After a number of generations of iterative updates, it appears like Samsung tossed the Galaxy Z Fold 7 right into a Hyperbolic Time Chamber to create a surprising gadget that's leaner, stronger and extra highly effective than earlier than. The most effective half although is the cellphone seems and capabilities identical to an everyday handset now that there’s much less bulk to lug round. However at a second's discover, it may possibly go Tremendous Saiyan by opening as much as reveal an excellent bigger 8-inch show to grow to be a real multimedia raidboss. Sadly, it's nonetheless extraordinarily costly at $2,000. Although in case you can deal with the value, in a variety of methods, Samsung has lastly achieved foldable cellphone nirvana with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
(Ed. be aware on July 25 at 9:00AM ET: The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has been accessible to pre-order since Unpacked on July 9, and has now gone on sale. Since our assessment was printed, extra experiences on the Fold 7's sturdiness has come out, together with how its display has been rated to withstand 500,000 folds — twice the variety of its predecessor. You can too learn our reviews of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 series, which are actually stay.)
Design: Chef's kiss
When Samsung debuted its up to date tremendous modern design language on the Galaxy S25 Edge, it felt like a novel option to reimagine the S25+ as a extra participating gadget. However when the corporate gave the identical therapy to the Z Fold 7, that engineering turned one thing really transformative. In comparison with its predecessor, Samsung's massive foldable for 2025 is 10 % lighter at simply 215 grams. The larger drop is available in thickness with Galaxy Z Fold 7 measuring a whopping 26 % thinner (simply 8.9mm when folded). This represents the largest generation-over-generation lower for your entire Z Fold line, which is form of stunning contemplating it's taking place seven years in. The result’s a foldable that’s principally the identical measurement and weight because the Galaxy S25 Extremely (it's really a little bit narrower), which isn’t any imply feat for a category of devices that has been tormented by further heft since they first got here out.
What could be simply as spectacular is that Samsung hasn't actually reduce corners to ship the Z Fold 7's streamlined dimensions. You continue to get an IP48 score for mud and water resistance (which might deal with submersions of as much as 5 ft for half-hour) together with Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 in entrance and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 in again. Samsung additionally fully re-engineered its Armor FlexHinge, which glides open and closed like a dream. Samsung even says that Z Fold 7's ultra-thin glass is 50 % thicker than earlier than whereas additionally sporting a brand new titanium lattice that provides extra help and sturdiness to the cellphone's versatile show.
Inside, Samsung has switched away from the under-display sensor used on earlier fashions in favor of a extra conventional hole-punch digicam. This can be a little bit of a disgrace because it provides a small blemish to that in any other case beautiful display. Nevertheless, with the panel now measuring 8 inches throughout (up from 7.6 on the Z Fold 6), there's extra of it to get pleasure from even after you account for the small cutout. Plus, the transfer to a higher-res 10-megapixel sensor for this digicam ends in considerably higher picture high quality than any of Samsung's under-display modules.
The one small design quirk is that generally the cellphone doesn't unfold all the way in which, typically stopping simply quick at 179 levels — very similar to the unique Pixel Fold. That stated, you’ll be able to all the time make it go absolutely flat with a bit of additional stress, although more often than not I don't even trouble as a result of that is the form of factor that you just don't actually discover until you're particularly on the lookout for it.
Shows: Now even greater, each inside and outside
As for brightness and picture high quality, Samsung's panels are nonetheless unmatched. Along with a bigger major show, the Z Fold 7's exterior Cowl Display is barely greater at 6.5 inches. Extra importantly, it's noticeably wider too whereas sporting even thinner bezels, which makes the entire cellphone really feel extra usable. The sensation of holding a thin baton I obtained on earlier fashions is totally gone. Each screens additionally help a 120Hz refresh fee and might hit a peak brightness of two,600 nits. And when in comparison with rivals just like the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, the Fold 7's shows simply pop a contact extra because of barely richer colours and saturation.
After introducing S Pen integration on the Z Fold 3, Samsung has eliminated stylus help for this mannequin — an enormous downgrade that will anger longtime Z Fold followers. The corporate claims it made this determination after seeing "very low" S Pen utilization on earlier generations, which frankly isn't all that stunning. However, as one of many spotlight options that separated Samsung's massive foldables from virtually all of its rivals, it's nonetheless unhappy to see it go.
Efficiency and software program: The quickest massive foldable cellphone
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 unquestionably packs top-tier efficiency. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip together with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and as much as 1TB of storage. All the things feels quick and snappy whereas OneUI 8 and Android 16 deliver app optimizations that assist profit from the cellphone's massive show.
The most important eye-opener for me was once I in contrast how lengthy it took the Z Fold 7 to launch my present favourite cellular sport, Sword of Convallaria, towards the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Even with the elevated efficiency of Google's latest Tensor chips, Samsung's foldable loaded the sport in 13 seconds in comparison with 18 seconds for the Pixel. Which may not sound like a ton, but it surely’s round 25 % quicker and when it's one thing you do a number of occasions a day, shaving off even a couple of seconds provides up quick..
Cameras: A serious decision bump
Whereas the Z Fold 7's ultrawide and 3x telephoto cameras are largely unchanged, the cellphone incorporates a massive picture improve because of a brand new 200MP sensor for its major digicam. That is basically the identical element Samsung used within the S25 Extremely and S25 Edge, and it delivers a much-needed bump in picture high quality.
In vibrant mild, the Z Fold 7 simply retains tempo with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. In sure conditions like when snapping pics of meals, some might desire its pictures because of Samsung's hotter coloration profile. The cellphone nonetheless tends to oversharpen issues, however colours are vibrant. For individuals who wish to maximize decision, you’ll be able to choose the cellphone's full 200MP mode (pictures are captured at 12MP by default). At evening, the Fold 7's pictures remained surprisingly sharp. I nonetheless desire the Pixel 9 Professional Fold because of its extra correct white steadiness and infrequently sharper focus, although Samsung's cellphone isn't far behind.
Doubtlessly the largest shortcoming on the Fold 7 is that its 3x optical zoom can't fairly match the 5x telephoto cam on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. However for followers of group pictures, Samsung added a brand new selfie digicam with a wider 100-degree subject of view.
Battery life and charging: Strong longevity, however nonetheless solely Qi 2 prepared
Whereas the Z Fold 7's 4,400mAh battery is similar measurement as its predecessor, you’re going to get barely elevated longevity because of improved energy effectivity from its processor. In our native video rundown take a look at, the Z Fold 7 lasted 20 hours and 50 minutes when utilizing its major 8-inch show and 26 hours and 22 minutes with its exterior display. Relying on which show you utilize, that's between 45 minutes and an hour longer than what we obtained from the earlier mannequin, which is sweet to see contemplating battery life was already fairly stable.
Sadly, Samsung hasn't modified a lot in the case of recharging. The Z Fold 7 helps wired charging at as much as 25 watts — which is moderately common for a contemporary flagship — alongside 15 watt wi-fi charging. And like the remainder of the 2025 premium Galaxy line, this cellphone is merely Qi 2 prepared, which implies there's no built-in attachment system for magnetic equipment like charging pucks, card holders and battery packs. So if you wish to use peripherals like these, you'll have to get a case with full help for Qi 2.
Wrap-up
I've all the time stated that Samsung is at its greatest when it focuses on {hardware} design, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could also be top-of-the-line examples of that. With its newest flagship foldable, Samsung has eliminated one of many remaining obstacles stopping individuals from making an attempt out the brand new breed of telephones: extreme measurement and weight.
By widening its cowl show, the Z Fold 7 seems and acts identical to an everyday smartphone, which is nice for checking messages, trying up instructions or snapping a photograph. Once you wish to get actually immersed in a present, film or sport, you’ll be able to open up that lovely versatile show, which is now even bigger in your viewing pleasure. The cellphone’s higher-res major digicam additionally brings upgraded picture high quality whereas its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip offers it a efficiency edge over rivals just like the Pixel 9 Professional Fold.
I don't love how Samsung is backtracking on options by eradicating S Pen help and reverting to an old-school digicam cutout as a substitute of an under-display sensor for its major show. However no less than within the case of the latter, that change comes with a lot improved picture high quality, which is an enormous improve for video calls.
With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, you actually do get the very best of each worlds. Its new design is simply as modern as comparable conventional flagships whereas hiding a bigger show that makes the necessity for small tablets out of date. Sadly, with a beginning worth of $2,000, Samsung hasn't addressed the final roadblock stopping individuals from making an attempt out a tool which may fully change the way in which they use their cellphone.
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