I'm ready to buy a new foldable - Samsung Fold7

Quick Overview

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is significantly thinner and lighter than previous models, featuring a redesigned Armor Flex hinge that minimizes the screen crease. It boasts a larger, wider cover display and a more durable inner screen, powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy CPU. While the camera bump is substantial and speakers can be muffled, the phone offers impressive camera capabilities, including a 200MP main sensor, and comes with Android 16 and seven years of software updates, though its $1,999.99 starting price and hinge longevity remain key considerations.

Summary

Key Points: The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is significantly thinner and lighter, measuring 8.9mm folded and 4.2mm unfolded, and weighing 216g. The new Armor Flex hinge uses a water droplet design and multi-rail structure, effectively minimizing the screen crease. The cover display is now a wider 6.5-inch 21:9 aspect ratio, while the inner 8-inch AMOLED screen is 50% thicker for durability. It features a powerful 200MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto lens, offering impressive zoom capabilities. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy CPU, optimized for AI features, and promises seven years of software and security updates. The starting price for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is $1,999.99 for the 12GB RAM/256GB storage model. Despite its thinness, the large camera bump prevents the phone from lying flat, and the speaker placement can lead to muffling.

Context: The reviewer, a former Samsung Fold 4 user whose device's hinge failed after two years, is in the market for a new foldable phone. He attended Samsung's Unpacked event to get a first look at the new Galaxy Z Fold 7, specifically interested in its improvements over his previous device and its potential to bring him back into the foldable market.

Detailed Analysis

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 represents a significant evolution in foldable phone design, primarily focusing on thinness and hinge improvement. It measures 8.9mm folded and an incredibly thin 4.2mm unfolded, making it comparable in thickness to a standard slab phone when closed and remarkably slim when open. This thinness, combined with a 23-gram weight reduction from the Fold 6 (now 216g), enhances portability. The new Armor Flex hinge utilizes a water droplet design and multi-rail structure, which not only contributes to the thinner profile but also significantly reduces the visible crease on the main display. The 6.5-inch cover display now features a 21:9 aspect ratio, making one-handed typing easier, while the inner 8-inch AMOLED display is 50% thicker for improved durability against scratches. Powering the device is the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, optimized for AI features like object removal in photos. It ships with Android 16 and promises seven years of software and security updates, contingent on the hinge's long-term durability. The camera system is robust, featuring a 200MP main sensor (matching the S25 Ultra), a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto lens, offering impressive zoom capabilities despite some AI upscaling artifacts at extreme magnifications. The large camera bump prevents the phone from lying flat. While the speakers are decent for their size, they are located on the bottom half and can be easily muffled. Starting at $1,999.99 for the 12GB RAM/256GB storage model, with options up to 16GB RAM/1TB storage, the Fold 7 offers a compelling, albeit expensive, foldable experience.