Samsung finally made an interesting foldable again!

Quick Overview

The Samsung Z Fold 7 represents a significant leap in foldable phone design, achieving a much thinner and lighter form factor that makes it feel like a regular smartphone when folded, despite compromises like the removal of S-Pen support and unchanged battery/charging speeds. This iteration marks the biggest design jump for Samsung foldables since the Fold 2, addressing previous bulkiness and improving usability.

Summary

Key Points: The Z Fold 7 features a completely overhauled design, making it significantly thinner and lighter than previous models. When folded, the phone is just 8.9mm thick, comparable to non-folding smartphones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The device weighs 215g, making it 3g lighter than the S25 Ultra and 24g lighter than the Fold 6, despite larger screens. The outer screen now has a standard 21:9 aspect ratio, greatly improving usability and making it feel like a regular phone. Samsung removed S-Pen support to achieve the thinner design, citing low user adoption in previous Fold models. The battery capacity remains 4400mAh with 25W charging, which is unchanged and potentially a limitation for heavy users. The main camera is upgraded to a 200MP sensor from the S25 Ultra, and the inner screen's under-display camera is replaced with a punch-hole for better image quality.

Context: The reviewer, a long-time Samsung Fold user (Fold 2, 3, 5), initially expected another iterative update for the Z Fold 7. However, after experiencing the device firsthand at a Samsung event, he realized the company made substantial design and feature improvements, finally catching up with and even surpassing some Chinese foldable competitors in key areas like thinness and usability.

Detailed Analysis

The Samsung Z Fold 7 introduces a complete design overhaul, making it significantly thinner and lighter than its predecessors and even some non-folding flagships. When unfolded, it measures just 4.2mm thick, barely thicker than its USB-C port, and folds to 8.9mm, comparable to a non-folding Galaxy S25 Ultra. The device weighs 215g, which is 3g lighter than the S25 Ultra and a substantial 24g lighter than the Fold 6, despite having larger screens. The outer screen now features a standard 21:9 aspect ratio, making it feel like a regular phone for daily use, including typing and app navigation. Samsung also redesigned cases to be extremely thin, only covering the back, and now includes a screen protector. However, the Z Fold 7 no longer supports the S-Pen, a trade-off for its reduced thickness, as the digitizer layer was removed due to low user adoption. The battery remains at 4400mAh with 25W charging, which is a potential drawback given the larger displays and competition offering higher capacities and faster charging. On the positive side, the main camera is upgraded to a 200MP sensor from the S25 Ultra, and the inner screen's under-display camera is replaced with a standard punch-hole for improved image quality. While the price increased by $100/€100, the significant hardware improvements justify the cost, making it a compelling upgrade for those seeking a truly sleek foldable experience.