Technologies

Galaxy Z Fold 7 Breaks Record for Highest Number of Fold Preorders

Samsung’s Z Flip 7 and Fold 7 also saw a more than 25% increase in total preorders compared with last year’s phones.

Samsung’s latest foldables are already making quite a statement, beyond their bold new designs — or maybe because of them.

The phone-maker said in a newsroom post Thursday that the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is its thinnest foldable yet, racked up more preorders «than anyprevious Z Fold device in US history.» It added that both the Z Fold 7 and the Z Flip 7 saw a more than 25% hike in total preorders compared with last year’s handsets.

Carriers also saw an uptick in sales. Samsung says there was a nearly 60% jump in preorders for both phones cumulatively, compared with last year. In a statement, it added, «In-store shoppers are takingadvantage of getting their hands on the devices, with thin, light and compact designs, as well ascamera improvements being among the top interest drivers.»

A CNET survey from June found that 30% of people list the camera as a top consideration when upgrading their phone. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 packs an impressive 200-megapixel main camera, which can serve up images on par with those from the top-of-the-line Galaxy S25 Ultra. It’s a significant milestone for Samsung, but also for foldable and thin phones overall, since cameras tend to take a hit due to hardware limitations. But Samsung worked around that by developing smaller, more advanced components for both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its skinny predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Edge, which came out in May.

Not surprisingly, another top consideration when buying a new phone, according to CNET’s survey, is price. The $2,000 sticker on the Z Fold 7, which is $100 higher than last year’s model, is likely to be a deterrent for many shoppers — though it clearly hasn’t stopped the phone from breaking early sales records. The Z Flip 7 also comes at a rather hefty $1,100, though this year Samsung also introduced the slightly cheaper Z Fold 7 FE, which starts at $900.

It’s not just preorders for the Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 that saw a spike. Even after general availability for the phones kicked off on July 25, Samsung says, «momentum for both devices remain strong, with orderscontinuing to outpace the previous generation by more than 25%.» The Z Fold 7 is also outperforming sales of last year’s model by around 50% since it hit store shelves, according to the company.

A fresh form factor brings fresh excitement

The sleeker build of both foldables, particularly the Z Fold 7, can help entice new buyers who are hesitant about switching to a new form factor. In another CNET survey from earlier this month, 15% of respondents who don’t own a foldable say it’s because they’re too bulky.

The Z Fold 7 helps to remedy that with its slim profile, which measures 8.9mm thick when closed and 4.2mm when open. That, along with a wider 6.5-inch cover screen, makes it feel as close to a standard slate phone as possible and places it in the same camp as other thin foldables from Chinese companies like Honor, Oppo and Huawei.

«Foldables have reached an inflection point as they are becoming a mainstream choice forusers,» Drew Blackard, Samsung’s senior vice president of mobile product management, said in a statement. «Now, on our seventh generation, we’ve addressed consumer feedback yearafter year and have arrived at the kind of experience you can’t get on any other device. Whenpeople go hands-on with a Z series device, they’re hooked — and now it’s all coming togetherwith record-breaking numbers.»

In an exclusive interview with CNET ahead of the launch of the new phones, Blackard expressed similar sentiments, noting that, «There’s no longer that trade-off of, ‘Well, do I want a traditional bar-type smartphone, or a foldable?'» He added, «You’ll kind of get the best of both worlds.»

Samsung added that although black is usually the top color choice for Z Fold users, blue shadow made up about half of Z Fold 7 preorders. (I tested the blue shadow version myself and found the color to be a good balance between eye-catchingly bold and practically subtle, thanks to its deeper hue.) The coral red version of the Z Flip 7 «has also beat expectations,» Samsung said, making up 25% of preorders for that phone. «Thesetrends are remaining steady through the first week of availability,» the company added.

This all comes as Apple reportedly plans to launch its own foldable next year. The iPhone maker hasn’t confirmed or shared any details, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning. A report from JPMorgan earlier this week notes that the first foldable iPhone is expected to launch in September 2026 and could cost $1,999. Apple is reportedly teaming up with Samsung Display to create a crease-free display.

Dating app Bumble is bringing artificial intelligence into the matchmaking process via a new AI assistant called Bee. The dating app unveiled the upcoming features during its 2025 fourth-quarter earnings call this week. CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd said the company’s revamped platform, called Bumble 2.0, is expected to roll out sometime this spring, with tools designed to make profiles more personal and matches more meaningful.

One of the biggest changes is what Bumble calls a «chapter-based profile.» Instead of presenting users as a handful of static details, the new format lets people share different «chapters» of their lives — essentially short story-like sections that highlight experiences, interests or defining moments.

Today, a typical Bumble profile looks much like those on other dating apps: a name, age, photos and a few quick facts such as job title or hometown. From there, the process is familiar. Swipe left if you’re not interested. Swipe right if you are.

The new format, Bumble hopes, will give users a chance to show more of who they are before someone makes that split-second decision.

Another feature, called Dates, will rely on the new AI assistant Bee to help users find connections.

No more swipes?

Wolfe Herd said Bumble might test eliminating the swipe in certain markets and then see how members react to the feature being gone.

During the earnings call, Wolfe Herd said people are tired of «being reduced to images and potentially dismissed with a swipe» and that the chapter-based profile will help people tell their stories.

With the chapter-based format, members will be able to share more about themselves beyond the basics, in the hopes that it will be more intriguing for potential partners. One member may be intrigued by another’s trip to Italy. They connect to learn more, and maybe a match will form. It’s also a way for Bumble to get more data to feed its AI and gain more well-rounded profiles of its members.

More from CNET: The Best Dating Apps for 2025

Wolfe Herd said Bumble wants its members to showcase more of themselves and not just their basic profile.

«Ultimately, dating only works when you really understand the story of someone,» Wolfe Herd said during the earnings call. «This is where chemistry and connection really happen. It is the intersection of someone going from just a stranger that you dismiss to someone you are genuinely interested in. As we reimagined the profile, we thought, why not bring people to life as a story? Everyone has a story to tell, and this is where people become interesting.»

Wolfe Herd said many members complain that their potential matches wind up in «dead-end chat zones» that never go anywhere. She said Bumble will introduce «dynamic ways» to get members to connect.

Bee as matchmaker

Wolfe Herd also said the AI-powered Bee would act as a personal dating assistant and matchmaker by «learning members’ values, relationship goals, communication style, lifestyle and dating intentions.»

Bumble already uses AI to help members improve their profiles and find potential matches, but Bee will be a major advancement in that effort.

Bee will use member insights to «identify mutual compatibility» with other members. Wolfe Herd said the company’s goal is to «get much more robust information about who you are and what you are looking for and really understand your story.» That process could be via typing or voice.

If a member wants to use Dates to find a match, Bee could use its AI to find a compatible match among other Bumble members and present that person as a possibility. Wolfe Herd said the company will soon begin beta testing Bee with a small, select group of Bumble consumers.

Other dating apps also utilize AI in their processes to varying extents. Grindr has a «wingman» chatbot that helps members write responses, identify potential matches and plan dates. Tinder and Hinge, both owned by Match Group, use AI assistants to generate icebreakers and enhance member interactions. For instance, Hinge launched Convo Starters late last year to help members kick off interesting conversations.

More from CNET: Bumble Introduces ID Verification

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