Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7: It’s like they crammed it into a Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Emerging leaner, meaner, and mightier than ever, this isn’t just an upgrade – it’s a foldable phone Super Saiyan. Finally, a phone that feels like… well, a phone. No more brick-like bulk! But BAM! When you need it, unleash the 8-inch inner beast, transforming into a full-blown multimedia Raidboss. The $2,000 price tag stings, but if you can swallow it, you’re tasting foldable phone nirvana. Samsung? They might have actually cracked it.
Design: Chef’s kiss
The Galaxy S25 Edge’s debut was a sleek whisper, a hint of what Samsung could do. But the Z Fold 7? That was a shout. Samsung didn’t just refine; they reimagined. Shedding 10% of its weight, the 2025 Z Fold 7 now clocks in at a surprisingly nimble 215 grams. But the real magic? A staggering 26% reduction in thickness, slimming down to a mere 8.9mm when folded. Seven generations in, and this foldable has undergone its most dramatic transformation yet. The result? A foldable so streamlined, it practically mirrors the size and weight of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Considering the “brick-like” reputation of its predecessors, that’s not just an improvement; it’s a revolution.
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Peak foldable phone design
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
The Galaxy Z Fold 7: Is this finally the foldable phone we’ve been waiting for? Samsung has seemingly cracked the code, shaving off precious millimeters and grams. This formerly bulky behemoth is now svelte and pocketable. The catch? Prepare to shell out a cool $2,000 for this taste of foldable phone perfection.
Pros
- Exquisitely thin design
- Sleeker hinge
- Big 200MP main camera
- Larger displays
- Top-tier performance
Cons
- Very expensive
- No S Pen support
- Mediocre charging speeds
$2,000 at Amazon
But here’s the real magic: Samsung didn’t sacrifice durability to achieve the Z Fold 7’s sleek profile. It’s still a fortress. Dunk it in 5 feet of water for half an hour? No problem, thanks to its IP48 rating. Scratches? Laugh them off with Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the front and Victus 2 on the back. And the Armor Flex Hinge? Forget hinges – this is engineering poetry, gliding open and closed with effortless grace. Oh, and that foldable display? Samsung didn’t just make it thinner; they made the ultra-thin glass 50%thickerand reinforced it with a titanium lattice. This isn’t just innovation; it’s defiance against the limitations of physics.
Samsung’s ditched the disappearing act. The under-display camera, a hallmark of previous Fold models, is gone, replaced by a classic hole-punch. While it blemishes that expansive, drool-worthy screen, before you lament, consider this: that screen now stretches a glorious 8 inches, a size upgrade from the Z Fold 6’s 7.6 inches. Even with the cutout, you get more visual real estate. And that hole punch isn’t just a space-saver; it houses a 10-megapixel sensor, delivering asignificantleap in image quality compared to those ghost-like under-display attempts. Think sharper selfies and clearer video calls. It’s a trade-off, but one that arguably enhances the overall experience.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
That near-perfect unfold? Sometimes it teases, halting a hair’s breadth shy of full extension at a frustrating 179 degrees – déjà vu, Pixel Fold. A nudge coaxes it flat, but honestly? Most of the time, I don’t bother. It’s a quirk you’ll likely only notice when actively hunting for imperfections. Otherwise, it fades into the background, a ghost in the machine you quickly forget.
Displays: Now even bigger, both inside and out
Forget the competition. Samsung’s displays remain the gold standard, and the Z Fold 7 is their masterpiece. The expansive main screen is a given, but it’s the 6.5-inch Cover Screen that truly elevates the experience. Finally, it’s wider, boasts vanishingly thin bezels, and transforms the phone’s feel. Remember that awkward baton grip from older models? Gone. Poof. Both screens explode with vibrant clarity, thanks to a 120Hz refresh rate and a blinding 2,600 nits of peak brightness. Side-by-side with rivals like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the Z Fold 7’s screens don’t just display colors; they detonate with richer hues and deeper saturation, pulling you into another world.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Samsung’s foldable family just lost a beloved member: S Pen support. After boasting stylus integration on the Z Fold 3, Samsung has unceremoniously dropped the feature, a move likely to infuriate die-hard fans. Samsung cites “very low” usage as the reason, a somewhat understandable rationale. Yet, the S Pen was a key differentiator, setting Samsung’s foldables apart from the crowd. Its departure leaves a noticeable void.
Performance and software: The fastest big foldable phone
Unleash raw power with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Its heart beats with the exclusive Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, paired with a staggering 12GB or 16GB of RAM and a cavernous 1TB of storage. Prepare for warp speed every tap, swipe, and app launch is lightning fast. OneUI 8, built upon Android 16, optimizes every pixel on that massive display, turning multitasking into an art form.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The real shocker? Staring at my stopwatch, pitting the Z Fold 7 against the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in a “Sword of Convallaria” quick-draw. Google’s hyped Tensor chip couldn’t save the Pixel. Samsung’s foldable blasted into the game in a mere 13 seconds, leaving the Pixel gasping for air at 18. Five seconds might seem trivial, but that’s a 25% speed advantage – an eternity when you’re grinding daily. Those seconds vanish like gold dust, but theyadd up.
Cameras: A major resolution bump
The Z Fold 7’s ultrawide and 3x telephoto lenses hold steady, but the main camera leaps forward with a brand-new 200MP sensor. Borrowed directly from the powerhouse S25 Ultra and S25 Edge, this game-changing upgrade injects a serious dose of image quality into the Fold series.
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The Z Fold 7 shines even under the harshest glare, holding its own against the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Food photos pop with Samsung’s signature warmth – a flavor some will find more appetizing. While sharpness sometimes veers into over-processed territory, colors are undeniably vibrant. Crave maximum detail? Unleash the full 200MP sensor (though the default 12MP delivers impressive results). Even after dark, the Fold 7 captures surprisingly crisp images. While the Pixel 9 Pro Fold edges ahead with its truer white balance and frequently sharper focus, Samsung’s contender isn’t lagging far behind – it’s a photo finish.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 photo comparison versus the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
The Z Fold 7’s camera transforms this simple kitchen scene. Warm hues breathe life into the photo, while the textures of the food and cutting board become almost palpable. You can practically taste the dish.
While the Fold 7 boasts a respectable 3x optical zoom, it falls short of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s superior 5x telephoto lens. However, Samsung levels the playing field with a brand-new selfie camera, capturing sprawling group shots thanks to its ultra-wide 100-degree field of view.
Battery life and charging: Solid longevity, but still only Qi 2 ready
The Z Fold 7’s 4,400mAh battery might sound familiar, but don’t let that fool you. Thanks to a next-gen processor, this foldable wonder sips power like a hummingbird, not guzzles it. In our in-house video marathon, the expansive 8-inch display kept the movie magic flowing for a whopping 20 hours and 50 minutes. Prefer the exterior screen for quick peeks? Prepare for an epic 26 hours and 22 minutes of screen time. That’s an extra 45 minutes to an hour of uninterrupted entertainment compared to the last generation. Considering its predecessor was already a battery champ, the Z Fold 7 is practically a power-sipping superhero.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The Samsung Z Fold 7’s charging capabilities? Still stuck in neutral. You’re looking at 25W wired charging, decidedlymehfor a flagship in 2025. Wireless charging clocks in at 15W. And get this: while it’s “Qi 2 ready,” that translates toalmostmagnetic accessory compatibility. Think you can just snap on a MagSafe-style charger or wallet? Nope. Unless you slap a special Qi 2-compatible case on your Fold 7, you’re stuck in the pre-magnetic past.
Wrap-up
Samsung hits its stride when crafting hardware. The Galaxy Z Fold 7? Exhibit A. Finally, Samsung tackles thebulkissue, clearing the path for foldable skeptics to dive in. This isn’t just iteration; it’s accessibility.
Forget everything you know about folding phones. The Z Fold 7 throws out the rulebook with a cover display so expansive, it’s practically a smartphone in its own right – perfect for rapid-fire texts, maps on the fly, and those gotta-capture-it moments. But the real magic happens when you unfold it. Prepare to be swallowed whole by a breathtaking, even LARGER flexible display, a portal to cinematic bliss and gaming nirvana. And it’s not just about the screen. The Z Fold 7’s souped-up main camera elevates your memories with crystal-clear clarity, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip leaves the Pixel 9 Pro Fold eating its dust in a performance showdown.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Samsung’s playing a dangerous game of feature subtraction. Ditching the S Pen and resurrecting the camera cutout feels like a step backward, not forward. However, that pinhole might just be a necessary evil. Apparently, it unlocks a serious camera upgrade, promising video calls that don’t look like they’re coming from the dial-up era. Is image quality worth sacrificing innovation?
The Galaxy Z Fold 7: It’s a paradox beautifully rendered. Imagine a phone that slips into your pocket with the same effortless grace as any premium flagship, yet unfolds to reveal a vibrant, expansive display that renders your tablet obsolete. Finally, a true “do-it-all” device… except for the price. At a staggering $2,000, Samsung’s innovation remains tantalizingly out of reach for many, leaving a revolutionary experience gated behind a hefty paywall.
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