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Foldable phones have evolved from experimental curiosities to polished devices that appeal to mainstream users. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 represents the culmination of years of iterations and improvements. It boasts a more robust hinge, larger displays, a better camera system and the latest flagship processor. In this comprehensive review we explore what makes the Z Fold 7 unique, how it performs in everyday scenarios and whether it justifies its premium price. With over 1,000 words of analysis, we aim to provide a thorough understanding of Samsung’s most ambitious foldable yet.

Design and Build

At first glance, the Z Fold 7 looks similar to its predecessor, but closer inspection reveals several refinements. When folded, the device resembles a traditional smartphone with a 6.3‑inch cover screen. The outer display is now wider and taller, resulting in a 21:9 aspect ratio. This change makes typing more comfortable and supports larger onscreen elements, minimising the need to open the device for quick interactions. The inner display is a 7.8‑inch Dynamic AMOLED panel with a nearly square 4:3 aspect ratio, ideal for multitasking and media consumption. The bezels are thinner than last year’s model, offering an immersive viewing experience.

The hinge mechanism has been completely redesigned. Samsung calls it the Flex Hinge 2.0, featuring fewer moving parts and stronger materials. Opening and closing the Z Fold 7 feels smoother, and the hinge can hold the screen at various angles, enabling “Flex mode” for hands‑free viewing. The device’s frame is made of lightweight yet durable Armor Aluminium, while the back and front both use Gorilla Glass Armor 2. Despite the larger screens, the Z Fold 7 is lighter than its predecessor, weighing around 240 grams. It is also thinner when folded, making it easier to slip into a pocket.

Samsung achieves an IPX8 water‑resistance rating, meaning the phone can survive splashes and brief immersion. Dust resistance remains challenging due to the hinge’s moving parts, so users should still handle the device carefully in dusty environments. The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the power button, providing quick and reliable unlocking whether the phone is open or closed.

Display Quality

The Z Fold 7’s inner display is arguably its biggest draw. The 7.8‑inch Dynamic AMOLED panel offers a resolution of 2208 × 1768 pixels and supports a 120‑Hz adaptive refresh rate. Colours are vibrant, and brightness peaks at over 1,500 nits, making it suitable for outdoor use. Watching movies on the nearly square screen is immersive; black bars on the top and bottom are minimal. The crease at the centre where the display folds is less visible than on the Z Fold 6, thanks to improvements in ultra‑thin glass and hinge design. When watching videos or reading e‑books, the crease is easy to ignore.

The cover display is much improved over previous generations. Its 6.3‑inch size and 21:9 aspect ratio make it more usable for texting, browsing and navigation. The 120‑Hz refresh rate extends to the cover screen, ensuring smooth animations. Samsung calibrates both displays to maintain consistent colour profiles, which is important when switching between screens. The outer screen uses Gorilla Glass Armor 2, providing improved scratch resistance and durability.

Performance and Software Experience

The Z Fold 7 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor and comes with 12 GB of RAM on the base model. Storage options range from 256 GB to 1 TB, though there is no microSD expansion. In everyday use, the device feels exceptionally fast. Apps open instantly, multitasking across the large display is fluid and heavy games run smoothly at high settings. Samsung’s Z Boost software allocates resources intelligently when the phone is unfolded, ensuring that multiple open apps run without slowdowns.

The phone ships with One UI 8, customised for foldable devices. Samsung has optimised many system and third‑party apps to take advantage of the large screen. Multi‑View allows you to run up to three apps at once, with adjustable window sizes. You can drag and drop text or images between apps—copy an address from an email and drop it into Maps, or drag a picture from your gallery into a messaging app. The Taskbar sits at the bottom of the screen, providing quick access to recent apps and split‑screen configurations. These features transform the Z Fold 7 from a phone into a productivity powerhouse.

Samsung continues to expand Flex mode capabilities, which use the hinge’s ability to hold the phone at various angles. For example, when watching a video with the phone partially folded, the top half plays the content while the bottom half shows playback controls or comments. Video calls can display the caller on the upper screen and controls on the lower half. Third‑party apps like YouTube, Netflix and Microsoft Office have also been optimised for Flex mode, enhancing the user experience.

Camera System

The Z Fold 7 inherits the main camera hardware from the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It features a 200‑megapixel main sensor, a 50‑megapixel ultra‑wide lens and two telephoto lenses: 10 MP 3× and 50 MP 5×. This setup delivers outstanding versatility. In standard mode, the 200‑MP sensor uses pixel‑binning to output crisp 12.5‑MP photos with excellent dynamic range and colour accuracy. The ultra‑wide camera offers autofocus, enabling macro photography with a minimum focus distance of 2 cm. The telephoto lenses work together to provide clear zoom levels from 3× to 30×, with the 5× periscope lens offering exceptional detail and stability.

The inner display houses a 4‑megapixel under‑display camera, used mainly for video calls. It blends into the screen better than on the Z Fold 6, though its quality remains inferior to regular selfie cameras. The cover screen sports a 10‑MP selfie camera, which takes decent self‑portraits and is ideal for video conferencing when you don’t want to unfold the device.

Video recording capabilities are top‑tier. The Z Fold 7 records up to 8K at 30 fps or 4K at 60 fps, with rich colours and stabilised footage. Samsung’s Pro Video mode gives you manual control over shutter speed, ISO and focus. Director’s View allows you to switch between lenses while recording and preview footage from each camera—a feature particularly useful for content creators.

Battery Life and Charging

Foldables often struggle with battery life because they power two displays. Samsung addresses this by equipping the Z Fold 7 with a 5,000 mAh battery. Combined with improved power management and an adaptive refresh rate, the phone can comfortably last a full day of moderate use. Heavy users who frequently multitask or watch videos may need to top up in the evening, but this is reasonable for a device with such large displays. The Z Fold 7 supports 45‑W wired charging, 25‑W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging for accessories. The included 45‑W charger fills the battery from zero to 100 percent in about 50 minutes.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Versatile displays with improved aspect ratios for both the cover and inner screens.
2. Refined hinge offering smoother operation and support for Flex mode.
3. Top‑tier performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite and abundant RAM.
4. Excellent camera system on par with Samsung’s non‑foldable flagships.
5. Software optimisations that leverage the large screen for multitasking.

Cons:

1. Expensive price tag compared with traditional smartphones.
2. Still bulky when folded; although slimmer than previous models, it remains thicker than standard phones.
3. Inner display crease is reduced but still noticeable under certain lighting.
4. Under‑display camera offers subpar image quality compared with regular selfie cameras.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a testament to how far foldable technology has come. Its refined design, larger displays and powerful performance make it the most complete foldable device yet. Multitaskers, professionals and tech enthusiasts will appreciate the productivity features and premium camera system. However, its high price and size mean it’s not for everyone. If you want the cutting edge of smartphone innovation and can afford the cost, the Z Fold 7 delivers a unique experience unmatched by conventional phones. For most users, Samsung’s S25 series may provide a more practical balance of features and value.