From 17.1 Millimetres to 8.9 Millimetres: The Journey Behind a 48% Reduction in Thickness!

Christopher Chuah
4 hours ago
3 min read

From 17.1 Millimetres to 8.9 Millimetres: The Journey Behind a 48% Reduction in Thickness

Revealed at Galaxy Unpacked 2025 in New York, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is now 48% thinner than the first Galaxy Fold. Notably, 26% of that reduction happened in the past year alone, showcasing major progress in Samsung’s hinge and design innovation. Samsung Newsroom marks this achievement by tracing how the Galaxy Z Fold series has continually set new standards for slim foldable phones since 2019.

Launched in 2019, the Galaxy Fold was Samsung’s first foldable smartphone, introducing users to foldable display technology with a folded thickness of 17.1 mm and 7.6 mm when unfolded. Its groundbreaking design offered a portable widescreen experience, marking a new era in mobile innovation.

Starting with the Galaxy Z Fold2 in 2020, Samsung introduced the Hideaway Hinge with over 60 components for smoother folding, trimming the device’s folded and unfolded thickness to 16.8 mm and 6.9 mm, respectively.

In 2021, the Galaxy Z Fold3 became more compact (16.0 mm folded, 6.4 mm unfolded) and introduced key innovations like S Pen support, IPX8 water resistance, Armor Aluminum, and upgraded Sweeper tech for improved durability.

The 2022 Galaxy Z Fold4 refined the design further with a linear hinge mechanism, reducing component complexity and achieving a sleeker 15.8 mm folded and 6.3 mm unfolded profile.

In 2023, the Galaxy Z Fold5 debuted the Flex Hinge, allowing a water-drop-style fold that minimized the screen crease and closed the device without a gap — resulting in a thinner 13.4 mm folded and 6.1 mm unfolded design.

The Galaxy Z Fold6, launched in 2024, pushed slimness further with a symmetrical dual rail hinge, enabling flat folding and multi-angle support (75°–115°). It reached a folded thickness of just 12.1 mm and 5.6 mm when unfolded, enhancing both portability and user experience.

The Galaxy Z Fold7 is Samsung’s thinnest foldable yet, measuring just 8.9 mm when folded and 4.2 mm when unfolded. This milestone is powered by the new Armor FlexHinge, which combines advanced materials with a compact, durable design. It also features a larger 6.5-inch cover display and an expansive 8.0-inch main display — the largest in the series so far, offering 11% more screen area than the Z Fold6.

With each generation, the Galaxy Z Fold series has become slimmer and more capable, driven by Samsung’s ongoing hinge innovations. This steady evolution reflects the brand’s commitment to redefining mobile experiences through cutting-edge foldable technology.

Pre-order the latest Galaxy Devices today!

From 9^th to 31^st July 2025, customers will be able to pre-order the new Galaxy Z series from RM3,999. To customers who are looking to expand their Galaxy ecosystem, pre-order the new Galaxy Watch8 series or Galaxy Watch Ultra today and enjoy savings worth up to RM966. Customers who pre-order the new Galaxy Watch series can receive up to 30% off on additional Watch bands too!

Here’s a quick overview to help you understand how easy it is to purchase your next Galaxy Z Series device!