If you’ve been following Samsung’s foldable journey, you know it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. From chunky hinges to awkward displays, each Galaxy Fold has made progress, but none have quite hit the mark of being both futuristic and fully practical.
Enter the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It’s slimmer, smarter, and packs more power than ever. But does it finally deliver a foldable phone that feels like a true flagship? Let's unfold the story.
A Slimmer, Lighter Fold That Feels Just Right
The very first thing you’ll notice is just how thin and light the Z Fold 7 feels in hand. Folded, it measures only 8.9mm, and unfolded it’s a featherweight 4.2mm, making it the slimmest Fold ever. At just 215g, it's easy to hold, even for long periods.Samsung has also refined the hinge design with its Armor Flex structure, making it more durable while helping the phone close flush with no awkward gap. Add in Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 and Victus 2 protection, and it feels noticeably sturdier than its predecessors.
Display: Bright, Beautiful, and More Usable
Gone are the days of awkward outer screens. The Z Fold 7's cover display is now a generous 6.5 inch AMOLED with a comfortable 21:9 aspect ratio, finally making it feel like a regular smartphone when closed.Open it up, and you’re greeted with a gorgeous 8 inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, boasting up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness. Whether you’re watching Netflix or sketching out ideas, it’s stunning vibrant, fluid (thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate), and optimized for both work and play.
Battery Life and Charging: Still Behind the Curve
This is where things get a little less exciting. Despite all the improvements, the 4,400mAh battery just doesn’t stretch far enough, especially with two bright displays demanding power.On heavy days (think GPS, multitasking, or gaming), you’ll likely need to top up before bedtime. And while 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging are fine, they’re far from the fastest around. No upgrade here, and that’s a letdown.
Performance That Means Business
The Fold 7 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a powerhouse chip custom tuned for Galaxy phones. With up to 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage, this phone flies through multitasking, gaming, and anything Galaxy AI can throw at it.Speaking of AI: Samsung’s newest software tools, including instant translation, smart image editing, and multi window drag and drop, actually make the foldable screen feel purposeful, not just a gimmick.
Whether you’re editing a spreadsheet on one side and messaging on the other or watching YouTube while browsing Twitter, the Fold 7 handles it all with ease.
A True Flagship Camera (Mostly)
For the first time ever, the Fold series borrows from the Galaxy S Ultra playbook with a 200MP main sensor. Shots are crisp, detailed, and vibrant, especially in daylight.However, the supporting cast doesn’t quite match the lead:
- 12MP ultra-wide is decent but unremarkable.
- 10MP telephoto gives you 3x zoom, but it lags behind the 5x–10x zoom you’d find on other flagship devices.
The Software Experience: Close to Perfect, but Not Quite
Samsung’s One UI 8 paired with Android 16 is smooth and packed with productivity features. The multi window layout, taskbar, and new AI additions make great use of the inner screen real estate.But here’s the catch: third-party apps still struggle. Instagram doesn’t scale well, games might open awkwardly in the center, and a few apps simply default to phone mode. It's a reminder that software for foldables still hasn’t matured.
Wait, No S Pen?
Yes, you read that right, no S Pen support this time around. In a surprising move, Samsung ditched the stylus layer to make the device thinner. For some users, especially those who loved taking notes or sketching, this will be a deal-breaker.Durability & Repair Costs: Improved, But Be Careful
Samsung has done a great job toughening the Fold 7 with better hinge protection, stronger glass, and a more resistant UTG inner screen. But it's still not indestructible. The inner crease remains visible, and the display remains vulnerable to dust or hard taps.Worse still, repairs are expensive. A cracked inner screen or faulty hinge could cost hundreds, so this is not a phone you want to drop.
Pricing: Foldable Innovation Still Costs Premium
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at around $1,899, keeping it squarely in luxury territory. That said, it’s packed with top tier tech, and for early adopters or professionals, the features might justify the price.But if you’re only looking for a solid flagship experience and don’t care about folding screens, you might get more value from a Galaxy S25 Ultra or even the competition from Huawei or Honor, which now offer longer battery life and faster charging.
Final Verdict: Futuristic and Flawed, But Still Fantastic
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is easily Samsung’s best foldable yet. It’s beautifully built, powerful, and smart enough to turn heads and handle real work. If you’ve been waiting for a Fold that finally feels "ready" this is the one.But it’s not perfect. The battery is still a weak point. The missing S Pen stings. And Android apps haven’t fully caught up to the folding revolution.
Still, if you’re a multitasker, creative, or just someone who wants the future in your pocket, the Fold 7 delivers.