From 17.1 Millimeters to eight.9 Millimeters: The Journey Behind a 48% Reduction in Thickness
Unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked 2025 in New York on July 9, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is 48% thinner than the unique Galaxy Fold. While general thickness1 declined by 29% throughout the primary six generations — from the Galaxy Fold in 2019 to the Galaxy Z Fold6 in 2024 — a big 26% discount was achieved in simply the previous yr. This streamlined design displays Samsung Electronics’ continued developments in hinge engineering and product design, delivering a extra refined person expertise.
To spotlight this milestone, Samsung Newsroom explores how the Galaxy Z Fold collection has redefined thinness in foldable smartphones from 2019 to at the moment.
Making its debut in 2019, the Galaxy Fold was Samsung’s first system to introduce the idea of foldable smartphones. With a most folded thickness2 of 17.1 mm and a most unfolded thickness of seven.6 mm, the system provided the general public its first take a look at foldable show know-how. This revolutionary type issue ushered in a brand new cell expertise, permitting customers to get pleasure from a widescreen show from the palm of their hand.
Introduced in 2020, the Galaxy Z Fold2 featured the Hideaway Hinge — consisting of greater than 60 inner parts for smoother, extra versatile folding. The precision-engineered hinge built-in seamlessly into the system’s physique, lowering the utmost folded thickness to 16.8mm and a most unfolded thickness to six.9 mm.
In 2021, the Galaxy Z FoldThree turned much more compact — measuring a most thickness of 16.zero mm when folded and 6.Four mm when unfolded — whereas additionally introducing help for the S Pen and IPX8-rated water resistance, each firsts for the collection. Armor Aluminum was utilized all through the system to spice up sturdiness, and the upgraded Sweeper know-how helped forestall mud and overseas particles from getting into the hinge. These enhancements enabled a thinner, sturdier design with out compromising usability.
Released in 2022, the Galaxy Z FoldFour introduced notable enhancements in each weight and thickness. The gear-based hinge was changed with a linear motion mechanism, lowering inner parts and leading to a most folded thickness of 15.Eight mm and an unfolded thickness of 6.Three mm. This redesign provided a sleeker profile and improved ergonomics whereas sustaining the system’s sturdy efficiency.
In 2023, the Galaxy Z Fold5 launched the Flex Hinge, an modern hinge mechanism with 4 drive shafts that enabled the show to twist inward in a water-drop form, changing the normal Hideaway Hinge. This development enabled the 2 halves of the telephone to shut extra evenly, minimizing the display crease and eliminating the hole when folded. The end result was a extra compact type issue, with a folded thickness of 13.Four mm and an unfolded thickness of 6.1 mm.
Unveiled in 2024, the Galaxy Z Fold6 delivered an excellent slimmer silhouette — simply 12.1 mm when folded and 5.6 mm when unfolded. Featuring a refined construction and design of a symmetrical twin rail hinge, the system could possibly be folded flat or opened to numerous angles between 75 and 115 levels for larger versatility. This streamlined construct additional enhanced portability and on a regular basis usability.
Now the thinnest Galaxy smartphone ever, the Galaxy Z Fold7 embodies years of design evolution. With a folded thickness of simply 8.9 mm and an unfolded thickness of 4.2 mm, the system units a brand new normal for slender foldables. At the core is the Armor FlexHinge — a brand new structural innovation that fuses superior supplies with an optimized design for superior sturdiness and compactness. While the duvet show of the Galaxy Z Fold6 measures 6.Three inches (158.9 mm), the Galaxy Z Fold7’s cowl show extends to six.5 inches (164.Eight mm) to extend usability when the system is folded. The essential show3 additionally spans 8.zero inches…
