Foldable cellphone nirvana (for a worth)

After a number of generations of iterative updates, it looks like Samsung tossed the Galaxy Z Fold 7 right into a Hyperbolic Time Chamber to create a shocking machine that is leaner, stronger and extra highly effective than earlier than. The most effective half although is the cellphone appears to be like and features identical to an everyday handset now that there’s much less bulk to lug round. However at a second’s discover, it could possibly go Tremendous Saiyan by opening as much as reveal a fair bigger 8-inch show to grow to be a real multimedia raidboss. Sadly, it is nonetheless extraordinarily costly at $2,000. Although when 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. observe on July 25 at 9:00AM ET: The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has been obtainable to pre-order since Unpacked on July 9, and has now gone on sale. Since our assessment was printed, further studies 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. It’s also possible to learn our reviews of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 series, which at the moment are stay.)

Design: Chef’s kiss

When Samsung debuted its up to date tremendous smooth design language on the Galaxy S25 Edge, it felt like a novel solution to reimagine the S25+ as a extra participating machine. However when the corporate gave the identical therapy to the Z Fold 7, that engineering turned one thing actually transformative. In comparison with its predecessor, Samsung’s huge foldable for 2025 is 10 p.c lighter at simply 215 grams. The larger drop is available in thickness with Galaxy Z Fold 7 measuring a whopping 26 p.c thinner (simply 8.9mm when folded). This represents the most important generation-over-generation lower for all the Z Fold line, which is form of stunning contemplating it is taking place seven years in. The result’s a foldable that’s principally the identical measurement and weight because the Galaxy S25 Extremely (it is truly somewhat narrower), which isn’t any imply feat for a category of devices that has been suffering from additional heft since they first got here out.

What could be simply as spectacular is that Samsung hasn’t actually minimize 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 toes for half-hour) together with Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 in entrance and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 in again. Samsung additionally utterly 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 p.c thicker than earlier than whereas additionally sporting a brand new titanium lattice that provides further assist 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 digital camera. 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 take pleasure in even after you account for the small cutout. Plus, the transfer to a higher-res 10-megapixel sensor for this digital camera 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 does not unfold all the best way, usually stopping simply brief at 179 levels — very like the unique Pixel Fold. That mentioned, you’ll be able to at all times make it go totally flat with a bit of additional stress, although more often than not I do not even trouble as a result of that is the form of factor that you do not actually discover except you are particularly in search of it.

Shows: Now even larger, each in and out

As for brightness and picture high quality, Samsung’s panels are nonetheless unmatched. Along with a bigger primary show, the Z Fold 7’s exterior Cowl Display screen is barely larger at 6.5 inches. Extra importantly, it is 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 acquired on earlier fashions is totally gone. Each screens additionally assist a 120Hz refresh charge 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 due to barely richer colours and saturation.

After introducing S Pen integration on the Z Fold 3, Samsung has eliminated stylus assist for this mannequin — a giant downgrade that will anger longtime Z Fold followers. The corporate claims it made this resolution after seeing “very low” S Pen utilization on earlier generations, which frankly is not all that shocking. However, as one of many spotlight options that separated Samsung’s huge foldables from virtually all of its rivals, it is nonetheless unhappy to see it go.

Efficiency and software program: The quickest huge foldable cellphone

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 unquestionably packs top-tier efficiency. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip together with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and as much as 1TB of storage. Every little thing feels quick and snappy whereas OneUI 8 and Android 16 carry app optimizations that assist profit from the cellphone’s huge 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 current Tensor chips, Samsung’s foldable loaded the sport in 13 seconds in comparison with 18 seconds for the Pixel. That may not sound like a ton, nevertheless it’s round 25 p.c sooner and when it is 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 contains a huge picture improve due to a brand new 200MP sensor for its primary digital camera. That is primarily the identical part Samsung used within the S25 Extremely and S25 Edge, and it delivers a much-needed bump in picture high quality.

In vibrant gentle, 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 photographs due to Samsung’s hotter colour profile. The cellphone nonetheless tends to oversharpen issues, however colours are vibrant. For many who wish to maximize decision, you’ll be able to choose the cellphone’s full 200MP mode (photographs are captured at 12MP by default). At night time, the Fold 7’s photographs remained surprisingly sharp. I nonetheless desire the Pixel 9 Professional Fold as a result of its extra correct white stability and sometimes sharper focus, although Samsung’s cellphone is not far behind.

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Galaxy Z Fold 7 picture comparability versus the Pixel 9 Professional Fold

On this picture, the Z Fold 7’s picture contains a hotter colour tone together with higher textures on the meals and reducing board.

Doubtlessly the most important shortcoming on the Fold 7 is that its 3x optical zoom cannot fairly match the 5x telephoto cam on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. However for followers of group photographs, Samsung added a brand new selfie digital camera 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 identical measurement as its predecessor, you’re going to get barely elevated longevity as a result 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 primary 8-inch show and 26 hours and 22 minutes with its exterior display. Relying on which show you utilize, that is between 45 minutes and an hour longer than what we acquired from the earlier mannequin, which is good to see contemplating battery life was already fairly stable.

Sadly, Samsung hasn’t modified a lot in terms of recharging. The Z Fold 7 helps wired charging at as much as 25 watts — which is quite 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 is 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 may must get a case with full assist for Qi 2.

Wrap-up

I’ve at all times mentioned that Samsung is at its finest 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 boundaries stopping folks from making an attempt out the brand new breed of telephones: extreme measurement and weight.

By widening its cowl show, the Z Fold 7 appears to be like and acts identical to an everyday smartphone, which is nice for checking messages, wanting up instructions or snapping a photograph. While you wish to get actually immersed in a present, film or sport, you’ll be able to open up that stunning versatile show, which is now even bigger in your viewing pleasure. The cellphone’s higher-res primary digital camera 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 do not love how Samsung is backtracking on options by eradicating S Pen assist and reverting to an old-school digital camera cutout as a substitute of an under-display sensor for its primary show. However no less than within the case of the latter, that change comes with a lot improved picture high quality, which is a giant improve for video calls.

With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, you actually do get the perfect of each worlds. Its new design is simply as smooth 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 folks from making an attempt out a tool that may utterly change the best way they use their cellphone.