It’s no secret that Apple tends to experiment with prototypes privately, whereas a lot of their rivals use their clients as guinea pigs. The iPhone maker, for probably the most half, has traditionally avoided placing out “unfinished” merchandise, whereas Samsung, Google, and others choose to iterate in public with merchandise that would use some extra time within the lab. Nowhere is that clearer than with folding telephones. Samsung has been launching new foldable telephones for half a decade with various success, whereas Apple has but to announce its first folding iPhone.
Samsung’s Unpacked occasion earlier this week was in contrast to any earlier one, nevertheless. For the primary time, it appears like the most recent Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn’t an overpriced beta product riddled with design imperfections and different compromises. It has seemingly matured right into a sensible, multifunctional cellphone that caters to a wider vary of customers far past rabid early adopters. That is nice information for Samsung followers—however probably even higher information for these anticipating the iPhone Fold, rumored to launch subsequent 12 months.
Crease lower
Maybe probably the most obtrusive situation with early Galaxy Z Fold fashions was the show crease. Samsung’s early foldable screens would develop a visual line within the heart after repeated folding. Not solely would it not strip the units of their flagship really feel, however in some circumstances, it might have an effect on usability and result in premature repairs.
Bear in mind the early Galaxy Z telephones with an ugly crease down the center? These days are lengthy gone.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Samsung managed to reduce the issue through the years by design tweaks, and the most recent Galaxy Z Fold 7 incorporates an much more sturdy hinge. Taking this under consideration, it’s reasonable to imagine that the iPhone Fold received’t undergo from any main crease issues when it launches in September 2026. Apple has had ample time to develop a long-lasting answer, because the display crease has been rumored to be its largest precedence. When the iPhone Fold launches subsequent 12 months, it is going to have to be totally flawless simply to match the Z Fold 7.
Thinpossible
One other widespread foldable cellphone downside is the design, particularly, thickness and weight. Producers are basically stitching two smartphones collectively—all whereas sustaining their sturdiness, high-end specs, and so on. Slimming them down is not any simple feat. However, Samsung has lastly polished the design with its Galaxy Z Fold 7, suggesting Apple goes down an identical path.
The newest Samsung foldable weighs solely 215g and has a thickness of 8.9mm and 4.2mm when folded and unfolded, respectively. For comparability, the iPhone 16 Professional Max weighs 227g and is 8.25mm thick. So, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has basically change into a normal-sized smartphone when folded and an ultra-slim pill in its unfolded kind. It’s now not an awesome, chunky brick. It’s so skinny, in actual fact, Samsung needed to drop S-Pen help.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is tremendous skinny when open and closed.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
On condition that this 12 months’s iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be 5.5mm skinny (and the extremely highly effective iPad Professional M4 is simply 5.1mm skinny), it’s doubtless Apple has found out a option to make the iPhone Fold equally skinny. However how skinny is the query—and what Apple might want to sacrifice to get there.
Professional-formance
One other technological milestone is powering the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a flagship processor—the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. With such a skinny physique, overheating is clearly a priority, which is one thing Apple has already found out with its personal silicon. As I discussed above, look no additional than the iPad Professional and upcoming iPhone 17 Air to see how extremely environment friendly Apple’s chips are.
If it launches subsequent 12 months as rumored, we assume the iPhone Fold will supply the yet-to-be-announced A20 Professional to ship superior iPadOS 26-like options, resembling app windowing, when unfolded. Folding telephones have been established as premium units, and Apple will doubtless observe swimsuit by placing its strongest cellular chip into its highest-end system.
Sharp taking pictures
Incorporating a Professional digital camera system right into a slim foldable is yet one more impediment that Samsung has overcome. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 affords a powerful triple rear lens setup, that includes a 200MP primary sensor. The entrance digital camera now additionally boasts a large 100-degree area of view, letting customers broaden the body when taking group selfies.
On the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, Apple is predicted to make use of a single digital camera, and most rumors recommend the iPhone Fold can have a pair of broad and ultra-wide lenses to permit for superior portraits and macro mode with restricted zoom capabilities. So, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will doubtless beat the iPhone right here, however Apple is bound to place main emphasis on the iPhone Fold’s photographic capabilities.
The Galaxy Z Fold7 has a powerful triple-camera system.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Relating to the entrance digital camera, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has two, one on the skin show and one other on the within to be used when opened, with two single-hole cutouts for the cameras. Apple is rumored to be taking an identical path because it shifts away from the Dynamic Island and strikes Face ID components underneath the show.
It’s not clear what which means for Face ID, which might give Apple an edge right here. However with two screens, Apple is more likely to ditch Face ID on the iPhone Fold for Contact ID inside the facility button just like the iPad mini and Air.
The stakes are excessive
Apple lovers have usually grown accustomed to receiving modern {hardware} later than everybody else. When stated upgrades finally arrive, nevertheless, they anticipate them to work flawlessly. The corporate is clearly conscious of this unstated method, so it’s secure to imagine the primary iPhone Fold received’t be as half-baked as Samsung’s earlier folding telephones. Whether or not it’ll be a worthy Galaxy Z Fold 7 competitor is a unique story, although.
Positive, Apple has spent years growing and refining the iPhone Fold’s potential imperfections. However Samsung has been gathering analytics and suggestions from hundreds of thousands of customers for some time now—the type of knowledge Apple can’t essentially replicate with restricted lab assessments. I’m not frightened concerning the iPhone Fold’s sturdiness or potential defects. There’s additionally the difficulty of value. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 begins at $1,999 with 256GB of storage, $800 greater than the iPhone 16 Professional Max and twice that of a MacBook Air. Will the iPhone Fold value $2,500 or extra?
However I’m most involved concerning the iPhone Fold’s distinctive options, specs, battery life, and the day-to-day utilization expertise. Will the wait be price it? We’re going to seek out out quickly.
