And it’s not just that Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 iterates; it turns on demand. The new book-style Fold, the second such device that Samsung has released since 2019, entered on its home turf and also outclassed the first of its rivals to hit Europe’s market: Counterpoint Research said it sold 250,000 units in four weeks — better than any other rival foldable did during a similar period.
It’s a rare case study in what happens when a flagship foldable does bring real, everyday advances instead of running on mere incremental fumes. Consumers noticed—and they bought.
Record launch, real numbers
Counterpoint’s data indicates the Z Fold 7 sold over two times the first-month volume of the Z Fold 6 in Western Europe. It also flew nearly 70% higher than the previous regional record-holder, the Z Fold 4, cementing a new high-water mark for book-style devices.
And perhaps most importantly of all, this wasn’t simply a victory over Samsung’s own back-catalogue. Counterpoint says the Z Fold 7 was the best-selling book-type or clamshell foldable from any brand in China on both quarters during which it sold — an achievement not to be sneezed at, given just how tight competition has become in that territory.
Early momentum tracks with robust pre-order indicators reported by several retail partners. Carrier bundle promotions and aggressive trade-in credits probably squeezed the effective entry price, expanding the addressable base from first movers.
Why this Fold finally clicked
Design changes led the pitch. The Z Fold 7 is also considerably thinner and lighter than its predecessors, making it by some measures the slimmest book-style foldable on the market — addressing the single biggest barrier to mainstream adoption: Can you pocket it? The lighter frame means that more compromise isn’t necessary for you to use it with a single hand, and less fatigue takes hold when using it as a tablet.
Another change that Samsung made was to the camera, which they made a centerpiece rather than an afterthought. A 200MP main sensor that would bring the Fold line equal with top slab phones when it comes to detail capture and low-light flexibility, erasing a perennial set of compromises. (And as so often in laptops, feel is everything: early-retail feedback suggests that the hinge feels better, the crease becomes less visible and dust entry prevention is better — little-seeming things that contribute enormously to daily user satisfaction.)
Software polish counts on large screens, and Samsung played into that. The taskbar, app continuity and multitasking gestures all feel more coherent and long-term update commitment gives buyers peace of mind. Counterpoint’s analysts have long held thin-and-light hardware combined with real usability gains to be the tipping point for foldables — and the Z Fold 7 reads like a direct response to that playbook.
Competitive scenario in Western Europe
Western Europe has been the bellwether for premium foldables. Rivals such as HONOR, Google and Motorola hastened the introduction and collaboration with major operators, while OnePlus and others brought about a new trend in book-style design featuring significantly enhanced cameras and batteries. That said, supply breadth and a retail presence still carries weight and Samsung has distribution muscle across operator and open” channels, which continues to be “a critical advantage,” the firm added.
Market researchers IDC and CCS Insight also observed that clamshells have been a global leader in terms of unit volume because they come with lower price tags and remind people of a familiar form factor. Book-style products, though, have higher average selling prices and generate more revenue. That’s been unusual, and not only for the book business, which today wakes up understanding that a blowing out of e-book conversion in an already well developed trading region like Western Europe can indicate a repositioning of where that value (now quantity) now has the opportunity to go.
What the record means for foldable
Three takeaways stand out. First, the addressable market is much larger when the weight, thickness and camera cut-outs are minimized — as they shrink versus slab flagships. Second, provider promotions mean curiosity can turn into conversion—particularly if the price shock is softened by a trade-in offer. Third, tabeatBluetooth customers are beyond the novelty stage; they’re rewarding real-world improvement over spec-sheet gimmicks.
So the task for Samsung is to keep that curve going. Steady stock, strong post-sale support and continuous software tweaking will be essential to avoid a dip in the immediate wake after launch. If the company can sustain momentum into seasonal promotion space while competitors gear up for new-gen models, Western Europe could be the template for wider book-style adoption.
For competitors, the message is as simple: The thin-and-light race is now a table stakes game and camera parity is non-negotiable. What the Counterpoint numbers illustrate is a simple truth — when a foldable delivers less of a compromise, people buy it. With the Z Fold 7, Samsung finally delivered.