Updated: December 8, 2025
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 (often written as Galaxy Z Fold7 or Galaxy Z Fold 7) is back in the spotlight today thanks to three big storylines: a massive $720 Cyber Week discount in the US, a fresh December 2025 security update, and growing buzz around Samsung’s new Galaxy Z TriFold — a more experimental foldable that puts extra pressure on the Fold 7 to prove it’s still the practical choice. [1]
Key takeaways for December 8, 2025
- Up to $720 off in the US: Samsung USA is running a Cyber Week promotion that effectively knocks $720 off the Galaxy Z Fold 7, bringing some configurations down to about $1,399 without a trade‑in, plus a free storage upgrade to 512GB. The deal is still live but may end with Cyber Week today. [2]
- New December 2025 security update: A December 2025 security patch (build AYKE) is rolling out to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, starting in South Korea and expanding to more markets soon. It fixes nearly 70 security vulnerabilities, including 11 specific to Samsung’s One UI. [3]
- One UI 8.5 on the horizon: The Fold 7 shipped with One UI 8 and Galaxy AI, and early testing of One UI 8.5 on the device shows small but useful tweaks tailored to foldables, with a wider public beta expected to follow once Samsung finishes security rollouts. [4]
- TriFold vs Fold 7: Samsung’s new Galaxy Z TriFold offers a futuristic 10‑inch triple‑folding display but is bulkier, more expensive (around the mid‑$2,000s according to early reports), and not widely available yet, leaving the Fold 7 as the more practical flagship for most buyers. [5]
- Samsung still dominates foldables: Analysts say global foldable shipments hit a record high in Q3 2025, growing around 14% year‑on‑year, with Samsung capturing roughly two‑thirds of the market, helped significantly by the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. [6]
Galaxy Z Fold 7 in 2025: specs and design recap
Even before today’s deals and updates, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 was already positioned as Samsung’s most polished book‑style foldable yet.
Design & displays
- Thinnest and lightest Fold so far: Samsung calls it its “slimmest, lightest Fold ever”, with a folded thickness around 8.9mm and a noticeably lighter in‑hand feel compared with earlier Z Fold generations. [7]
- Display setup:
- Main display: ~8‑inch foldable OLED panel.
- Cover screen: 21:9 aspect ratio, wider and more phone‑like than before, making typing and single‑hand use much more comfortable. [8]
- Build & durability:
- Armor Aluminum frame and a redesigned Armor FlexHinge designed to be thinner and more durable.
- Upgraded to Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the cover display and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back.
- IP48 rating for water and dust resistance — a notable step for foldables. [9]
Independent torture tests on YouTube also show the Fold 7 holding up to aggressive bend tests without snapping, continuing the series’ strong durability track record. [10]
Core hardware
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a customized flagship processor tuned for AI, camera and multitasking performance. [11]
- Memory & storage options:
- 12GB RAM on 256GB and 512GB variants, with 16GB on the 1TB model.
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, all using fast UFS 4.0. [12]
- Battery:
- Cameras:
- A 200MP wide‑angle main camera, borrowed from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, alongside a triple rear camera setup and selfie cameras on both main and cover screens. [15]
One important caveat: the Galaxy Z Fold 7 does not support the S Pen, which some power users may miss. [16]
Galaxy AI on a big folding canvas
Samsung’s marketing tagline for the Fold 7 is “Ultra Unfolds,” and a lot of that “Ultra” feeling comes from Galaxy AI and One UI 8 being tuned to the large folding screen. [17]
Key AI and software capabilities include:
- Sketch‑to‑Image: Doodle a rough shape on the main display and let Galaxy AI generate refined images in‑place.
- Audio Eraser: Reduce background noise in video clips using on‑device AI processing.
- Split‑Screen Video & multi‑window: Run multiple apps side by side — for example, editing a document, keeping chat open and monitoring email all at once on the 8‑inch canvas. [18]
Paired with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy and up to 16GB RAM, the Fold 7 behaves more like a small tablet or ultra‑portable workstation than a typical smartphone, especially for multitasking, content creation and gaming. [19]
December 2025 security update: what’s new for Galaxy Z Fold 7?
Today’s big software story is Samsung’s December 2025 security patch, which has now reached the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Rollout status and build details
- Samsung is rolling out the December 2025 security update to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7alongside the Galaxy S25 series.
- For the Fold 7 and Flip 7, the update carries build version AYKE and is currently live in South Korea, with a global rollout expected in the coming days. [20]
- The OTA package is around 600MB on the Fold 7. [21]
What does the update include?
- The patch addresses nearly 70 security vulnerabilities, including 11 One UI–specific issues plus Android security fixes from Google. [22]
- There are no major new user‑facing features in this update — the focus is clearly on tightening security and preparing the ground for larger feature updates. [23]
To install, Samsung recommends heading to Settings → Software update → Download and install on the Fold 7 — the update should appear automatically once it reaches your region. [24]
One UI 8.5 on Galaxy Z Fold 7: early look
While today’s patch is mainly about security, Samsung is simultaneously preparing One UI 8.5, the next major feature update for the Fold 7.
Early build findings
SamMobile recently tested an early One UI 8.5 build running on a Galaxy Z Fold 7 and found only a handful of foldable‑specific changes so far: [25]
- In the Phone app, the keypad can now pop up directly from the call log view, floating as a small window rather than taking over the entire screen.
- The notification shade now aligns to the left, center, or right depending on where you swipe down from, which feels more natural on the wide main display.
Otherwise, the build reportedly looks very similar to the version tested on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, suggesting Samsung is polishing the experience rather than overhauling it.
When is One UI 8.5 coming?
Reports indicate: [26]
- The Fold 7 shipped with One UI 8, and One UI 8.5 is expected to arrive as its first major feature update sometime in the first half of 2026.
- Samsung is rumored to be prioritizing the December security rollout before kicking off a broader One UI 8.5 beta, which will start with the Galaxy S25 line and may later expand to select devices such as the Fold 7.
For Fold 7 owners, the bottom line is simple: today’s update is about safety; the bigger functional enhancements are still a few months away.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 deals on December 8, 2025
The other huge story today is price. For a very limited time, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is dramatically cheaper in the US thanks to Samsung’s Cyber Week promotion.
The $720 discount explained
SamMobile, SSBCrack and deal watchers like 9to5Toys all highlight the same core offer on Samsung’s US online store: [27]
- Choose “No trade‑in” on Samsung.com and you get an instant $600 discount on the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
- Samsung then adds a free storage upgrade (e.g., 512GB for the price of 256GB), worth roughly $120.
- In total, you’re effectively saving around $720, which brings some configurations down to about $1,399 — one of the lowest prices we’ve seen for the Fold 7 without any trade‑in requirement.
There are also accessory bundles:
- Up to 30% off Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
- Around 20% off Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
- Around 40% off Galaxy Ring when bundled with the Fold 7 purchase. [28]
These savings apply regardless of whether you pay upfront, use Samsung Financing (e.g., 24‑month plans), or opt for a four‑installment plan. [29]
Samsung has not given a precise end date, but both SamMobile and SSBCrack stress that this pricing is tied to Cyber Week, which is expected to wrap up today (December 8, 2025). If you’re in the US and have been considering the Fold 7, this is likely the best short‑term window to buy. [30]
Outside of Samsung’s own store, the Fold 7 is widely available unlocked through major retailers and carriers, including listings on Amazon, Best Buy, and Google Fi’s phone store. [31]
TriFold hype vs Fold 7 practicality
The Galaxy Z Fold 7’s biggest new rival is actually another Samsung device: the Galaxy Z TriFold.
What the Galaxy Z TriFold brings
Recent coverage paints the Z TriFold as a futuristic halo device rather than a mainstream option: [32]
- Three‑panel design that unfolds from a 6.5‑inch cover screen into a 10‑inch tablet‑class display with 120Hz refresh.
- Shares many high‑end specs with the Fold 7, including a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and a 200MP main camera.
- Uses advanced materials such as Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, new hinge architecture, and a large multi‑segment battery.
- Launching first in Korea in mid‑December 2025, with international releases following later — and official pricing is still not widely confirmed.
Some analyses give early comparative numbers: around 309g weight and 12.9mm thickness when folded, compared with a much lighter and slimmer Fold 7. Estimated pricing for the TriFold is in the $2,400+ range, significantly above Fold 7 territory. [33]
Why many people will still pick the Fold 7
As Red94’s in‑depth piece argues, the Fold 7 is the “practical flagship” for most people: [34]
- It’s lighter and thinner, making it easier to pocket and use one‑handed than the bulkier TriFold.
- The 8‑inch main screen still gives you a tablet‑like workspace without the compromises of a triple‑hinge design.
- Today’s deep discounts make the Fold 7 dramatically cheaper than any likely TriFold pricing.
- The Fold 7 benefits from mature software optimization and an ecosystem of apps and accessories already tuned for the single‑hinge form factor.
In short, the TriFold is exciting and newsworthy, but for most buyers in December 2025, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the foldable you can actually live with every day.
How the Fold 7 compares to non‑Samsung rivals
Samsung isn’t just competing with itself: other OEMs are trying to undercut or out‑spec the Fold 7.
One prominent example is the Nubia Fold, which Android Central notes packs a 6,560mAh battery — roughly 49% larger than the Fold 7’s 4,400mAh cell — and sells for less money, directly challenging Samsung on endurance and value. [35]
However, Samsung still has major advantages:
- Software support and updates: consistent monthly or quarterly patches and long‑term OS updates, including the upcoming One UI 8.5. [36]
- Durability reputation: top rankings for screen durability from ACSI, plus years of improving hinge design. [37]
- Ecosystem: tight integration with Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Ring, Galaxy XR and PCs, all of which become more compelling with current bundle discounts. [38]
Foldables are finally going mainstream — and the Fold 7 is leading
According to research from Counterpoint, global foldable smartphone shipments grew about 14% year‑over‑year in Q3 2025, reaching a record quarterly volume and setting up 2026 as a potential breakout year for the category. [39]
Red94’s data further suggests that Samsung’s share of the foldable segment jumped to around 64% in Q3 2025, up from about 56% a year earlier — growth that’s strongly linked to the performance of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. [40]
So while competitors are making noise, Samsung’s Fold 7 remains the default foldable many people think of — and today’s price cut only reinforces that position.
Should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 7 on December 8, 2025?
If you’re trying to decide whether to grab the Fold 7 now or wait, here’s a quick guide.
Buy the Fold 7 now if…
- You live in a region where Samsung’s Cyber Week deal is active, especially the US, and you can make use of the $720 savings and accessory discounts. [41]
- You want a mature, proven foldable that already has strong software optimization and a growing accessory ecosystem. [42]
- You need great cameras and AI features on a device that can replace both your phone and small tablet. [43]
- You care about security updates and like knowing your phone is on the latest December 2025 patch. [44]
Consider waiting if…
- You’re specifically interested in the Galaxy Z TriFold’s 10‑inch canvas and don’t mind potential first‑gen quirks, higher pricing, and limited launch markets. [45]
- You want to see what One UI 8.5 brings to the Fold 7 and other devices before committing. (The stable release is expected sometime in the first half of 2026.) [46]
- Battery life is your absolute top priority and you’re tempted by rivals with much larger batteries, such as Nubia’s foldable. [47]
Final word
On December 8, 2025, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 sits in a uniquely strong position:
- It’s more affordable than ever thanks to limited‑time discounts.
- It has just received a fresh security patch, with a major feature update in development.
- It remains the most balanced and widely available flagship foldable, even as experimental designs like the Galaxy Z TriFold capture headlines.
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to move into the foldable world — or to upgrade from an older Z Fold — today is one of the most compelling days yet to pick up a Galaxy Z Fold 7.
References
1. www.sammobile.com, 2. www.sammobile.com, 3. sammyguru.com, 4. www.sammobile.com, 5. www.red94.net, 6. counterpointresearch.com, 7. www.samsung.com, 8. www.samsung.com, 9. www.samsung.com, 10. www.youtube.com, 11. www.samsung.com, 12. en.wikipedia.org, 13. www.samsung.com, 14. www.red94.net, 15. www.samsung.com, 16. www.samsung.com, 17. www.samsung.com, 18. www.samsung.com, 19. www.bestbuy.com, 20. sammyguru.com, 21. sammyguru.com, 22. sammyguru.com, 23. sammyguru.com, 24. www.sammyfans.com, 25. www.sammobile.com, 26. sammyguru.com, 27. www.sammobile.com, 28. www.sammobile.com, 29. www.sammobile.com, 30. www.sammobile.com, 31. www.amazon.com, 32. www.androidcentral.com, 33. www.red94.net, 34. www.red94.net, 35. www.androidcentral.com, 36. sammyguru.com, 37. www.samsung.com, 38. www.samsung.com, 39. counterpointresearch.com, 40. www.red94.net, 41. www.sammobile.com, 42. samsung.gadgethacks.com, 43. www.samsung.com, 44. sammyguru.com, 45. www.androidcentral.com, 46. sammyguru.com, 47. www.androidcentral.com
