Two reasons why you might want to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 7 right now — yes, before the Galaxy Z Fold 8 lands

Someone using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 when unfolded, with news articles on the screen.
(Image credit: Future)

A brand new generation of Samsung foldable devices is set to be released later this month, as announced by the brand's reservation campaign ahead of its Samsung Unpacked keynote event.

Right now, speculation about these new devices is rife, and it's almost certain that we'll see the Galaxy Z Fold 8 arrive since it's been a full year since the last iteration. While it's sure to be a good device, I thought I'd do a quick PSA for our readers to say — don't discount the soon-to-be-discontinued Galaxy Z Fold 7, either.

There are two main arguments for this: price and the various rumors surrounding the next-gen devices. I'm delving into those in more detail below, but let me just preface by saying that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is still an excellent device for 2026, even if it is a little older now.

The Fold 7 is on sale at a great price right now

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: $500 upfront, or up to $1,000 off with a trade-in rebate at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: $500 upfront, or up to $1,000 off with a trade-in rebate at Samsung
Samsung's current deal on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 feels like a last hurrah for this soon-to-be-superseded device. You've got a choice between a $500 upfront discount or a trade-in rebate of up to $1,000; both are fine choices for a cheaper unlocked device. The upfront discount is particularly good since I doubt the newer devices will be anywhere near this cheap in the near future.

The first reason you should still consider the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is obviously the price. Right now, Samsung's deal on the device is one of the better ones I've seen in a few months, and it's likely a clearance deal in all but name.

Of the two discounts available, the upfront discount is particularly compelling since it brings the device down to $1,499 upfront. While we don't know any details about the price of the upcoming next-gen devices, I doubt it will be anywhere near as cheap as this for quite some time.

If you are looking to trade in, however, then there could be an argument for waiting for the next device. The Samsung reservation campaign already promised discounts of up to $1,200 via trade-in, so you'll likely be able to get a little bit extra off the upcoming devices if you wait.

Reserve the next Galaxy here
Reserve the next Galaxy here: at Samsung

You can sign up to reserve the next Galaxy at Samsung directly at no cost and unlock $30 Samsung Credit towards the preorder of the next device and up to $1,230 off with an eligible device trade-in.

Samsung could be changing the next device dramatically

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The second reason for buying the Galaxy Z Fold 7 now is that Samsung could potentially be tweaking the formula significantly for the next device. Rumors and marketing information have pointed to a possible new shape or form factor, which could either be a minor tweak or a radical departure.

For example, it could just be that the tweaks to the size or ratio of the display, or it could completely switch it up to resemble something like the now-discontinued Microsoft Surface Duo. Apple's long-awaited foldable device is likely to arrive this year, so it could be that the brand is looking to head off the competition early with its own statement.

Regardless, if you already like what the Fold 7 is offering, then this could be a good opportunity to snap it up before it's gone for good. We're actually fans of the device's eight-inch main display since it folds down to a size that's essentially the same as a normal phone. It's quite a pocketable device thanks to its 4.2mm thickness, which is particularly handy when it comes to these larger foldables.

With that said, the Fold 8 could be even thinner when it arrives. We're also hoping for official S-Pen support with this next-generation, because that's one of our main criticisms of the outgoing Fold 7. Although by most metrics, it's still an excellent phone for 2026.

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Alex Whitelock
Retail Editor

Alex is TechRadar's retail editor, specializing in buying advice and general tips on how to save our readers as much cash as possible. He's covered major retail events in some capacity for over seven years now; both in editorial and other ecommerce adjacent roles on TechRadar, T3, GamesRadar, and other Future PLC sites. Alex's expertise touches on most areas, but he has a particular love for phones, laptops, and cameras, being an avid photographer.

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