Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 in South Africa, and if you’re a fan of sleek design, powerful performance, and cutting-edge AI, this one’s for you. At the vibrant Unpacked event in Rosebank, Johannesburg, we sat down with Justine Hume, Vice President of Mobile Experience at Samsung South Africa, to get deeper insight into what makes the seventh generation of Samsung’s foldables their smartest — and most exciting — yet.
Lighter Than a Bar of Chocolate, Smarter Than Ever
“This phone is as light as a bar of chocolate,”
Hume laughed, holding up the Galaxy Z Fold7. Weighing in at just 215 grams, it’s Samsung’s lightest and thinnest Fold ever, measuring a mere 4.2mm when unfolded. But don’t let its featherweight design fool you — this device is packing serious power.
At the heart of the Z Fold7 is Galaxy AI, now deeply integrated into the foldable form factor with help from Google Gemini. This allows users to speak, type, or even show AI what they’re doing — whether that’s asking about Springbok match schedules or planning a pizza night, as Hume cheekily demonstrated.
“I can say to Gemini: ‘When are the Springboks playing? Add it to my calendar. Invite Dave. Get me the menu from the local pizza place.’ All of that, from one voice prompt,”
said Hume.
“It’s not just smart — it’s seamless.”
No More Compromises Between Foldable and Smartphone
For years, foldable devices have often meant trade-offs — less screen space when closed, clunky design, or limited app support. Not anymore.
The Z Fold7 boasts a full-sized 6.5-inch cover screen in a 21:9 aspect ratio, giving it a traditional smartphone feel when closed. Open it up, and it transforms into a sprawling 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display — now 11% larger than its predecessor — perfect for multitasking, streaming, or editing on the fly.
“You don’t have to choose anymore,” said Hume. “You’ve got your full smartphone up front, and your immersive, tablet-like experience when opened. And thanks to app continuity, everything just flows.”
Built Tough, Styled Sleek
Samsung’s reengineered Armor FlexHinge and Corning® Gorilla® Glass Ceramic 2 make the Z Fold7 ready for real life — whether that’s endless folding, tossing in your bag, or binge-watching in the sun (thanks to 2,600 nits of peak brightness).
Inside, it’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, boasting a 41% boost in NPU performance, perfectly geared to handle intense on-device AI tasks, gaming, and everything in between.
The 200MP Camera Is Still a Star
Just because it folds doesn’t mean it compromises on the camera. The Galaxy Z Fold7 features a pro-grade 200MP wide-angle camera, a first for the Fold series. It captures 4x more detail, 44% brighter images, and integrates Samsung’s next-gen ProVisual Engine to make every photo vivid, sharp, and intelligent — even in low light.
Hume emphasized,
“People don’t just want high-res images. They want to zoom in, edit, and share effortlessly. That’s why we’ve added AI tools like Photo Assist, Generative Edit, and Audio Eraser. You can literally clean up your photos, remove distractions, or isolate background noise — all right on the device.”
Galaxy AI: Not Just a Feature — an Ecosystem
Samsung is betting big on AI, but it’s not locking users into a single experience. While Google Gemini is front and center, users can still tap into Samsung’s Bixby, camera AI agents, and multi-modal integrations across apps. That means you can interact via voice, touch, text, or camera — whatever feels most natural in the moment.
With One UI 8 on Android 16, the Z Fold7 brings a new level of fluidity. Features like Circle to Search, Drag & Drop AI content, and AI Results View take full advantage of the larger screen. It’s not just AI — it’s AI optimised for foldables.
Security That’s Future-Ready
As our devices get smarter, Samsung is making sure they stay secure. The Z Fold7 comes equipped with Samsung Knox, the new KEEP encrypted protection, and quantum-resistant encryption via Secure Wi-Fi — protecting your data now and in the future.
Pricing, Colours, and Availability
The Galaxy Z Fold7 is available in Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, and Jet-black, and officially hit stores on July 25, with prices starting at:
R42,999 for 256GB
R45,999 for 512GB
R49,999 for 1TB
Early buyers also get Samsung Care+, 6 months of Google AI Pro, and 2TB of cloud storage on the house.
Final Thoughts from Samsung SA
“This is not just a phone. It’s an experience,”
said Hume.
“We’ve slimmed it down, packed it with AI, and given it the power users need. Whether you’re working, creating, or just binge-watching, the Z Fold7 is built to keep up — and look good doing it.”
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 isn’t just another smartphone — it’s the next step in how we work, play, and connect with the world around us.
