Samsung just cracked the foldable phone code. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 ditches the awkward narrow design that plagued previous generations, delivering a natural 21:9 aspect ratio at just 8.9mm thick. This isn't just another incremental upgrade - it's the book-style foldable the industry has been waiting for, finally making the $2,000 price tag feel justified for power users.
The foldable phone market just hit a major turning point. Samsung spent seven generations perfecting the Z Fold formula, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 finally delivers on the promise that's been teasing us since 2019. Gone is the awkward narrow outer screen that made previous models feel like using a TV remote. The Z Fold 7's familiar 21:9 aspect ratio makes it feel like a normal phone until you unfold it into tablet territory.
At 8.9mm thick, it's nearly as slim as traditional smartphones while packing a spacious 8-inch inner display. The 200-megapixel camera system performs admirably in low light, though that chunky camera bump does make it wobble on flat surfaces. Still, after years of compromises, Samsung has created a foldable that doesn't feel like you're making sacrifices.
But Samsung isn't the only player pushing boundaries. Motorola doubled down on style with the Razr Ultra (2025), featuring a stunning gold-bronze chassis with actual wooden back panels. It's easily the best-looking phone you can buy right now, with a 4-inch outer screen that covers nearly the entire front panel. The titanium hinge feels premium, though Motorola's inconsistent camera processing and shorter update commitment (just three OS upgrades) keep it from being a complete package.
Meanwhile, Oppo is making everyone else look thick with the Find N5. This ultra-thin book-style foldable packs a massive 5,600mAh battery using silicon-carbon technology, delivering exceptional all-day performance. The crease is nearly invisible, and the overall build quality feels premium. There's just one problem - if you're in the US or Europe, you can't buy it.
Google is taking a different approach entirely. The upcoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold, launching October 9th at $1,799, becomes the first foldable to earn an IP68 rating. That means full water and dust resistance - addressing the biggest durability concern that's plagued the category. Early hands-on reports suggest Google has addressed the proportions and screen brightness issues from the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
The flip phone segment tells a similar story of rapid evolution. Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 finally adopted the large cover screen approach, ditching the tiny file-folder design for a glorious 4.1-inch edge-to-edge panel. It's not quite as fun as the Razr Ultra, but the bigger 4,300mAh battery and seven years of updates make it the practical choice.
