When Samsung unveiled its latest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, in July, many believed the era of foldable smartphones had truly arrived. For anyone considering a foldable device, this one felt like a game-changer. Even die-hard Apple loyalists admitted the Z Fold 7 opened up a whole new way of experiencing a smartphone—its design, features, and sheer versatility sparked genuine excitement.
Samsung’s confidence was well placed. Alongside the Fold 7, the Galaxy Flip 7 also hit the market, and both devices smashed preorder records. The strong demand showed a clear shift: consumers are warming up to foldables not as novelties, but as serious alternatives to standard bar-shaped phones. With every iteration, Samsung has packed in more innovation, pushing foldables closer to mainstream adoption.
The story of foldables goes back to 2018, when the Royole FlexPai became the world’s first commercial folding phone. Samsung followed with the Galaxy Fold in 2019, and since then, nearly every major brand has entered the race. Google launched the Pixel Fold, Motorola revived the Razr, Huawei and Xiaomi chased slimmer, lighter designs, and even Nokia dipped back into flip phones with a modern twist. Now, all eyes are on Apple, which is rumored to finally debut its own foldable in 2026—a device expected to blend durability, sleek design, and Apple’s signature ecosystem.
Still, foldables face hurdles. For most people, there’s little reason to swap out a perfectly capable phone. The value proposition has to be more than just a cool gimmick—it has to offer something radically different. And history shows how this can play out. In the early 2000s, flip phones were iconic. Then came BlackBerry. But it was Apple’s iPhone in 2007 that redefined the smartphone forever—introducing a full touchscreen and eliminating buttons entirely. It took competitors years to catch up. The same evolution may be playing out with foldables now.
Samsung’s first Galaxy Fold in 2019 was revolutionary but flawed. Durability issues—creases, hinge dust, and fragile displays—left early adopters wary. But over time, Samsung refined the design. By 2025, the Fold 7 is slimmer at 8.9mm, tougher, and boasts battery life on par with flagship phones. The Flip series, meanwhile, is becoming thinner, more practical, and more affordable.
Yet, foldables remain niche. In 2024, they accounted for less than 2% of global smartphone shipments. High prices—often between $1,500 and $2,000—keep them out of reach for most. Samsung’s decision to price the Flip 7 at $899 was a step toward wider adoption, but affordability remains a barrier.
Apple’s rumored entry could be the turning point. Known for perfecting rather than pioneering, Apple is unlikely to rush. Instead, it’s expected to wait until durability, usability, and pricing align. Reports suggest Apple’s foldable could feature a book-style design with a 7.8-inch inner display and reinforced hinge—bringing iPad-like versatility in iPhone form. If true, Apple could catapult foldables from luxury niche to mass-market must-have.
Why does this matter? Because foldables promise more than novelty. Larger screens enable smoother multitasking, better AI-driven productivity, and richer creative tools. Samsung and Google are already pitching their foldables as AI-first devices—tools not just for communication, but for creation, work, and play. Imagine circling an image on a big screen and instantly pulling up detailed information beside it, or unfolding your phone into a mini workstation without needing a tablet.
The challenges remain: complex engineering, high costs, and the perception that foldables are fragile luxuries. Adoption is higher in markets like China and South Korea, while the U.S. still lags behind. But as durability improves and prices inch downward, the technology is slowly maturing.
For consumers, the pitch is simple: instead of buying a phone and a tablet separately, why not have a single device that transforms between both? Foldables are inching closer to delivering on that promise. And if Apple enters the game, the foldable smartphone could finally make the leap from futuristic experiment to everyday essential.
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