Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Samsung has finally delivered the foldable phone that enthusiasts have been waiting for with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, a device that represents the most significant leap forward in the company’s foldable smartphone lineup. Officially announced on July 9, 2025, at Galaxy Unpacked in Brooklyn, this latest iteration addresses virtually every criticism leveled at previous generations while introducing breakthrough innovations that redefine what a premium foldable can achieve.
Design Revolution: Thin, Light, and Refined
The most immediately striking aspect of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is its dramatically improved form factor. At just 8.9mm when folded and an incredibly thin 4.2mm when unfolded, weighing only 215 grams, this device represents a 26% reduction in thickness compared to its predecessor and achieves a 10% weight reduction.
This transformation makes the Z Fold 7 lighter than Samsung’s own Galaxy S25 Ultra, a remarkable engineering achievement considering the complex dual-display system and folding mechanism packed inside. The device is so slim that it could be argued Samsung has created the world’s slimmest foldable phone, rivaling even the thinnest traditional smartphones.
The refined design extends beyond mere dimensions. Samsung has introduced an enhanced Armor FlexHinge with a water droplet design and multi-rail structure that reduces visible creasing while improving durability. The cover display features Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, while Advanced Armor Aluminum in the frame increases strength and hardness by 10%.
Display Excellence: Bigger, Better, Brighter
Samsung has significantly improved both displays for 2025. The outer screen has adopted a more traditional 21:9 aspect ratio at 6.5 inches, making it feel much more like a typical smartphone, addressing long-standing user complaints about the narrow cover display on previous models.
The inner foldable display has grown to an impressive 8 inches diagonally, matching competitors like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Both displays feature 120Hz LTPO AMOLED technology with HDR10+ support and peak brightness of 2600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions.
The larger screens provide enhanced multitasking capabilities, with Samsung’s Multi-Window feature taking full advantage of the expanded real estate. The improved aspect ratios make both single-app usage and split-screen multitasking more intuitive and practical for daily use.
Performance Powerhouse: Snapdragon 8 Elite Excellence
Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, built on a 3nm manufacturing process. The processor features an octa-core configuration with 2×4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores and 6×3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M cores, paired with the Adreno 830 GPU.
Memory configurations include 12GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB storage options, while the top-tier 1TB model comes with 16GB RAM. All variants utilize UFS 4.0 storage for lightning-fast data access and app loading times. This powerful hardware combination ensures smooth performance across demanding applications, intensive gaming, and professional productivity tasks.
Camera Revolution: Finally Flagship-Worthy
Perhaps the most significant upgrade comes in the camera department, where Samsung has finally addressed years of user complaints. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the first in the series to feature a 200-megapixel camera, capturing four times the detail compared to its previous 50-megapixel counterpart.
This main camera utilizes the same ISOCELL HP2 sensor found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, bringing true flagship-level photography capabilities to the foldable lineup. The camera system includes a 12MP ultrawide lens with autofocus capabilities and a 10MP telephoto camera, providing versatile shooting options for various scenarios.
The front-facing cameras have also received significant upgrades. The internal camera is now a 10MP unit, a substantial improvement over the previous 4MP sensor, and features an ultrawide lens with significantly wider field of view. However, Samsung has moved away from the under-display camera technology, opting for a more traditional punch-hole design that some users may find intrusive during video playback.
Battery Life and Charging: Adequate but Not Revolutionary
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 maintains the same 4,400mAh battery capacity as its predecessor, which may disappoint some users expecting a larger cell. Samsung has prioritized thinness over battery capacity, while competitors like Honor and Oppo are implementing silicon-carbon batteries with higher energy density.
Real-world battery performance varies depending on usage patterns. In CNN Underscored’s battery test, the Z Fold 7’s interior display delivered 21 hours and 23 minutes of video playback, outlasting the Z Fold 6 and most iPhone 16 models. However, heavy users may find themselves reaching for a charger by late afternoon.
Charging specifications remain unchanged at 25W wired and 15W wireless charging, which feels conservative for a premium device in 2025. The device can reach 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes, providing reasonable top-up speeds for emergency charging scenarios.
Software Innovation: One UI 8 and Galaxy AI
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 launches with Android 16 and One UI 8, making it one of the first devices to ship with Google’s latest mobile operating system. Samsung promises up to 7 major Android upgrades, ensuring long-term software support and security updates.
Galaxy AI integration represents a significant focus for Samsung, with enhanced multimodal capabilities optimized for the foldable form factor. Gemini Live supports screen sharing for real-time assistance, allowing users to get contextual help based on what’s visible on their display. Features like Circle to Search now work during gaming, providing seamless access to information without interrupting the user experience.
The large displays enable enhanced AI-powered productivity features, including improved photo editing tools, smart text selection, and contextual suggestions that adapt to user behavior patterns.
Notable Compromises: What’s Missing
Despite its many improvements, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 makes some controversial compromises. Samsung has removed S Pen support entirely, citing “very low” usage rates among previous generation users. This decision may frustrate creative professionals and productivity-focused users who valued the stylus integration.
The move to a visible punch-hole camera on the inner display, while improving image quality, creates visual interruptions during media consumption that the previous under-display solution avoided. Additionally, the dramatically thin profile results in a more pronounced camera bump that can cause stability issues when the device is placed on flat surfaces.
Pricing and Market Position
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $1,999 for the 256GB model, representing a $100 price increase over the Z Fold 6. The 512GB variant costs $2,119, while the top-tier 1TB model with 16GB RAM is priced at $2,419. These premium prices position the device firmly in the luxury smartphone segment.
Color options include Blue Shadow, Jet Black, Silver Shadow, and an exclusive Mint variant available only through Samsung’s website. The device maintains IP48 dust and water resistance, providing reasonable protection for daily use while acknowledging the inherent challenges of sealing foldable mechanisms.
Competitive Landscape and Future Outlook
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 enters a increasingly competitive foldable market, with Chinese manufacturers like Honor, Oppo, and Vivo pushing boundaries in thinness, battery technology, and pricing. However, Samsung’s global availability, extensive retail presence, and software support ecosystem provide significant advantages in most markets.
This device represents Samsung’s response to criticism that the company had become complacent in the foldable space. For the first time in perhaps 3-4 years, Samsung has delivered a foldable that feels worth upgrading to, addressing fundamental issues while introducing meaningful improvements.
Conclusion: The Foldable Finally Realized
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 represents the culmination of years of iterative development and user feedback. By dramatically improving the form factor, upgrading the camera system, and refining the software experience, Samsung has created a device that finally delivers on the original promise of foldable smartphones.
While the high price point and some controversial design decisions may limit its mass market appeal, the Z Fold 7 stands as the most compelling large-format foldable available in most global markets. For users willing to invest in cutting-edge technology and embrace the foldable lifestyle, this device offers an unparalleled combination of portability, productivity, and premium features that justify its premium positioning in the smartphone ecosystem.