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Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the world’s thinnest foldable at 8.82mm, study finds Honor Magic V5 is 9.34mm

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is remarkably thin and, as it turns out, Samsung may have undersold it as the device is actually 8.82mm thick in a recent measurement of foldables, where Honor’s “world’s slimmest” device was thicker than expected.

Foldable manufacturers have been obsessed with thickness for the past couple of years, with the coveted “world’s thinnest” title passing between Honor and Oppo. Samsung, though, seems like it might have earned it this year.

Business Korea cites a study from the Korean Consumer-Centered Enterprise Association (KCEA) in which some of the most popular foldables in the world were measured to compare their respective thickness. In this study, it was found that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner than Samsung advertises, with the folded device measuring just 8.82mm thick vs the 8.9mm measurement the company provides. That officially makes it quite a bit thinner than the prior record holder, Oppo Find N5, and rivals the 8.8mm figure that Honor advertises for Magic V5.

However, the study also confirms something that was increasingly obvious – Honor’s stat is just a bit misleading.

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In this comparison, which measured each device in person, the Honor Magic V5 was found to measure in at 9.34mm, 0.54mm thicker than the company advertises. Honor isn’t alone there, with Huawei, Vivo, and Xiaomi also being found to have notable differences in their advertised thickness vs actual measurements.

Advertised Thickness
(Folded)
Actual Thickness
Galaxy Z Fold 78.9mm8.82mm
Honor Magic V58.8mm9.34mm
Huawei Mate X69.85mm10.47mm
Vivo X Fold 59.2mm9.77mm
Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 49.47mm9.61mm
Oppo Find N5
(Not included in study)
8.93mmN/A

Why is there a discrepancy?

Honor actually reveals the reason. While the company remains adamant that Magic V5 is 8.8mm, Honor’s website directly says that this measurement is only achieved when protective films are removed. While those shouldn’t add a ton of thickness, they clearly make a difference in the final measurement when put side by side with other devices.

Honor’s website says:

Data comes from the HONOR Lab. 8.8mm refers to the thickness of the Ivory White model in the folded state. The overall thickness does not include the inner and outer screen protective films and the raised part of the camera.

Image via Korea Consumer-Centered Enterprise Association, edited – Top row: Honor Magic V5 (ivory), Galaxy Z Fold 7, Vivo X Fold 5 Bottom Row: Xiaomi Mix Fold 4, Huawei Mate X6

So, based on this, it seems safe to say that Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 is actually the “thinnest foldable in the world,” but it’s likely a debate will remain for some time.

Whatever the case, Samsung is the only brand widely selling such a thin foldable, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 available for purchase globally – in dozens of countries, not just a handful – starting today.

Ultimately, though, it doesn’t really matter anymore. With Samsung’s launch, nearly every foldable on the market today is thin enough to where a millimeter here or there – even less so a fraction of one – is just meaningless to the end user.

More on Foldables:

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Update: Corrected errant 9.35mm spec in headline, which should have read 9.34mm.

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Avatar for Ben Schoon Ben Schoon

Ben is a Senior Editor for NewGeekGuide.

Find him on Twitter @NexusBen. Send tips to schoon@9to5g.com or encrypted to benschoon@protonmail.com.