Samsung Unpacks a Trilogy of Tech: The Thinnest Foldable, a Smarter Flip, and a New Watch Lineup for South Africa
Samsung’s latest Galaxy Unpacked event just landed, and it's clear the tech giant is done with subtle. What was once a slow, steady foldable evolution has become a full-on revolution, complete with the company's thinnest-ever phone, a radical new flip, and an entire squad of smartwatches ready to hit South African shores.
If you missed the spectacle, don’t fret. We’ve unboxed all the new gadgets for you, complete with local pricing and a rundown of what makes each one tick.
The Galaxy Z Fold7: A Foldable on a Diet (and a Caffeine Boost)
The star of the show is undoubtedly the Galaxy Z Fold7, a device that proves you can be both ultra-sleek and ultra-powerful. Samsung has leaned into its engineering prowess to deliver a foldable that’s not just lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (at a mere 215g), but also impossibly thin at 8.9mm when folded. It’s the kind of tech that makes you do a double-take.
But the magic isn’t just in the slim-down. This phone unfolds to an expansive 8-inch main display, perfect for multitasking and immersive viewing. The camera gets a massive upgrade to a 200MP wide-angle sensor—a first for the Z series—promising brighter, more detailed shots. Under the hood, a customised Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor handles on-device AI tasks, making features like Generative Edit and real-time translation smoother than ever. South African pricing starts from R42,999, reaching up to R49,999 for the 1TB model.
The Clamshell Crew: Z Flip7 and the New FE
The clamshell fan base has a lot to cheer about with the Galaxy Z Flip7. Samsung has finally answered the call for a bigger cover display, with the new "FlexWindow" now an impressive 4.1 inches, taking up almost the entire front cover. This is a game-changer, making it far more useful for quick glances and selfies without needing to unfold.
Internally, the phone features a new Exynos 2500 processor and a beefy 4,300mAh battery, a welcome bump that promises to keep up with the day's snaps and swipes. The camera hardware remains familiar, but a new ProVisual Engine adds a powerful layer of AI-powered editing to every shot. The Z Flip7 will set you back R24,999 for the 256GB model, with a 512GB option available.
Samsung also surprised us with a new, more accessible sibling: the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE. This "missing link" between the previous generation and the new one features a slightly smaller design and a more modest Exynos 2400 chipset, making it a great entry point into the foldable world. The Flip7 FE is priced from R18,499 in South Africa, offering flagship AI features at a more palatable price.
Time to Upgrade Your Wrist Game: The Galaxy Watch 8 Series
The new foldables weren't alone on the stage. Samsung also pulled the cover off its latest smartwatches, with the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic leading the charge. These wearables feature a new Exynos W1000 processor, promising enhanced performance and efficiency for all your fitness tracking and notification-checking needs.
Both Bluetooth-only and LTE models will be available locally from 25 July 2025. The Galaxy Watch 8 starts from R6,999, while the classic, with its signature rotating bezel, begins at R9,999. While details on the Galaxy Watch Ultra are still under wraps, the new Watch 8 series is a compelling update for anyone looking to strap some smarts onto their wrist.
With this trifecta of devices, Samsung is not just refining its hardware; it's integrating a sophisticated layer of AI and smart convenience into every part of its ecosystem. The local pricing and availability confirmation signal a strong commitment to the South African market.
Written by: Shihaam (Gabriella) Steyn-Adams.
Guzzle Media
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