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If we mirror on the previous, Samsung’s simply as synonymous with Android as Google. It has been a pioneer within the house for years, however the firm has additionally seemingly found out the method to maintaining its buyer base joyful and coming again. However with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, this may be the primary time in years that Samsung has found out a option to entice much more individuals.
Because the Galaxy Z Fold 4, I’ve hoped Samsung would proceed main the cost for book-style foldables. As an alternative, we have seen the likes of Vivo, Honor, OPPO/OnePlus, and others exhibit what’s actually attainable, whereas Samsung moved additional and additional down the bench.
That each one modified when the Galaxy Z Fold Particular Version launched late in 2024, arriving simply a few months after the Fold 6. On the time, I posited that this was “what the Galaxy Z Fold 6 ought to’ve been,” however opted in opposition to for no matter purpose. Because it seems, that was only a teaser for what was to return, however now that the principle course has been served, is the Galaxy Z Fold 7 the flagship foldable we have been wanting?
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Specs and Pricing
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 was introduced on July 9 in the course of the mid-2025 Galaxy Unpacked occasion. It was joined with bulletins of the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Z Flip FE, Galaxy Watch 8, and Galaxy Watch Extremely (2025).
There are three RAM/storage configurations accessible alongside 4 totally different colour choices. Retail pricing for the bottom mannequin is available in at $1999 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB. The 12GB/512GB mannequin prices $2,119, and the 16GB/1TB variant retails for $2,419.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7 on July 25, 2025.
Class | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 |
|---|---|
Cowl Show | 6.5-inch, 2520 x 1080, 120Hz Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X |
Essential Show | 8.0-inch, 2184 x 1968, 120Hz Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
RAM | 12GB/16GB |
Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0 |
Rear Digicam 1 | 200MP, Large-angle, f/1.7, PDAF, OIS |
Rear Digicam 2 | 10MP, Telephoto, f/2.4, PSAF, OIS, 3x Optical Zoom |
Rear Digicam 3 | 12MP, Ultrawide, f/2.2, PDAF, 120-degree Subject of View |
Entrance Digicam (Cowl) | 10MP, f2.2, 18mm |
Entrance Digicam (Essential) | 10MP, f/2.2, 24mm |
Ingress Safety | IP48 water and mud resistance |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, UWB |
Safety | Facet-mounted fingerprint scanner |
Audio | USB-C, 32-bit/384kHz, Stereo Sound, Tuned by AKG |
Battery | 4,400mAh, 25W wired charging, 15W wi-fi, 4.5W reverse wi-fi, Qi2.1 |
Dimensions (unfolded) | 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.2mm |
Dimensions (folded) | 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9mm |
Weight | 215 grams |
Colours | Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jetblack, Mint |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Design
- Samsung launched a revolutionary design, but it surely’s really from final 12 months.
- The Shadow Blue colour is so good, I do not even wish to use a case.
Seeing that I had a sense that the Galaxy Z Fold Particular Version would ultimately grow to be the Galaxy Z Fold 7, I did not assume I might be shocked by the redesign. I used to be positively improper about that, because it’s merely unbelievable having a telephone this skinny in my pocket. It is actually a type of “you need to see it to consider it” emotions.
The very best comparability I could make is that this can be a comparable feeling to the one I had with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. It is nearly like this is not even a Samsung gadget, particularly contemplating how a lot of a drastic distinction there’s in comparison with final 12 months’s mannequin.
That mentioned, there are a few annoyances that preserve choosing at me. The primary of which is the fingerprint scanner mounted on the outer body. To me, it simply does not really feel as tactile or distinguished as earlier Fold fashions, even with the button itself protruding, versus being inset with a little bit of a moat round it.
As such, I find yourself fumbling round extra simply attempting to ensure my finger is in the suitable place. Fortunately, when the celebrities align, I’ve but to truly have any points with the scanner’s performance.
My different concern is that together with the opposite sacrifices made for the sake of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 being as skinny as attainable, Samsung nearly made it unattainable to truly use the inside display. Okay, it is not that unhealthy, however simply within the couple of weeks of utilizing the telephone, there have been a number of shut calls the place I used to be attempting to open the telephone, solely to have it nearly slip out of my fingers. It was a problem that is solely been barely improved with the use of a case, however not by a lot.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Shows
- Samsung nonetheless makes a few of the most stunning screens I’ve ever used.
- Utilizing the Galaxy Z Fold 7 lastly appears like an everyday telephone that unfolds right into a pill.
- There are some (together with myself) that shall be dissatisfied to see the S Pen eliminated.
Clearly, with the intention to get down to eight.9mm, concessions needed to be made, so Samsung mentioned au revoir to the S Pen-supporting digitizer. Throughout my hands-on session, Samsung defined that not very many individuals bothered utilizing the S Pen, and I am unable to assist however really feel like that was self-inflicted.
I do not know if it will have modified something, however I ponder what would have occurred if Samsung began together with an S Pen within the field. This is likely one of the finest issues about getting a brand new Galaxy Tab, and people price considerably lower than the Galaxy Z Fold.
However shedding a number of grams wasn’t the one main change to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, as each shows at the moment are bigger than ever. As an alternative of feeling such as you’re holding a hefty metallic distant, the Fold 7 appears like an precise smartphone once more.
Between that and worrying about dropping the telephone whereas opening it, I’ve fallen into the lure of utilizing the Cowl Display more often than not. What’s bizarre is that I nearly really feel like I am not supposed to make use of the principle display, whereas the Galaxy Z Fold 6 pushed me to take action.
Apart from all of that, the precise expertise is just about precisely what I wished from a revamped Galaxy Z Fold, or any fashionable foldable telephone for that matter. On the similar time, I’ve to confess that I’m positively lacking having the choice to make use of an S Pen. No, I wasn’t a die-hard S Pen believer, however when you’ve got sausages for fingers, an S Pen would come in useful when attempting to edit footage or simply utilizing the telephone with out the remainder of my paw getting in the best way.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Efficiency
- The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is a monster, dealing with virtually something you throw at it.
- Sadly, you’ll be able to solely get 16GB of RAM if you happen to shell out the sheckles for the 1TB of storage.
The great factor about Samsung’s mid-summer releases is that we not often have to fret about many surprises. Nicely, that was the case till the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Flip FE, however with the Fold 7, we now have the identical Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy on the helm.
This is not the primary foldable telephone to function Qualcomm’s “Elite” chip, however I would not be shocked if its the final for this technology. That being mentioned, efficiency has been fairly darn good for every little thing from day-to-day interactions to gaming periods and emulation.
I am not going to harp on my issues with emulation on the newest chipsets, as I’ve already carried out that earlier than. However with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, or no matter it’ll be referred to as, across the nook, I am hopeful that emulation on the platform evolves and matures.
It is already unbelievable that we’re in a position to play Home windows and PS3 video games on our telephones, even when they’re older titles, however there’s nonetheless loads of room to develop. And the Snapdragon 8 Elite has greater than sufficient untapped potential left.
Nonetheless, if you happen to’re a sucker for numbers like me, this is how the Galaxy Z Fold 7 shakes out in comparison with the Discover N5 and Vivo X Fold 5:
Class | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Oppo Discover N5 | Vivo X Fold 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
Geekbench 6 (single-core) | 2382 | 2625 | 2184 |
Geekbench 6 (multi-core) | 7787 | 7201 | 6330 |
Geekbench AI (Quantized Rating) | 3308 | 2505 | 3326 |
3DMark Wild Life Excessive (rating) | 4004 | 5252 | 3740 |
3DMark Wild Life Excessive (FPS) | 23.98 | 31.45 | 22.4 |
3DMark Photo voltaic Bay (rating) | 7657 | 9898 | 5711 |
3DMark Photo voltaic Bay (FPS) | 29.12 | 37.64 | 21.72 |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Battery Life
I just lately wrote about why my issues for the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s battery life transcend Samsung persevering with to make use of the identical 4,400mAh once more. To sum it up, my points don’t have anything to do with how lengthy the battery lasts proper now.
At this present second, yeah, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 meets my expectations of lasting a whole day, even when it is 20 hours in between costs. But when my re-review of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is something to go by, I believe that to be a really totally different story in a 12 months, if not sooner.
Forward of penning this evaluation, I re-ran the Galaxy Z Fold 7 by way of the identical battery assessments as I did earlier than. This included adjusting the brightness as excessive because it might go, and enjoying a 4K HDR video on the quilt display, noting the battery life at one-hour intervals, then repeating the identical take a look at by utilizing the principle display.
Display | Time | Battery Proportion | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
Cowl Display | 10:18 | 94 | Row 0 – Cell 3 |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 | 11:18 | 77 | ~19% |
| Row 2 – Cell 0 | 12:18 | 58 | ~28% |
Essential Display | 12:30 | 56 | Row 3 – Cell 3 |
| Row 4 – Cell 0 | 1:30 | 29 | ~51% |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 | 2:19 | 5% warning | Row 5 – Cell 3 |
| Row 6 – Cell 0 | 2:30 | 3% | ~10% |
This one threw me off much more than the primary batch of assessments, merely due to the 51% battery drop when switching to the principle display. I am unable to discover a proof for it, but it surely’s one thing I will be paying nearer consideration to.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Cameras
- The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has one of the best cameras that I’ve used on a foldable telephone but.
- I not really feel the necessity to carry a second telephone only for footage.
In terms of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold collection, I have been simply as dissatisfied with the digicam because the battery. That is to not say that earlier fashions aren’t able to serving up high quality footage. However they only have not been on the identical degree as telephones that price a fraction of the value.
With the Fold 7, you’ll be able to simply toss that notion out the window. We now lastly have a flagship digicam in a Galaxy Z Fold gadget. I am not looking for excuses to carry my Pixel or iPhone with me when going out, because the Fold 7 is greater than satisfactory.
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In some instances, it is managed to outperform the likes of the iPhone 16 Professional Max and Galaxy S25 Extremely. On the similar time, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 wipes the ground with its predecessor, and produces higher footage than the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, most of the time.
There was as soon as a time once I thought Samsung would by no means do one thing like this, however I could not be happier that I have been confirmed improper.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Software program
- There aren’t very many “new” options in One UI 8, however the Fold 7 does get a few exclusives.
- Regardless of the “kitchen sink” strategy, Samsung nonetheless determined to do away with “Basic DeX” mode.
- What stays is a hybrid pill/desktop-like interface that’s just like what Google introduced at I/O 2025.
With reference to software program, you’ve got Samsung’s patented “kitchen sink” strategy, minus the S Pen. However with One UI 8 and Android 16, Samsung and Google launched a few adjustments, and sure, they’re AI-driven.
For one, Now Temporary makes its option to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 after debuting on the Galaxy S25 collection earlier this 12 months. Surprisingly, I’ve discovered that I am simply not utilizing it anyplace close to as a lot as I used to be earlier than.
A lot of that may in all probability simply be chalked as much as already realizing what it provides. Which in the end is not a lot totally different than if I had been utilizing the S25 Extremely.
The opposite nifty change has been an optimized interface for Gemini when utilizing the first show. When activated, the search bar seems within the backside left nook, maintaining it principally out of the best way, which has been good every time I bear in mind to truly use it.
Apart from that, the One UI 8 expertise is about as ho-hum because it will get. Nonetheless, there’s one explicit change that’s maddening — Basic Samsung DeX is gone. As an alternative, we now have the “New DeX” that was launched a few years in the past, offering a extra simplistic and fewer desktop-like expertise.
Functionally, DeX works simply advantageous, however I want Samsung would’ve simply left well-enough alone. If I am utilizing the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a NexDock, it is in all probability as a result of I am attempting to get some work carried out, the place a desktop expertise is best suited. And whereas this “New DeX” is sensible because the default format on the Galaxy Tab, it is not like you’ll be able to entry it on the Fold 7 with out an exterior show.
I am certain it was carried out to align with Google’s forthcoming addition of Desktop Mode for Pixel telephones, which debuted at I/O 2025 and is slated to reach with Android 16 QPR1 later this 12 months. However for as most of the different trivial or nonsensical options which can be packed into One UI already, why could not Samsung simply depart it alone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: The competitors
Right here in North America, the one competitors to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold, and that may stay the case for a short while longer. Nonetheless, Google just lately introduced its Made by Google occasion for August 16, the place it is anticipated to unveil the Pixel 10 Professional Fold, together with different new units. The rumors and leaks recommend a extra modest improve this time round, that means that Samsung in all probability does not have an excessive amount of to fret about.
Once we broaden the spectrum to past the confines of the U.S., it is a very totally different story. Vivo’s X Fold 5 just lately launched in choose nations, bringing with it a design that is nearly simply as slim because the Fold 7. And regardless of utilizing final 12 months’s chip, the X Fold 5 beats out the Fold 7 with battery life, and a digicam system that is described as being “one of the best cameras of any foldable proper now.”
Then, there’s the OPPO Discover N5, which was launched shortly after the Galaxy S25 Extremely again in February. That is the highly-anticipated successor to the Discover N3 from 2023, which, alongside the OnePlus Open, set a brand new customary for a lot of foldable telephones. Whereas we did not see the Open 2, the Discover N5 stays probably the greatest telephones of the 12 months, and never simply within the foldable market.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Ought to You Purchase it?
You can purchase this if:
- You need the thinnest foldable telephone
- You are upgrading from any earlier Galaxy Z Fold, together with final 12 months’s mannequin
- You need one of the best foldable telephone in North America (for now)
You should not purchase this if:
- You are on a funds
- You depend on the S Pen
- You need a telephone with an even bigger battery
Regardless of the annoyances and issues, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the primary Samsung foldable that I might wholly advocate to anybody who asks. It provides basically the identical software program and AI options because the Galaxy S25 Extremely, whereas additionally sharing the identical 200MP foremost wide-angle digicam. Plus, I nonetheless cannot recover from simply how skinny the Fold 7 really is. I do know I am a bit jaded to the restricted competitors, however nonetheless. It is loopy.
That being mentioned, it is not going to return low cost, because the upgrades end in one other worth leap, with the bottom mannequin coming in at $1,999. If you happen to missed out on pre-orders and needn’t improve proper now, I would maintain off a bit longer and see what sort of gross sales and promotions occur over the subsequent month or so. I believe we’ll see some elevated values on gadget trade-ins, particularly as we get nearer to the Pixel 10 Professional Fold launch.
Nonetheless, Samsung made a foldable that is modern, fashionable, and practical; a mix that it hasn’t achieved in years.
What do you get while you mix Samsung’s software program prowess with a contemporary design? Essentially the most attractive foldable telephone to-date.
