Like Christmas in July, Samsung Galaxy Unpacked brought incredible gifts to Galaxy fans worldwide.
As is tradition, the second Unpacked event of the year highlights Samsung’s most innovative and exciting devices. In my opinion, that means foldables and watches. I’d be lying if I said the announcement of the new Fold and Flip was a surprise. We all knew they were coming. But as a Galaxy Z Fold user on my fourth model so far, this is the event I had been waiting for, and it did not disappoint!
First up, the star of the show: Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Why did they even call it a 7? It feels like an entirely new device. I wanted to see it in person before sharing my thoughts. Since I couldn’t attend Unpacked this year, I stopped by my local phone shop to check it out, and here’s how it went.
When I walked up to the Galaxy display, it actually took me a minute to locate the new Fold. For better or worse, in its closed form, it looks just like a standard Samsung Galaxy bar phone. It blended in next to the Galaxy S25 Ultra and S25 Edge. One of the biggest upgrades this generation is a wider and more usable cover screen. In fact, both screens are larger, but what you notice first is how “normal” the front screen looks, something fans have been asking for over the years. So, great job to Samsung for finally delivering a design that could help bring the Fold into the mainstream.
Once I found it and picked it up, it really did feel like a regular phone. The thinness of the device is mind-blowing. Of course, I had seen pictures and videos, and I had heard people talk about how thin it is, but holding it in your hand makes all the difference. It’s not just a gimmick. It’s a real flagship phone that anyone can use with no learning curve, and that is a big deal.
Next, I opened it, which was actually a little hard to do at first since the sides are so thin, but I’m sure a good case will fix that. Inside, you’re greeted with an even larger tablet-like screen. At this point, I wasn’t expecting any surprises there. The big inner screen has always been great, and it still is. It’s a tablet that fits in your pocket. What did catch my eye, though, was the punch-hole camera cutout. That hasn’t been there the last couple of generations, but I understand compromises had to be made to make the device thinner. On the plus side, it’s a higher resolution sensor now at 10MP, which means better image quality, and that’s always welcome.
Now, let’s talk about something I’m a little sad about: this year, Samsung removed S Pen support from the Fold.
A moment of silence 😔
The S Pen is something I use every day. While I’m disappointed to see it go, I also understand the decision. Removing it helps reduce thickness and keeps the cost of an already pricey device in check. I’m hopeful that Samsung might bring it back in some form next year. Not expecting it, but definitely hoping. That would be amazing.
Aside from that, performance, battery life, and cameras have all improved, as you’d expect. The Fold 7 now includes the 200MP sensor in the main camera, like the S25 Ultra and S25 Edge. The Fold lineup has always had decent cameras, but they lagged behind Samsung’s other flagships. That’s no longer the case, and it’s great to see.
Overall, this is a very exciting new generation for the Galaxy Z Fold. The new color options are beautiful, and my personal favorite is Silver Shadow.
Now, let’s not forget the Z Flip 7.
I’m not the target audience for this device, so I don’t have as much to say, but I love what they’ve done with it. The new outer screen now takes up nearly every mm of space, and it looks fantastic. The two camera cutouts give it a fun personality, and I can already see people getting creative with wallpapers. I tried it briefly, and I liked how quick and snappy it is to open and close. It’s a fun device, and fans of the Flip line are going to love this upgrade.
I have to mention Galaxy AI and the integration of Google Gemini.
I honestly can’t think of any other brand that offers such a complete and feature-rich set of AI tools. Almost everything you do with your phone now benefits from AI. It boosts both productivity and creativity, and it fits naturally into your daily routine. This is how AI should be done, and right now, no one does it better than Samsung. Combined with the new One UI 8, the software is just as much a part of the story as the hardware this year. I can’t wait to see what people create with it and what success stories come from this community.
And the watches: three new models!
Well, one is more of a refresh, Watch Ultra 2025, but still worth getting excited about. The Galaxy Watch 8 looks fantastic, and I really like the updated design. This is probably the one I’ll be picking up, since I already have the Ultra from last year.
The Classic is also back, and yes, the rotating bezel has returned once again. Love to see it!
The refreshed software is a big deal too. I think this might finally be the year I start taking my health more seriously, with the help of my Galaxy Watches. I always keep three in rotation, so this is all awesome stuff.
Another Unpacked has come and gone. It’s always a little bittersweet, the build-up is almost as fun as the event itself, but now a new chapter begins for Samsung’s most loyal fans. And I’m all in!
