Samsung’s latest foldables and wearables are here, and after going hands-on with all of them, one thing is crystal clear: the Galaxy Z Fold 7 finally delivers a foldable experience that feels truly ready for the mainstream. For the first time, I can genuinely imagine ditching my daily driver for something that folds.
Galaxy Z Fold 7: Thin, Light, and Ready for the Masses
When I reviewed last year’sGalaxy Z Fold 6, I felt like Samsung had finally built a foldable for everyone—not just early adopters. However, it paled in comparison to international competitors offering thinner designs, larger screens, and better innovation.
That all changes with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
The Fold 7 is Samsung’s most refined foldable yet, and it shows the second you pick it up. At just 215g and 8.9mm thick when folded, it’s lighter than theGalaxy S25 Ultraand only a hair thicker. In the past, the phone’s weight and thickness felt like an unfortunate trade-off for using a smartphone that transforms into a tablet.
The wider 21:9 cover display also greatly helps the device feel like a standard smartphone while folded. If you didn’t know the handset could be opened, you might think it’s another phone in the Galaxy S25 Series.
But unfolding the Z Fold 7 for the first time got me more excited than I’ve been for any smartphone in years. It’s one thing to read that the device is barely thicker than a USB-C port, but you have to pick up the 4.2mm-thin foldable to understand just how impressive it is. Despite being a relatively heavy phone, spread out across the 8-inch AMOLED panel, it feels like a feather.
Based on my short time with the phone, there’s not much to report on the software front. The foldable runsOne UI 8andAndroid 16out of the box. Everything felt smooth, but I’ll reserve my opinion until I’ve had more time with the phone.
I’m walking away from this year’s Galaxy Unpacked super excited to test the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Samsung has brought innovation to its flagship foldable, which has been missing for the past two or three generations. I feel like this is finally the no-compromises foldable I’ve been waiting for—which is good since the phone is now more expensive at $2,000.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Samsung’s thinnest and lightest Fold yet feels like a regular phone when closed and a powerful multitasking machine when open. With a brighter 8-inch display and on-device Galaxy AI, it’s ready for work, play, and everything in between.
Galaxy Z Flip 7: So Close to Perfection
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a refinement, not a reinvention—and that’s mostly a good thing. Samsung widened the internal display, resulting in a device that feels less like a novelty and more like a conventional smartphone when open. It’s not as awkward reaching up to the top of the screen, typing feels more natural, and it’s simply more usable.
But it’s the cover screen that sees the biggest visual upgrade. The new 4.1-inch edge-to-edge FlexWindow is the biggest and brightest ever on a Flip, and it finally feels like a space where you could do more than just check notifications or snap selfies. Unfortunately, Samsung still doesn’t let you run just any app on it without jumping through several (hidden) hoops, something Motorola nailed with theRazr Ultra (2025). Until that changes, the Flip’s outer screen will always feel a bit underpowered by design.
Samsung also decided to drop Snapdragon for an in-houseExynos 2500 SoC. I’ve never reviewed a phone powered by an Exynos chip, but based on benchmarks, it appears to hold its own against Qualcomm’s flagship 8 Elite processor. The phone felt snappy, but real-world testing is needed to evaluate how well the foldable works in daily life.
There’s a lot to like here, but it’s just not quite enough to call it the best flip-style foldable yet.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
A wider shape and a new edge-to-edge FlexWindow make this the most usable Flip yet. It’s compact, customizable, and packed with smart AI tools right on the cover screen.
Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: A Confusing Addition
Samsung’s Fan Edition phones usually offer flagship experiences at a friendlier price. But the Z Flip 7 FE misses the mark. At $899, it’s still pricey, and yet it feels like a step down in almost every way.
In addition to using an Exynos processor instead of something from Qualcomm, the hardware looks like last year’s Z Fold 6 and lacks the premium materials. It also doesn’t bring any meaningful new tricks to the table. It’s hard to describe, but in my hand, the Z Flip 7 FE felt noticeably cheaper than last year’s flagship.
Unless this gets a heavy discount fast, it’s tough to recommend. Instead, if you want to save a few bucks on your first foldable, I would consider getting last year’sZ Flip 6. It’s a great phone slated to receive six more years of firmware and security updates. Alternatively, I’m sure most carriers will offer you deep discounts on the standard Z Flip 7.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE
Samsung’s most affordable foldable brings the Flip experience to more people. But with lower-end materials and an Exynos chip, it’s a tough sell at its current price.
Galaxy Watch 8: Comfort Gains, Slight Redesign
The Galaxy Watch 8 is Samsung’s thinnest and lightest smartwatch yet, and you notice that on the wrist. It’s comfortable, and the new cushion-style design (borrowed from the Watch Ultra) helps it stand out. There’s also a brighter 3,000-nit display, which was super easy to read even under bright lighting.
But in everyday use, I don’t think it’ll be meaningfully different than last year’sGalaxy Watch 7. Yes, there are some new health metrics like antioxidant index and vascular load, but we won’t know how useful (or reliable) those are until we’ve had time to wear the watch.
I am also divided on the redesign. On one hand, I can understand why Samsung wants to give its wearables a distinct look. You know when someone is wearing anApple Watchor aPixel Watch. But on the other hand, Samsung’s standard watch has typically featured a minimalist round design that everyone can enjoy.
Thankfully, Samsung continues to offer the Galaxy Watch 8 in two sizes—40mm and 44mm—so you can pick the model that fits your wrist best.
What I’m most excited about, though, is the transition to the Dynamic Lug System that Samsung first introduced with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. While I would love every company to use a universal watch band, Samsung’s design makes swapping bands a breeze.
The band pops off with the press of a button, and simply pressing a new one into the open slot provides a secure connection. Plus, the seamless design helps the smartwatch feel more comfortable on your wrist.
Samsung Galaxy Watch8
Now thinner and more comfortable, the Galaxy Watch 8 adds new health-tracking features like sleep apnea detection and antioxidant readings.
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Familiar Controls, New Identity
The good news? The rotating bezel lives on. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic still offers the tactile control that has made the Classic line a fan favorite. Spinning through tiles and menus feels great, especially with the updates in One UI 8 Watch and Wear OS 6.
The bad news? The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic no longer looks like the timeless watch it once was. The new Ultra-inspired design makes it chunkier and more rugged-looking, which feels at odds with the Classic’s usual elegance. I don’t necessarily dislike the redesign, but it’s a departure from the tried and true.
Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic
The rotating bezel is back, offering satisfying control in a redesigned body. It’s a blend of old and new, though not everyone will love the Ultra-inspired look.
Samsung’s 2025 foldable lineup is a mixed bag. The Galaxy Z Fold stands out as a true flagship smartphone, making me wonder if it will soon replace the Ultra in the Galaxy S series. The Z Flip 7 is also at a point where it feels like a mainstream device, but Samsung is standing in the way and makes it unnecessarily difficult to use the cover display. And as for the Z Flip 7 FE? I’m still scratching my head on that one.
As for the watches, my primary takeaway is that Samsung is attempting to create a uniform design to help them stand out. Under the hood, it doesn’t seem like much has changed, but we’ll need to wear the devices for more than a few hours to know how well the new software features work.
We’ll soon have full reviews of Samsung’s latest foldable phones and smartwatch lineup. In the meantime, if you’re interested in picking up anything, now is the time to do it. Samsung is offering significant discounts and trade-in offers during the pre-order period that are worth considering. This includesup to $1,200 off the Galaxy Z Fold 7, up to$770 off the Z Flip 7, storage upgrades for theZ Fold 7 FE, up to$250 off the Galaxy Watch 8, andup to $300 off the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.
