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

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Gexj00wgc
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/U8Gexj00wgc
Generated: 2025-07-09T17:46:12.457+00:00

---
## 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.

![Screenshot at 0:15: Hand holding unfolded Fold7](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-00-15.png)

**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.

### Design & Build

- The Fold 7 is significantly thinner (8.9mm folded, 4.2mm unfolded) and lighter (216g) than its predecessor
- Features a new Armor Flex hinge with a water droplet design and multi-rail structure, greatly reducing the screen crease
- The inner screen is 50% thicker for enhanced durability, while the outer screen uses Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 and Victus 2 for protection.

### Displays

- The cover display is a 6.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a 21:9 aspect ratio, similar to a standard smartphone
- The main internal display is an 8-inch AMOLED, offering an immersive viewing experience with minimal crease visibility
- The hole-punch camera on the main screen is still present, which can be a minor visual distraction during full-screen media consumption.

### Performance & Battery

- Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy CPU, optimized for enhanced AI capabilities
- Offers 24 hours of video playback on a single charge from its 4,400 mAh battery
- Multitasking features, including floating widgets, are a major focus, allowing for seamless app management.

### Camera System

- Features a 200MP main camera (f/1.7), a 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), and a 10MP telephoto lens (f/2.4) on the rear
- The main camera matches the S25 Ultra's sensor, providing high-resolution photos
- AI upscaling improves zoom clarity, though extreme magnifications can show processing artifacts
- The front-facing cameras include a 10MP main screen camera and a 10MP cover camera.

### Software & Longevity

- Ships with Android 16 out of the box, making it the first Samsung device to do so
- Samsung promises seven years of generational software updates and security updates
- The long-term durability of the hinge is crucial for the phone to fully benefit from the extended software support.

### Usability & Concerns

- The wider cover display improves two-handed typing, a trade-off from the thinner Fold4 which was better for one-handed use
- The large camera bump prevents the phone from lying flat on a surface unless placed face down
- Speakers are located on the bottom half, making them prone to muffling when held in landscape orientation
- Samsung aims to improve user repairability, though specific details are not yet available.

### Pricing

- The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $1,999.99 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration
- Higher-end models are available with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage.

![Screenshot at 0:07: Host holding broken Fold4](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-00-07.png)
![Screenshot at 0:15: Hand holding unfolded Fold7](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-00-15.png)
![Screenshot at 0:25: Folded phone side profile with dimensions](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-00-25.png)
![Screenshot at 0:57: Fold7 and Flip7 on display](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-00-57.png)
![Screenshot at 1:07: Host showing unfolded screen with minimal crease](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-01-07.png)
![Screenshot at 1:39: Hand typing on the wider cover display](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-01-39.png)
![Screenshot at 2:38: Close-up of large camera bump](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-02-38.png)
![Screenshot at 3:30: Multiple Fold7s displaying games in flex mode](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-03-30.png)
![Screenshot at 5:09: Host showing camera specs overlay](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-05-09.png)
![Screenshot at 7:18: Close-up of hole-punch camera on unfolded screen](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/U8Gexj00wgc/00-07-18.png)