From 17.1 Millimeters to 8.9 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 original Galaxy Fold. While overall thickness¹ declined by 29% across the first six generations — from the Galaxy Fold in 2019 to the Galaxy Z Fold6 in 2024 — a significant 26% reduction was achieved in just the past year. This streamlined design reflects Samsung Electronics’ continued advancements in hinge engineering and product design, delivering a more refined user experience.

To highlight this milestone, Samsung Newsroom explores how the Galaxy Z Fold series has redefined thinness in foldable smartphones from 2019 to today.

Making its debut in 2019, the Galaxy Fold was Samsung’s first device to introduce the concept of foldable smartphones. With a maximum folded thickness² of 17.1 mm and a maximum unfolded thickness of 7.6 mm, the device offered the public its first look at foldable display technology. This revolutionary form factor ushered in a new mobile experience, allowing users to enjoy a widescreen display from the palm of their hand.

Introduced in 2020, the Galaxy Z Fold2 featured the Hideaway Hinge — consisting of more than 60 internal components for smoother, more flexible folding. The precision-engineered hinge integrated seamlessly into the device’s body, reducing the maximum folded thickness to 16.8mm and a maximum unfolded thickness to 6.9 mm.

In 2021, the Galaxy Z Fold3 became even more compact — measuring a maximum thickness of 16.0 mm when folded and 6.4 mm when unfolded — while also introducing support for the S Pen and IPX8-rated water resistance, both firsts for the series. Armor Aluminum was applied throughout the device to boost durability, and the upgraded Sweeper technology helped prevent dust and foreign particles from entering the hinge. These enhancements enabled a thinner, sturdier design without compromising usability.

Released in 2022, the Galaxy Z Fold4 brought notable improvements in both weight and thickness. The gear-based hinge was replaced with a linear movement mechanism, reducing internal components and resulting in a maximum folded thickness of 15.8 mm and an unfolded thickness of 6.3 mm. This redesign offered a sleeker profile and improved ergonomics while maintaining the device’s robust performance.

In 2023, the Galaxy Z Fold5 introduced the Flex Hinge, an innovative hinge mechanism with four drive shafts that enabled the display to curl inward in a water-drop shape, replacing the traditional Hideaway Hinge. This advancement enabled the two halves of the phone to close more evenly, minimizing the screen crease and eliminating the gap when folded. The result was a more compact form factor, with a folded thickness of 13.4 mm and an unfolded thickness of 6.1 mm.

Unveiled in 2024, the Galaxy Z Fold6 delivered an even slimmer silhouette — just 12.1 mm when folded and 5.6 mm when unfolded. Featuring a refined structure and design of a symmetrical dual rail hinge, the device could be folded flat or opened to various angles between 75 and 115 degrees for greater versatility. This streamlined build further enhanced portability and everyday usability.

Now the thinnest Galaxy smartphone ever, the Galaxy Z Fold7 embodies years of design evolution. With a folded thickness of just 8.9 mm and an unfolded thickness of 4.2 mm, the device sets a new standard for slim foldables. At the core is the Armor FlexHinge — a new structural innovation that fuses advanced materials with an optimized design for superior durability and compactness. While the cover display of the Galaxy Z Fold6 measures 6.3 inches (158.9 mm), the Galaxy Z Fold7’s cover display extends to 6.5 inches (164.8 mm) to increase usability when the device is folded. The main display³ also spans 8.0 inches (203.1 mm) when unfolded, offering an 11% larger screen area than its predecessor — the biggest in the Z Fold series to date.

With each new generation, the Galaxy Z Fold series has advanced in both form and function — reducing thickness while expanding what’s possible in a mobile device. At the heart of this progress is Samsung’s continuous innovation in hinge technology. As the Galaxy Z Fold series pushes the boundaries of smartphone design, Samsung remains committed to unlocking transformative experiences with next-generation engineering and a foldable form factor like never before.

¹ Unfolded thickness is measured from the main display to the rear glass. Folded thickness is measured from the cover display to the rear glass.
² Maximum folded thickness refers to the thickest point of the device when it is folded shut, which is at its hinge.
³ Measured diagonally, the Galaxy Z Fold7’s main display size is 203.1 mm in the full rectangle; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners.

Introduced in 2019, the first Galaxy Fold was a completely new form factor that combined the portability of a smartphone with the extensive productivity of a tablet — challenging conventional perceptions of what a smartphone could be. Driven by the bold vision that foldable phones could reconcile two seemingly conflicting demands — large screens and true portability — Samsung looked to other industries for inspiration, engineering a durable hinge and proving that smartphone displays, too, could fold. It was a synthesis of creativity and productivity that unlocked new possibilities — from seamless multitasking on the go to immersive content creation.

But smartphones are constant companions that we tuck into our pockets, use with one hand and take everywhere we go. So it’s only natural that users desire a foldable device that is as easy to carry as it is to use. To that end, Samsung engineers and designers are refining each generation of the Galaxy Z series to be thinner, lighter and more durable than the last.

* Image simulated for illustrative purposes

This year, that journey reaches a new milestone. The newest Galaxy Z series is the thinnest, lightest and most advanced foldable yet — meticulously crafted and built to last.

The Ultra experience is ready to unfold.

Samsung Electronics today announced that it has been honored as the 2025 Advertiser of the Year by Spikes Asia, the oldest and most prestigious award for creativity and marketing effectiveness in the APAC region.

This recognition highlights Samsung’s continued dedication to solving challenges for consumers with innovative and impactful technology solutions, which is brought to life through pioneering campaigns and forward-thinking initiatives that connect with audiences in meaningful ways. The win marks Samsung Electronics’ second time receiving Advertiser of the Year at Spikes Asia, with the first awarded in 2017.

“We are extremely honored to receive this prestigious award. As a company with deeply rooted beliefs in openness, we strive to reflect this ethos in everything we do. This recognition is especially meaningful as we continue to expand our openness storytelling through innovative technologies and marketing experiences that make a positive impact on both people and the industry as a whole,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing, Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “By blending technology and storytelling to create deeper connections with consumers, we have worked alongside our amazing agency partners to bring our brand values to life in exciting ways – engaging, inspiring and redefining what’s possible in advertising. We’re thrilled our efforts have been recognized and remain committed to delivering even more impactful experiences to our audiences.”

Consistently delivering groundbreaking creative campaigns over the years, Samsung remains one of the most awarded companies at Spikes Asia. Taking home four awards across multiple categories in 2024 at Spikes Asia, the “Try Galaxy Fold” campaign revolutionized the way consumers engage with foldable technology. By allowing users to sync two phones side by side, the campaign provided curious consumers with a hands-on experience of the Galaxy Z Fold’s expansive display and intuitive interface optimized for seamless multitasking. Taking home a Gold Spike and Silver Spike in Brand Experience & Activation, a Digital Craft Silver Spike and a Direct Bronze Spike, this innovative campaign reinforced the brand values of Galaxy and truly resonated with consumers to create stronger consideration of foldable smartphones moving forward.

Samsung’s “Flipvertising” campaign – which garnered the Grand Prix in both the Creative Data and Direct categories in 2023 – emphasized the brand’s ongoing commitment to excellence in creative advertising. The campaign took a unique approach to reach audiences by enabling them to take ownership of their own search experience. By flipping traditional advertising concepts on their head, Samsung empowered its Gen Z audience to discover an organic, rewarding journey with the Galaxy Z Flip4, demonstrating Samsung’s expertise in delivering captivating yet authentic campaigns.

“Samsung’s groundbreaking work in blending technology with creativity continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in marketing. Its ability to connect with audiences in such a meaningful way reflects the future of the industry, and we are proud to recognise it as the 2025 Advertiser of the Year,” said Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS and Spikes Asia. “Its achievements inspire marketers globally, and this award acknowledges the incredible impact its campaigns have made across APAC and beyond.”

The Advertiser of the Year Award will be presented to Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing, Mobile Experience Business, Samsung Electronics at the 2025 Spikes Asia Awards ceremony which will take place at the Swissôtel The Stamford in Singapore on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked 2024, the Galaxy Z Fold6 has captivated consumers with a sleek design and new features that showcase the endless possibilities of foldable phones. Just as durable as before with a more compact and lightweight case, the latest device in the Z Fold series comes equipped with Galaxy AI — optimized for use on foldables to take user productivity to another level.

What are the secrets behind the Galaxy Z Fold6’s innovations? Samsung Newsroom looked inside to find out.

1. Main Display

The main display boasts a peak brightness of 2,600nits, making the foldable’s screen clear and easy to see even in broad daylight. Vision Booster further enhances the visual experience by optimizing the colors and contrast of images for different lighting environments.

2. Wing Plate

The wing plate helps the Galaxy Z Fold6 fold and unfold smoothly. Moving between the display and hinge, the wing plate aligns the interior and protects the display from any mechanical damage. Despite being extremely thin, the wing plate is made of a special material that exerts strong force.

3. Hinge

The hinge acts as the central axis for folding and unfolding the phone. Because slimmer devices require narrower hinge spaces, advanced hinge technology is essential to making foldables as thin as possible without sacrificing hinge performance and stability. The Galaxy Z Fold6’s hinge is smaller and slimmer than before but equally as durable due to new and reinforced materials. Thanks to the new hinge, Samsung was able to create an ultra-portable phone that is easy to carry anywhere, anytime.

4. Front Case

The case is thinner and lighter than that of its predecessor but just as resilient. Made of Enhanced Armor Aluminum, the case safely wraps and protects the foldable’s internal components like armor — like the name suggests. The case’s IP48-rated water resistance means the Galaxy Z Fold6 can be used safely on rainy days outdoors as well.

5. Vapor Chamber

Vapor chambers diffuse heat to prevent smartphones from overheating. The larger the vapor chamber, the more effectively it can dissipate heat and allow devices to maintain stable performance. Samsung included in the Galaxy Z Fold6 a vapor chamber that is approximately 1.6 times the size of the Galaxy Z Fold5’s.

6.Main Battery

Samsung inserted a thinner main battery into the device to perfect its slimmer design. Unlike that of a bar-type smartphone, the main battery of the Galaxy Z Fold6 is divided into two parts.

7. Sub Battery

The sub battery is located on the opposite side of the main battery and was also slimmed down to fit the Galaxy Z Fold’s sleek design.

8. Main PBA

The brain of a smartphone, the printed board assembly (PBA) houses core parts such as the application processor and memory. To achieve the Galaxy Z Fold’s thinner design, Samsung shifted from using a stacked, multilayer main PBA to a single-layer one.

9. Sub PBA

The sub PBA contains the chips responsible for operating the device’s display and speakers. A slim printed circuit board (PCB) was used for the sub PBA.

10. Back Cover

The back cover is the final stage of the Galaxy Z Fold6 manufacturing process. It not only protects the internal components but also showcases the foldable’s sleek design. Corning’s Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 — known for its excellent durability — is incorporated into the back cover, reassuring users that their phones are well-protected.

11. Sub Display

Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold6 boasts a well-balanced, horizontally wider screen ratio that greatly enhances the foldable’s usability. Users can fold their device and still enjoy a comfortable viewing experience with the sub display alone. Like the main display, the sub display can also get as bright as up to 2,600 nits, giving users a clear view of their screens even in broad daylight.