Samsung’s long effort to turn folding phones into everyday devices has produced its clearest sign of progress yet. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 set new demand benchmarks in South Korea and Western Europe, suggesting that buyers are warming to the book-style format after years of treating it as an expensive experiment.
The result does not mean foldables have overtaken conventional smartphones. Still, rising foldable phone sales matter as competition from Honor, Google and other Android manufacturers intensifies.
The Sales Records at a Glance
| Market Measure | Reported Result |
| South Korean Fold 7 and Flip 7 pre-orders | 1.04 million in one week |
| Fold 7 share of Korean pre-orders | 60% |
| Previous Korean foldable record | 1.02 million for Fold 5 and Flip 5 |
| Western European Fold 7 sales | More than 250,000 in four weeks |
| Growth over Fold 6 in Western Europe | More than double |
| Lead over the previous best-selling Fold model | More than 70% |
The Korean total beat the 1.02 million record set by the Fold 5 and Flip 5 in 2023 and rose from 910,000 for the Fold 6 and Flip 6. More strikingly, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 took 60% of orders, becoming the first Fold to outsell its Flip partner during a Korean pre-order period.
Europe Delivers Another Important Win
The momentum travelled beyond Samsung’s home market. Counterpoint Research reported that more than 250,000 Fold 7 units were sold across Western Europe within four weeks of release.
That made the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 the region’s fastest-selling Galaxy Fold and its best-selling book-style foldable during the measured period. Sales were more than twice those of the Fold 6 and over 70% higher than the previous series leader, the Fold 4.
That European performance matters because buyers can choose from credible foldable brands. Samsung was not competing only with its older devices; it also faced thinner models from Honor and an improving Pixel range from Google. The result suggests design changes are influencing retail decisions.
Launch promotions and trade-ins can lift first-month numbers. Sustained foldable phone sales will depend on demand after those offers end.
A Thinner Design Made the Difference
Earlier Fold devices offered a large screen but felt thick and heavy. The latest model tackles both complaints.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighs 215 grams, measures 8.9mm when folded and becomes 4.2mm thick when opened. That makes it lighter than Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra despite carrying a larger folding display.
Other upgrades strengthened the package:
- An 8-inch main display for videos and multitasking.
- A 200-megapixel main camera, replacing the previous 50-megapixel sensor.
- Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor.
- Galaxy AI features designed for search, editing and productivity.
The high price remains a barrier to mass adoption, and conservative buyers are wary of repair costs and the durability of the screen over time.
Why the Numbers Matter for Samsung
Samsung helped create the modern foldable category, but Chinese brands and Google continue strengthening their alternatives.
The success of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 shows that shoppers will reward practical improvements rather than novelty alone. It also gives Samsung a stronger reason to keep investing in hinges, flexible displays and software built for larger screens.
For the wider market, rising foldable phone sales may encourage developers to improve apps for split-screen work and unusual display ratios. Better software would make the hardware more useful, creating a healthier cycle of adoption.
What to Expect From Samsung’s Foldable Strategy
Samsung’s next challenge is turning a successful launch into steady demand. Three areas will reveal whether this is a durable shift:
- Sales after end of promotional offers
- Consumer reactions to pricing and repairability
- More preference for Fold models over Flip devices to continue
That record-breaking start shows that foldables can reach more than just early adopters when familiar issues are addressed. But the category is still a sliver of the smartphone market. Samsung has made some strides, but for folding phones to really break into the mainstream, it will need lower prices, proven durability and a clear everyday advantage over regular flagships.
Source: https://mashable.com/tech/samsung-galaxy-z-foldables-break-sales-records-korea-europe
