Galaxy Z Fold 7 Breaks US Pre-Order Records Finally

When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 7, something felt different. This was not just another iterative update with minor tweaks and marketing fluff. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has achieved the highest pre-order numbers of any Galaxy Fold device in the United States, and frankly, it is about time. After years of Samsung playing it safe with foldables that felt more like expensive tech demos than practical daily drivers, the Z Fold 7 shows what happens when a company finally tackles the barriers that kept mainstream users away.

The numbers tell a clear story. Combined pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 jumped over 25 percent compared to the previous generation, and US carriers have reported a 60 percent surge in pre-orders for both devices. Even better, the Z Fold 7 is outperforming sales of last year’s model by around 50% since it hit store shelves. Not just a good quarter, a real-world validation that Samsung finally solved the practical concerns that held foldables back.

Samsung finally nailed the hardware formula

Let’s be honest, previous Galaxy Fold devices had one glaring problem that made them tough sells for anyone who was not a tech enthusiast with deep pockets. They were chunky. Really chunky. Fold one up and it felt like two phones taped together in your pocket. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 removes that barrier to everyday use.

Here is the headline change, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures only 4.2mm when unfolded, making it one of the slimmest foldables to date. Fold it up and you are looking at 8.9 millimeters thick, barely thicker than a regular flagship smartphone. For perspective, when shut, the device is only six-tenths of a millimeter thicker than the latest iPhone 16 Pro. That kind of precision hits the primary complaint head-on.

The displays build on that foundation. The main display increased to 8 inches with a 2184 x 1968 pixel resolution, so there is more room for spreadsheets, streaming and split screen. The cover display expanded to 6.5 inches, which means you can use it like a normal phone for quick texts or maps without opening it every time.

And no, Samsung did not sacrifice the camera to get there. The system steps up to a 200MP main sensor, delivering the flagship-level shots you would expect from a Galaxy S-series heavy hitter, only now in a foldable.

Performance and durability solve the reliability equation

Under the hood, Samsung equipped the Z Fold 7 with the most advanced Snapdragon mobile processor available. The gains are not subtle, 38% faster processing, 26% smoother graphics, and 41% quicker AI versus the Galaxy Z Fold 6. That translates to snappier app launches, smoother gaming and fewer hiccups when juggling multiple windows.

Battery anxiety? Less of it. The Z Fold 7 keeps a 4400mAh battery capacity and Samsung says it can watch videos up to 24 hours. In testing, the Z Fold 7 can push through 26 hours of video playback, which takes the daily reliability worry down a notch.

Durability also gets a full-court press. You get IP48 water and dust resistance, protection on the foldable display with Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, and a redesigned, stronger FlexHinge wrapped in an advanced Armor Aluminum frame. In short, it feels built for real life, not a glass museum shelf.

Market response reveals mainstream tipping point

The sales response is bigger than one good product cycle. In South Korea, Samsung’s home market, the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 saw 1.04 million pre-orders in just one week, topping the 1.02 million record set by the Z 5 generation.

The mix of buyers is shifting too. For the first time, the Galaxy Z Fold7 now accounts for 60% of pre-orders registered with major carriers, the book-style foldable finally outpacing the flip. That suggests people are ready for the larger, do-it-all format because it now feels practical, not novelty.

Even color choices show enthusiasm. Half of all Galaxy Z Fold 7 pre-orders were for the Blue Shadow color, a small but telling sign that buyers see it as a premium product they want to show off.

And it is not just one region. In India, the Galaxy Z 7 series saw 210,000 pre-orders in the first two days, a local record for foldables and a signal that interest is broad, not niche.

What this means for the foldable future

Samsung’s Z Fold 7 arrives at what Samsung senior vice president Drew Blackard calls an inflection point as they are becoming a mainstream choice for users. The sales back it up.

Pricing remains premium, $2,000 for the 256GB model and up to $2,420 for the 1TB version. The difference now, buyers are getting flagship experiences without the compromises that used to define foldables. The Z Fold 7’s record-setting run validates a simple strategy, fix thickness, durability and everyday usability, then watch demand follow.

Samsung is being touted as having the most powerful foldable ever, and the current momentum sets the tone for what comes next. With Apple reportedly planning to enter the foldable space in 2026, Samsung’s lead time lets it shape the category as mainstream, not experiment.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is more than iterative polish. It is proof that when manufacturers eliminate the core barriers that kept shoppers on the fence, the market responds. Seven generations in, Samsung finally delivered the foldable that turns a clever idea into an everyday device.