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.