwanted background noise across a wider variety of apps, or use the Circle to Search tool within video games to get helpful hints. These AI-enabled features are coming along with the move to One UI 8.

Sure, Samsung’s foldable phones are cool—but they’re certainly not cheap. The Fold7 now costs $2,000—$100 more than the starting price of last year’s Fold6. But Samsung is now offering a slightly more affordable option for the first time: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE—or "Fan Edition"—starts at $899, which is $200 cheaper than the Flip7.

The FE has the same compact clamshell design, camera system, and full suite of Galaxy AI features as the Flip7, but comes with the smaller displays of the Flip6, a less powerful processor, and fewer color options.

If the existing Samsung Galaxy S24 FE or 23 FE are any indicators, Samsung’s lower-priced FE models tend to perform well, but we’ll be back with full test results on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE soon. (If you’re looking to buy a foldable at a discount, you may also be able to snag a deal on the Galaxy Z Flip6 or Fold6 now that the newest models are out.)

CR members can see test results for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, Flip7, and Flip7 FE soon. (We wait to test phones until we can buy them in stores—same as you.) In the meantime, CR members can check out our full smartphone ratings and test results for other foldable phones, including those from Google and OnePlus. Each smartphone’s score incorporates test results on metrics like battery life, camera performance, durability, display quality, and more.