Insights At a Glance:
- The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has broken pre-order records in the U.S., outpacing all previous Samsung foldables.
- Samsung chose not to officially launch the device (alongside the Z Flip 7) in Kenya, likely due to poor local uptake of previous models.
- Kenya’s market remains focused on value and practicality, with mid-range and budget phones dominating.
Samsung’s newest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, is off to a flying start globally and especially in the United States, where it has already broken pre-order records, outpacing all previous Galaxy Fold models. But as the world celebrates a new era of mobile innovation, Kenya is notably absent from the conversation. And that’s not by accident.
When Samsung officially unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 earlier this month, it was confirmed that Kenya won’t be getting the devices through official local channels. While you can still get them from unoffiical channels such as Phones and Tablets, Samsung Mobile Kenya didn’t offer much detail about the reasons for skipping the local market. But for keen watchers of the local market, the message was loud and clear: Kenya just isn’t ready for foldables.
And now, with the Z Fold 7’s smashing success abroad, that reality has never been more obvious.
Foldables Are Booming, But Not Everywhere
In a statement released by Samsung USA, the company confirmed that pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 were 25% higher than for last year’s models. “That includes more Galaxy Z Fold 7 pre-orders than any previous Z Fold device in U.S. history,” Samsung notes. U.S. mobile carriers alone reported a staggering 60% increase in pre-orders compared to the Z Fold 6 and Flip 6. It’s a sign that, at least in mature markets, foldables are no longer niche. They’re going mainstream.
Since becoming available for general purchase on July 25, Samsung says the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is already outselling the Fold 6 by nearly 50%. And it’s not just about the specs (though the phone boasts a lighter design, better display, stronger battery life, and top-tier durability). It’s also about brand loyalty, carrier support, and a market with the financial muscle to support high-ticket gadgets.
Color trends also speak volumes. The once-dominant black option is no longer king. In the U.S., Blue Shadow made up almost half of all Z Fold 7 pre-orders, while the Coralred Z Flip 7 emerged as a surprise favorite. These are subtle signals of consumer confidence, choice, and enthusiasm; things that are harder to come by in budget-conscious markets like ours.
Why Not Kenya?
The writing’s been on the wall. As we highlighted in our earlier coverage (read here), foldables have struggled to find traction in Kenya. The Fold 6 didn’t exactly fly off shelves, and high costs of buying and maintaining make it even harder to convince customers to spend upwards of KES 200,000 on a smartphone.
Even in Nairobi, where tech adoption often leads the way, most consumers prioritize battery life, affordability, and practicality. Phones like the Galaxy A series, TECNO Camon, and Infinix Note dominate the mid-range space. Not because Kenyans don’t love innovation, but because we have to balance ambition with affordability.
Samsung knows this. And instead of pushing premium devices that won’t sell in volume, the company seems to be focusing its local efforts where the numbers make more sense.
A Missed Moment — Or a Market Reality?
It’s easy to feel left out. There’s a certain excitement around being part of a global launch — getting your hands on a device at the same time as someone in New York, London, or Seoul. But when you look closely, Kenya’s omission from the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 rollout isn’t an insult. It’s a business decision grounded in economic reality.
Samsung America’s Senior VP of Mobile Product Management, Drew Blackard, summed it up best: “Foldables have reached an inflection point… we’ve addressed consumer feedback year after year… and now it’s all coming together with record-breaking numbers.”
That statement rings true. Just not here.
So Where Does That Leave Us?
Kenya remains a value-first market. We’re a country where smartphones serve as daily tools for business, communication, mobile money, and survival. A flashy foldable may turn heads, but until price, support, and utility catch up with aspiration, it will remain a luxury. And a hard sell.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 might be a symbol of the future, but Kenya’s market is still grounded in the present.
