Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 – In-Depth Review
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 continues its legacy of innovation by refining nearly every aspect of its foldable design. It’s slimmer, lighter, and more powerful, aimed squarely at users who demand the best in productivity and innovation. Let’s dive deep into every aspect of this impressive device.
🔧 Design & Build
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 introduces Samsung’s most polished foldable hardware to date:
-
Thin & Light: At just 8.9 mm thick when folded and only 4.2 mm when open, the Fold 7 is astonishingly slim for a device of this class. Weighing only 215 grams, it feels significantly more manageable and pocketable compared to earlier generations.
-
Materials: It features an upgraded “Advanced Armor Aluminum” frame and a new Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 front and back, making it more scratch- and drop-resistant. The hinge is upgraded to the Armor FlexHinge, allowing for a smoother folding action and better longevity.
-
Crease Improvements: The crease is far less visible and less tactile than on previous Folds, thanks to a teardrop-shaped hinge design and improved UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) layering. When open, the screen feels almost like a single uninterrupted tablet surface.
-
Water & Dust Resistance: It maintains IPX8 water resistance, though there’s still no official dust rating.
📺 Display Technology
Outer Display (Cover Screen)
-
Size: 6.5 inches
-
Type: Dynamic AMOLED 2X
-
Resolution: 2520 x 1080
-
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
-
Aspect Ratio: 21:9
The cover display is now wider, making it more comfortable for regular smartphone tasks like messaging and browsing. The narrower display from older Folds is gone, and this one feels much more like using a conventional phone.
Main Display (Inner Foldable Screen)
-
Size: 8.0 inches
-
Type: Dynamic AMOLED 2X
-
Resolution: ~2184 x 1968
-
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
-
Brightness: Up to 2,600 nits
The inner screen is bright, vibrant, and ultra-smooth. It’s optimized for multitasking, gaming, and media consumption. HDR10+ support and the increased brightness mean content looks punchier even under direct sunlight.
🚀 Performance
-
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 “Elite for Galaxy” – a customized chip offering enhanced GPU and CPU performance.
-
RAM: 12 GB or 16 GB LPDDR5X
-
Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB UFS 4.0
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an absolute powerhouse. Whether you're gaming, running multiple apps in split-screen, or using DeX mode, it doesn’t stutter or slow down. AI enhancements also boost app optimization and multitasking fluidity.
🧠 Software & Features
-
OS: Android 16 with One UI 8
-
Galaxy AI: Includes real-time voice translation, text summarization, document generation, and photo editing via generative fill tools.
-
Multitasking: Enhanced split-screen (3 active apps + floating windows), improved taskbar, and drag-and-drop across apps.
-
Software Updates: 7 years of OS and security updates guaranteed.
Samsung is making foldables smarter. AI integration, refined gestures, and the new One UI make navigating the foldable form feel intuitive. It’s a device that truly lets you replace both your phone and tablet.
📷 Cameras
Rear Cameras
-
Main Sensor: 200 MP, f/1.7 with OIS
-
Ultra-Wide: 12 MP
-
Telephoto: 10 MP with 3x optical zoom
Photos from the Fold 7 are crisp, vibrant, and detailed. The 200 MP sensor captures fantastic dynamic range and low-light shots, rivaling traditional flagships like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Zoom shots remain stable and detailed up to 10x digitally.
Front Cameras
-
Cover Display: 10 MP punch-hole
-
Under Display Camera (UDC): 10 MP, improved clarity
While the UDC is more refined, it's still not as sharp as the cover display’s selfie cam, which is the better choice for selfies and video calls.
🔋 Battery Life
-
Capacity: 4,400 mAh dual-cell
-
Charging: 25W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless
Battery life has seen modest but notable improvement due to efficiency gains from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and display optimizations. Users can expect:
-
Around 5.5–6 hours screen-on-time with moderate to heavy usage.
-
All-day use is achievable for most people, but power users may need a top-up by evening.
Charging speeds are still behind the competition, but 25W gets you from 0 to 50% in about 30 minutes.
🎮 Gaming & Media
Gaming is a dream on the Fold 7. The large screen offers unparalleled immersion for mobile titles. High refresh rates, improved haptic feedback, and top-tier performance make it ideal for AAA mobile games.
Multimedia playback is equally impressive: stereo speakers deliver loud, rich sound, and the wide screen supports full-size tablet-style viewing.
📝 Downsides
-
No S Pen Support: To achieve its slim profile, Samsung removed S Pen digitizer support. This is a significant tradeoff for note-takers and digital artists.
-
Battery Size Unchanged: Despite efficiency gains, the battery remains at 4,400 mAh — just enough, but not generous.
-
High Price: Starting at $1,999 (USD), it remains one of the most expensive smartphones on the market. You’re paying a premium for cutting-edge design.
-
Still Not Dustproof: While waterproof, the device lacks full dust resistance, which remains a concern for longevity in harsher environments.
🎯 Who Should Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 7?
Buy it if:
-
You want a premium foldable that truly replaces your tablet or even laptop for daily tasks.
-
You value multitasking and productivity in a compact form.
-
You’re a tech enthusiast who wants cutting-edge hardware and software.
Skip it if:
-
You rely on the S Pen and can’t live without it.
-
You’re on a tighter budget — excellent alternatives exist at half the price.
-
You need maximum battery life (e.g., travel-heavy users, remote workers).
✅ Verdict
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is Samsung’s most refined foldable yet — an engineering marvel that combines power, flexibility, and beauty. While it sacrifices S Pen support and could benefit from a larger battery, everything else feels like a leap forward: from its lighter, thinner chassis to its stunning screens and Galaxy AI-powered features.
If you’re ready to invest in the future of mobile computing, this is the foldable to beat.
Check out latest Z Fold 7 cases from Exoticase.
