TL;DR
- Samsung has launched the W26, a luxurious and China-exclusive version of the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
- It adds satellite calling, a gold-accented design, more RAM, and exclusive Galaxy AI tools.
- Samsung is limiting the W series to China due to its partnership with China Telecom and its localized features.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn’t just one of the best foldable phones you can buy right now but also one of the best Android phones of 2025. Today, the company released another version of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 that takes everything from design to next-level features.
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As if the Galaxy Z Fold 7 wasn’t already impressive enough, Samsung has launched the W26 in China. While most of the specifications under the hood remain the same, the W26 looks downright luxurious in its stunning red and black color options, complemented by gold trim, giving it a premium, almost jewel-like aesthetic. Despite its improved design, the W26 remains incredibly lightweight (215g), maintaining its title as the thinnest and lightest foldable phone on the market.
Beyond its looks, the Samsung W26 introduces a notable hardware improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold 7: support for satellite calling and messaging. This feature is missing from the global Galaxy Z Fold 7 model. However, due to regional infrastructure and regulatory support, this capability currently only works in China.
Samsung also goes the extra mile when it comes to presentation. The W26 comes in a sleek box including a Kevlar case, charging cable as well as a real charger, a rare inclusion these days.
In terms of performance, the W26 packs 16GB of RAM across its 512GB and 1TB storage options, while the 512GB model of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 only offers 12GB of RAM. It also offers exclusive Galaxy AI tools, including Smart Collection, which allows users to drag images and text into a dedicated space for easier content management.
Pricing for the W26 starts at CNY 16,999 (~$2,383) for the 512 GB version and CNY 18,999 (~$2,663) for the 1 TB model. The device remains a China-exclusive version and no international launch is planned.
Samsung has traditionally limited its W series to the Chinese market as part of its long-standing partnership with China Telecom. The series caters to local design aesthetics and is often marketed as a status symbol product rather than a mainstream device. This is why the phone will be sold alongside the regular Galaxy Z Fold 7 in China.
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