Even the largest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold followers can admit the machine was getting stale.
Samsung hadn’t made vital design modifications in years, which isn’t one thing that goes over effectively with clients paying almost $2,000 for his or her smartphone.
Samsung heard the criticisms and took a significant swing with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It is paid off, with the corporate having fun with improved foldable gross sales because the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.
Regardless of all of the enhancements Samsung made to its book-style foldable, it is nonetheless not a tool most of you’ll purchase. Its worth places it out of consideration for many, and it isn’t a telephone that may take the identical abuse as a standard slab machine.
Nonetheless, it is Samsung’s finest effort in years, and when you could not purchase one, there are many causes it’s best to have a look.
Important design modifications
Samsung wanted to get with the occasions
I really like that Samsung acknowledged throughout product briefings that clients anticipated extra innovation from telephones costing $2,000.
Iterative updates that regarded good on an improve cycle weren’t slicing it, so the corporate went to work on the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
There was lots to do, as I would been spoiled by spectacular abroad foldables — units that made the Galaxy Z Fold 6 really feel historical by comparability.
Samsung centered on just a few key areas that make the Galaxy Z Fold 7 a big departure from its predecessors.
I really like that the corporate widened the duvet display screen for 2025. It is a lot simpler to kind on the bigger 6.5-inch outer show. It is also ideally suited as a result of I can use simply the exterior panel for a whole day with out feeling shortchanged.
I do not all the time need to unfold my telephone, particularly once I’m strolling or there’s a probability I’d drop it — a bigger outer display screen makes that much less mandatory.
As a lot as I really like what Samsung has executed with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, realistically, it isn’t a telephone you’re going to purchase.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is lighter and thinner than earlier generations. It weighs 215g and is barely 8.9mm thick when folded.
It makes a distinction, because the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is as simple to hold round as a Galaxy S25 Extremely in your pocket — it feels superb within the hand.
In the event you’ve by no means thought-about a Galaxy Z Fold earlier than due to the majority, I sympathize, however Samsung has eliminated that barrier with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, so that you would possibly need to take one other look.
Software program to match the display screen actual property
Samsung modified the person expertise
I have been complaining for years about software program on book-style foldables. Including a dock with Android 12L was welcomed, but it surely did not go far sufficient.
I refused to spend $2,000 on a telephone that will solely provide the identical expertise as my $1,000 flagship, albeit with a bigger show.
I wished the person expertise to be essentially totally different. OnePlus did so much with Open Canvas on the OnePlus Open, and I used to be in search of one thing related from Samsung.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 operating One UI 8 includes a 90:10 multitasking cut up, permitting me to shift forwards and backwards between apps with out one app needing your entire show. It helps once I’m referencing data for an e mail or taking a look at my calendar.
Samsung’s additionally executed a greater job making use of the 8-inch inner show. I really like that I can see the before-and-after outcomes of a photograph I’ve edited. In the event you’re a content material creator, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is right, supplying you with an expansive canvas to edit clips for social media.
Higher use of the inner display screen actual property is a big motive why I believe extra informal customers ought to give the Galaxy Z Fold 7 an opportunity this 12 months.
The value continues to be an enormous barrier
Not everybody needs to spend that a lot
As a lot as I really like what Samsung has executed with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, realistically, it isn’t a telephone you’re going to purchase. It is an costly machine, and never everybody needs to spend $2,000 on their telephone.
I perceive, and it is the first motive I really feel book-style foldables will all the time be area of interest merchandise. Nonetheless, in the event you can swing it, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a worthy machine.
Service reductions and financing are one of the simplest ways to go. In the event you can commerce in your previous telephone and decide up a Galaxy Z Fold 7 for less than $20 or $30 a month, you may be happy.
I want Samsung would put that sort of effort into different telephones
I am conscious that at the very least some individuals are shopping for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, as the corporate is having fun with elevated gross sales in comparison with earlier years.
I consider many of those gross sales had been individuals who held onto their Galaxy Z Fold 4 or 5, as they had been reluctant to spend more cash on minor upgrades.
Nonetheless, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is value a shot in the event you’ve been on the fence about shopping for a foldable. It is Samsung’s finest telephone in years, and I would prefer to see it in additional pockets.
8.5/10
- SoC
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Snapdragon 8 Elite
- RAM
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12GB or 16GB
- Storage
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256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
- Battery
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4,400mAh
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the thinnest and lightest within the collection thus far, integrating a robust Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor for enhanced AI capabilities and a 200MP pro-grade digicam. Constructed for enhanced sturdiness with an Armor FlexHinge and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, the machine includes a wider 6.5-inch cowl display screen and unfolds into an expansive 8.0-inch fundamental show for immersive viewing and productiveness.