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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 – Samsung’s Ultra-Thin Foldable Redefines the Game

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 – Samsung’s Ultra-Thin Foldable Redefines the Game

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 – Samsung’s Ultra-Thin Foldable Redefines the Game

Overview: A New Era for Foldables in 2025

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 has officially arrived as the company’s 2025 foldable flagship – and it’s making waves with major upgrades across the board. Unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked on July 9, 2025 in New York, the Fold7 is being hailed as the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Fold ever news.samsung.com techradar.com. It measures just 4.2 mm when unfolded and 8.9 mm when folded, and weighs only 215 grams, which is even lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra techradar.com. Despite its sleeker build, it packs cutting-edge hardware: an 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED main display (120 Hz), a 6.5-inch cover display with a now-normal 21:9 aspect ratio, Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 “Elite” for Galaxy processor, and the series’ first 200 MP camera on a foldable news.samsung.com techradar.com. Samsung also loaded the Fold7 with One UI 8 (Android 16) and new AI-powered features, all while maintaining the same 4,400 mAh battery and IPX8 water resistance of its predecessor techradar.com techradar.com.

Key Specifications: Galaxy Z Fold7 at a Glance techradar.com techradar.com

Design & Display – Thinner, Lighter, Finally Wider

Samsung has completely overhauled the Fold’s form factor with the Z Fold7. After years of incremental tweaks, the Fold7 represents “the big design revamp we’ve been waiting for,” shedding the long, narrow shape of previous Folds theverge.com. When closed, the Fold7 isn’t much thicker than a regular phone – in fact, even when shut it’s only ~0.8 mm thicker than an S25 Ultra techradar.com. Side by side with last year’s Fold6, the difference is dramatic: 4.2 mm vs 5.6 mm thick unfolded, and 8.9 mm vs 12.1 mm folded – “night and day” as one reviewer put it techradar.com techradar.com. “The Fold 7 is vastly thinner and lighter, [making] the Fold 6 look like a big ol’ chunk next to it – it honestly feels like a different phone,” writes The Verge theverge.com. The weight drop to 215g (from 239g on Fold6) is also notable – Fold7 is lighter than even the S25 Ultra (218g) techradar.com – which helps it feel more comfortable for everyday use.

Samsung achieved this slimness with a refined build: a new Armor FlexHinge mechanism that is thinner yet durable, and an upgraded internal structure that significantly reduces the display crease visibility news.samsung.com news.samsung.com. Early hands-on reports confirm the hinge leaves virtually no gap when the device is closed, and the crease is much subtler when the 8″ screen is open news.samsung.com news.samsung.com. The trade-off, however, is the removal of S Pen support (more on that shortly). The chassis uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2/Ceramic on the outside and Armor Aluminum alloy for the frame, maintaining solid durability techradar.com. The Fold7 is still IPX8 water-resistant (can survive splashes or submersion), but like its predecessors it lacks official dust resistance – a common limitation of current foldables techradar.com.

Perhaps the most welcome change is to the cover display. Samsung finally widened the outer screen to a 21:9 aspect ratio, much closer to a normal phone’s dimensions news.samsung.com. The cover display is 6.5 inches now (up from 6.2–6.3″ on Fold5/6), and notably wider, so it “resembles a bar-type smartphone in both form and function” news.samsung.com. Everyday tasks can be done on the cover screen comfortably – messaging, browsing, emails – without feeling cramped as older Folds did news.samsung.com. One hands-on observer noted that between the new aspect ratio and the weight reduction, the Fold7 “finally feels as close as a foldable has gotten to a conventional phone” when closed androidauthority.com. In short, Samsung retired the awkward tall-and-skinny cover design it had stuck with for too long theverge.com, answering a common user request.

Inside, the main flexible display has grown slightly to 8.0 inches (versus 7.6″ before) with a near-square shape, QXGA+ resolution (~1968×2184), and adaptive 1–120Hz refresh for smooth visuals techradar.com. Samsung also boosted brightness – the main panel peaks around 2,600 nits for improved outdoor visibility techradar.com. Both screens use AMOLED tech with vibrant colors and HDR support, so media consumption is a joy. Reviewers who tested the device were impressed: “The inner screen is amazing… really impressive,” one user wrote, noting the inner display had surprisingly low glare under bright store lights compared to the cover screen reddit.com.

Despite a slightly larger cover display, the Fold7 remains just a tad narrower than some rival foldables. Enthusiasts measured the usable cover screen area at ~65 mm wide – only ~2 mm narrower than the Oppo Find N5’s famously wide cover, and vastly better than the Fold6’s width reddit.com. In practice, that difference is negligible and Fold7 finally feels like a “normal phone” when folded reddit.com. Users on forums are thrilled with this change; as one Redditor put it: “The new 21:9 aspect ratio is perfect for a foldable… [having a full-width cover screen] is a total game changer” reddit.com.

Ergonomics: The super-slim design isn’t without its quirks. Some early buyers report that with no case on, the closed device can be tricky to pry open because there’s so little edge to grip. “Without a case, it is very difficult to open the device… I almost needed both hands and had to pull quite hard,” one user noted, attributing it to the sharper edges from the thin profile reddit.com. This is a common complaint with ultra-thin foldables (even Google’s Pixel Fold saw similar feedback), and a thin case or adhesive loop may help. Another minor gripe: the camera bump causes a wobble when the phone is lying flat and you tap the outer screen androidauthority.com. With the Fold7’s triple cameras arranged in a vertical bump, tapping on a table makes it rock noticeably – a wide camera bar (like Pixel’s) could have prevented this androidauthority.com. These issues aside, the consensus is that Samsung nailed the new design’s look and feel. It’s a far cry from the brick-like original Fold – even longtime Fold users are impressed. “I had the OG Fold for 3 years… loved it except the thickness and weight. The Fold4 was still heavy and thick, so I left the Fold for a year. I’m so excited for the 7,” one user shared reddit.com.

Performance & Software – Ultra-Powered with One UI 8

Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Fold7 gets a top-tier silicon boost. It runs on the new Snapdragon 8 “Elite for Galaxy” chipset techradar.com, which is the same custom-tuned SoC found in the Galaxy S25 series. This appears to be Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (or similar) with special optimizations for Samsung, delivering the fastest performance available in any Android phone as of mid-2025 techradar.com. Samsung claims significant gains over last year’s chip – up to 38% faster CPU, 26% faster GPU, and a 41% NPU (AI) performance boost compared to the previous generation Fold phonearena.com. In everyday terms, the Fold7 should feel snappier and more capable of heavy multitasking or gaming than the Fold5/6, and on par with 2025 flagships. Early testers report no issues with speed or heat – even during prolonged demos, the device stayed cool and zippy reddit.com reddit.com.

Memory and storage options have also improved. The base model still comes with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage, but Samsung now offers a maxed-out variant with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage techradar.com techradar.com – a nod to power users. Even the 512 GB mid-tier keeps 12 GB RAM. This bump in RAM (Fold6 topped at 12 GB) means better future-proofing and smoother performance for intensive tasks.

On the software side, the Fold7 launches with One UI 8 based on Android 16 techradar.com, making it one of the first devices on Android 16. Samsung’s foldable software experience was already industry-leading, and they’ve further refined it with new features and AI smarts. A headline addition is Samsung’s “multimodal AI” assistant integration, leveraging Google’s upcoming Gemini AI. With a feature called Gemini Live, you can actually share your screen with the AI assistant in real time and ask questions about what’s on display news.samsung.com news.samsung.com. For instance, if you have a photo of an unfamiliar dish open, you can ask the AI “What is this?” – and Gemini can analyze the image, identify the dessert, then even recommend nearby restaurants that serve something similar news.samsung.com. It’s like having Google Lens and Assistant combined, with deeper contextual understanding. Gemini can also perform multi-step tasks autonomously: Samsung demos showed a user pulling up a list of restaurants via Gemini and the assistant automatically saving the list and setting a calendar reminder for dinner – all without the user juggling apps news.samsung.com news.samsung.com. This multimodal AI support (text, voice, and image inputs) is exclusive to the new Galaxy models and especially shines on the Fold’s large screen for productivity news.samsung.com.

Multitasking remains a core strength. The Fold7 supports enhanced Multi-Window and split-screen modes, allowing up to three apps on screen at once, resizable and with improved continuity when moving between screens news.samsung.com news.samsung.com. A neat example: you can display a living room photo on one half and a chair product page on the other, then ask Gemini if the chair matches the decor – the AI analyzes both and even shows the chair in a matching color news.samsung.com. This kind of futuristic workflow underscores Samsung’s push to integrate AI deeply into daily tasks. The Fold7 also continues to offer Flex Mode (apps adapt when the device is propped halfway open, great for video calls or watching videos hands-free) phonearena.com, and Samsung DeX desktop mode (connect to a monitor for a PC-like experience) phonearena.com. In fact, Samsung’s software polish on foldables is a big reason many stick with the Galaxy Fold series. Android Authority notes that One UI on the Fold is “leagues ahead” of rival foldables’ software, with advanced multitasking, a robust taskbar, and now even longer software support androidauthority.com. Notably, Samsung is promising 7 years of OS updates and security patches for the Fold7 – among the best update policies on any Android device, tied only with Google’s latest Pixel foldable androidauthority.com. That means a Fold7 bought in 2025 could stay up-to-date through 2031 phonearena.com, giving owners peace of mind for the hefty investment.

One curious omission in the software/features department is S Pen stylus support. Unlike the Fold3, Fold4, and Fold5 (which supported the optional S Pen Fold Edition on their inner screens), the Galaxy Z Fold7 drops S Pen support entirely phonearena.com. Samsung removed the digitizer layer in the display to achieve the extreme thinness, making this perhaps a necessary sacrifice androidauthority.com. For users who relied on sketching or note-taking with the stylus, this is a disappointment – “No S Pen is an utter dealbreaker for me,” lamented one Samsung Community member eu.community.samsung.com. A Reddit user echoed: “I had the Fold 7 in my cart and then found out no pen… cancelled. Man, I wish it had a pen,” reddit.com. Samsung’s own product chief acknowledged the backlash, explaining that the engineering trade-off was crucial for the Fold7’s new form factor engadget.com techradar.com. Some commentators actually approve of the decision – one columnist argued “No S Pen on the Fold7 is a win, not a loss,” if it means a thinner device phonearena.com – but for die-hard stylus fans, Samsung’s most expensive phone no longer supports the company’s signature pen input. (Of course, generic capacitive styluses still work for basic navigation, but nowhere near the precision of an S Pen reddit.com.) The hope among the community is that an eventual Fold8 might reintroduce stylus support, perhaps with new technology that doesn’t bulk up the screen reddit.com.

In day-to-day use, outside of AI features, the Fold7’s software is largely an evolution. It ships with Android 16’s latest features and Samsung’s refinements like the improved taskbar, enhanced split-screen (now even “90:10” split for a tiny app alongside a main app), contextual app recommendations, and drag-and-drop support between apps. Samsung has also included Google’s new gaming tools (Circle to Search, etc.) which let you quickly lookup guides or use AI in a small window while a game runs androidauthority.com. All told, the Fold7 delivers an ultra-premium performance and software experience, befitting its $2K price tag. It’s as powerful as any phone on the market and then some – a true pocket computer. As TechRadar succinctly puts it: “the Galaxy Z Fold 7 should be among the most powerful phones on the market”, combining top-tier silicon, up to 16GB RAM, and productivity-focused software optimized for multi-screen use techradar.com.

Camera Upgrades – 200MP Goes Foldable

Samsung finally gave the Fold series a serious camera upgrade this generation. The Galaxy Z Fold7 is the first Fold with a 200-megapixel main camera, a huge leap from the 50MP sensor used in the Fold4/5/6 news.samsung.com techradar.com. This 200MP sensor (likely similar to the one in the Galaxy S23/S24 Ultra) uses pixel-binning to produce super-detailed 12MP shots by default, or you can shoot in full 50MP or 200MP modes when you want maximum detail reddit.com androidauthority.com. Samsung says the new lens + their AI “ProVisual Engine” yields four times the detail of the previous camera, with sharper images and more vivid colors news.samsung.com. Early impressions have been positive: one Fold7 tester took side-by-side shots with an iPhone 16 Pro and reported the Fold7’s photos “look very close” in quality reddit.com. The massive resolution advantage should help with clarity and allow for better crop-zooming. Samsung has also tuned the camera for low-light – its “Nightography” processing ensures crisp, clear shots in dim conditions, leveraging that high pixel count for noise reduction news.samsung.com.

Beyond the main camera, most other lenses carry over from the Fold6 – with a couple important tweaks. The rear camera trio still includes a 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120° field of view) and a 10MP telephoto (3× optical zoom, f/2.4) techradar.com. These specs are basically unchanged; Samsung did not add a longer periscope zoom, so the Fold7 still tops out at 3× optical (and up to ~30× digital). This remains one area where it lags an S Ultra phone or some competitors – tech experts note they’d love to see a 5× zoom or higher on a Fold, but Samsung hasn’t cracked that yet androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. On the bright side, Samsung did slightly enlarge the ultrawide sensor and added autofocus to it androidauthority.com, which means the Fold7 can likely take macro close-up shots using the ultrawide lens (a trick previously limited to S-series Ultra phones). Indeed, a user who tested the Fold7 in-store confirmed “the ultra wide camera has autofocus!”, enabling macro mode this year reddit.com. This is a subtle but welcome improvement for photography enthusiasts.

The front-facing cameras get a notable upgrade too. Gone is the under-display 4MP selfie camera that hid beneath the folding screen (which produced sub-par images). Samsung replaced it with a conventional 10MP punch-hole camera on the inner display techradar.com techradar.com. So both the cover screen and inside screen now have 10MP selfie shooters (the cover one is unchanged at 10MP). While the new inner cam does create a small visible hole when you’re using the big screen, most reviewers feel it’s worth it: “Almost any conventional camera is better than [the old] under-display shooter,” notes Android Authority androidauthority.com. Users have reported that the “front cut-out camera is surprisingly good quality,” a big step up in sharpness for video calls or unfolded selfies reddit.com. And thanks to the Fold7’s wider internal screen, the inner selfie cam has a wide 100° field of view, making group selfies or video conference framing easier news.samsung.com. Samsung even showed off a wide-angle selfie of a group to demonstrate how much more fits in frame now news.samsung.com.

Samsung is also touting new AI-powered camera features. The Fold7 introduces an improved ProVisual AI engine that can process images faster and assist with scene detection techradar.com. There’s a “Suggested Erases” tool as part of a Generative AI Photo Editor, which can automatically recommend removing unwanted objects from your shots techradar.com. Another feature, Audio Eraser, now has an Auto mode – presumably to strip background noise from videos with one tap techradar.com. These sound akin to Google’s Magic Eraser and audio magic on Pixel devices, now integrated into Samsung’s gallery and video apps.

Overall, the camera setup on the Z Fold7 is closer than ever to a no-compromise flagship. In fact, one outlet said the Fold7 “has a camera array that matches the S25 Ultra” – at least in main sensor and ultrawide quality engadget.com. That may be a slight overstatement (the S25 Ultra still has dual telephoto lenses), but it underscores how far Samsung has closed the gap. Digital Photography Review even proclaimed “Samsung’s latest foldable has fewer camera compromises than ever”, thanks to the 200MP upgrade and improved selfie cam making for a more complete photography experience dpreview.com. Real-world testing will determine if the Fold7’s photos truly rival Samsung’s slab phones in all conditions. TechRadar’s hands-on notes that megapixels aren’t everything, so we’ll be interested to see how this sensor performs in practice techradar.com. But on paper, there’s plenty for Fold users to be excited about: higher resolution, better low-light, macro capability, and better selfies – all without having to reach for a second phone.

Battery Life & Charging – Same Size, Smarter Efficiency

One area that did not see a capacity upgrade is the battery. The Galaxy Z Fold7 sticks with a 4,400 mAh battery – the same capacity the Fold series has used since the Z Fold2 techradar.com. This might sound underwhelming given the larger screens and powerful chip, but Samsung claims software and chipset optimizations eked out a bit more life. The Fold7 is rated for “up to 24 hours” on a charge, which is an hour more than the Z Fold6’s 23-hour claim techradar.com. In practice, moderate users might expect a full day of use, but heavy screen-on time will still drain it faster than a standard phone. One early user report was promising: in a 2.5-hour continuous hands-on session (with setup, app installs, camera use, etc.), the Fold7 only dropped from 100% to ~92% – roughly ~3% per hour under intensive use reddit.com. That suggests improved efficiency from the Snapdragon 8 and perhaps better thermal management preventing battery drain.

Samsung addressed why the battery isn’t bigger: they consciously prioritized the Fold7’s slim design and new features over stuffing in more mAh. “The capacity hasn’t been increased because users were apparently more interested in better cameras, a wider cover screen, and a slimmer build,” Samsung explained techradar.com. Indeed, making the device thinner meant there was no room to enlarge the dual battery cells, especially after adding the 200MP camera module. Some tech pundits accept this trade-off; others note that rival foldables are doing better. As Android Authority points out, Chinese competitors have 5,000+ mAh batteries in similar form factors – the HONOR Magic V3 has 5,150 mAh and the vivo X Fold5 even packs 6,000 mAh androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. By that measure, Samsung is behind on battery capacity. The endurance is likely fine-tuned for all-day productivity, but if you’re a road warrior, a quick top-up might be needed by evening.

Charging speeds also remain conservative. The Fold7 supports 25W wired charging (reaching ~50% in 30 minutes) and 15W wireless charging, identical to the Fold6 and not improved since the Fold4 techradar.com. There’s also reverse wireless charging (Wireless PowerShare) at 4.5W for topping up accessories or another phone techradar.com. These speeds are considerably slower than many modern flagships (where 45W, 65W, even 100W+ fast charging is common). In fact, it’s a bit jarring that in 2025, Samsung’s $2k flagship charges no faster than some midrange devices – Android Authority quips that it’s “even more annoying [when] the much cheaper Galaxy A56 has 45W charging” androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Still, Samsung tends to be conservative here for battery longevity and safety reasons. If you’re upgrading from an earlier Fold, expect similar charging routines (and note: no charger is included in the box, standard for Samsung now).

Real-world battery life on foldables can vary a lot depending on usage – using that huge 8″ display frequently (especially for games or video) will drain more than sticking to the cover screen for quick tasks. The Fold7’s improved power efficiency may help, and the new Android 16 “adaptive battery” features plus Samsung’s AI-based battery optimizations claim to maximize runtime. Some reviewers remain skeptical of AI “magic” improving battery life, preferring raw capacity. “No one is buying the AI-optimization excuse for better battery life,” one editor remarked wryly androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. At least one PhoneArena analyst defended the 4,400 mAh battery, pointing out that if managed well, it’s sufficient for a day and keeps weight down phonearena.com. And indeed, many users of prior Folds found battery life acceptable if not stellar – the Fold7 should be a bit better than those. For power users, carrying a slim USB-C fast charger or battery pack is still advisable for long days on the go.

In summary, battery life on the Fold7 is a tale of pragmatism: Samsung held the line at 4,400 mAh, focusing on efficiency gains rather than brute force. The device should last a typical work day with moderate use, and possibly longer thanks to the new chip. But if you were hoping for a big boost in screen-on time or faster charging, the Fold7 doesn’t deliver that. This is one of the few “missed opportunities” in an otherwise ultra-premium package, and reviewers have not been shy about calling Samsung out. As Android Authority concluded, “Samsung clearly nailed the Fold7’s design, but it needs to catch up in the specs war” – specifically citing the stagnant battery and charging as areas to improve androidauthority.com androidauthority.com.

Comparison: Galaxy Z Fold7 vs Z Fold6 vs Z Fold5

For those coming from an earlier Fold, or deciding whether to upgrade, how big a leap is the Fold7? In short: it’s the biggest year-over-year upgrade the Fold series has ever seen. Many are even dubbing it the “Fold Ultra” in all but name techradar.com techradar.com. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between Fold7 and its predecessors:

  • Design & Size: The Fold7’s chassis redesign is a huge change. It’s 26% thinner than the Fold6 (4.2 mm vs 5.6 mm open; 8.9 mm vs 12.1 mm closed) techradar.com. Fold5 and Fold6 had very similar dimensions, so Fold7 is noticeably sleeker than both. Fold7 also shaved weight to 215g, versus 239g on Fold6 and ~253g on Fold5 – a nearly 40g reduction in two generations techradar.com techradar.com. This directly addresses the heft complaint many had with older Folds. The hinge on Fold7 is new (Armor FlexHinge with less crease) whereas Fold5/6 used the earlier Armor Hinge – those had a visible crease and a slight gap when closed. Now the gap is gone and the crease is minimized news.samsung.com news.samsung.com. Fold7 still keeps the IPX8 water resistance introduced in Fold3, and uses even tougher glass and aluminum than Fold5/6.
  • Displays: Fold7’s displays are bigger and better. Main screen: 8.0″ on Fold7 vs 7.6″ on Fold5/6 techradar.com. Cover screen: 6.5″ 21:9 on Fold7 vs 6.2–6.3″ ~23:9 on Fold5/6 techradar.com techradar.com. This means the Fold7’s outer screen is wider and taller, vastly improving usability (Fold5/6’s narrow outer display was a common gripe). Resolution and refresh are similar (all 120Hz OLEDs), but brightness got a boost (2600 nits peak on Fold7’s main display, vs ~1750 nits on Fold5/6). In effect, Fold7 feels more like a normal smartphone when closed than Fold5/6 ever did androidauthority.com. The inner display experience is also enhanced by the lack of the distracting under-screen camera – Fold7’s small punch-hole is less noticeable in daily use than the fuzzy patch of the UDC on Fold5/6.
  • Cameras: This is another major area of improvement. Fold5 and Fold6 both had a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto. Fold7 upgrades the main sensor to 200MP – a fourfold resolution jump techradar.com techradar.com. That alone should yield sharper photos and better low-light (via 16-in-1 pixel binning). The ultrawide and telephoto hardware are roughly the same, but Fold7’s inner selfie camera jumps to 10MP punch-hole instead of the 4MP under-display on Fold5/6 techradar.com. The cover selfie remains 10MP. This means selfies and video calls on Fold7 are dramatically better than on Fold5/6 (where the internal cam was often grainy). Also, as mentioned, the Fold7’s ultrawide likely has autofocus for macro shots, which prior Folds lacked. Overall image processing should be improved too, thanks to the new ISP in the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 and Samsung’s AI algorithms. In short, Fold7 narrows the camera gap with the Galaxy S/Note Ultra series, whereas Fold5/6 cameras were good but clearly a step behind the S Ultra of their time.
  • Performance: Fold7 uses the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite (2025 chip). Fold6, launched mid-2024, likely used the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 or Gen3 (depending on timing – likely the Gen3 was announced late 2024 and included in Fold6). Fold5 (2023) had Snapdragon 8+ Gen1. Each year brought improvements, but Fold7’s chip is the newest and fastest by a notable margin, especially in AI tasks phonearena.com. RAM: Fold7 goes up to 16GB (for 1TB model), whereas Fold5/6 maxed at 12GB. Storage options are similar except the new 1TB tier on Fold7 (Fold6 also had 1TB, but availability was limited; Fold5 topped at 512GB). In practical use, Fold7 will feel snappier and more future-proof, but Fold6 was no slouch either.
  • Battery & Charging: No change in capacity – all three have 4,400 mAh batteries. Fold6 claimed ~23 hours usage, Fold7 ~24 hours – a minor gain from efficiency techradar.com. Charging is identical (25W/15W) across Fold5/6/7. So in this category, Fold7 is on par with Fold6, and neither improved over Fold5 significantly. If battery life was acceptable for you on Fold5/6, expect similar or slightly better on 7. If you wanted more endurance, Samsung didn’t deliver that this year.
  • Features & Extras: Fold5 and Fold6 both supported S Pen input on the inner screen; Fold7 does not phonearena.com. So that’s actually a regression if you valued pen support – you could use an S Pen on Fold5/6 (albeit without a built-in silo), but not on Fold7. All three support Samsung DeX and have stereo speakers, side fingerprint scanner, etc. Fold7 launches with One UI 8/Android 16, Fold6 launched with One UI 6/Android 14 (likely upgraded to 15 by now), and Fold5 with One UI 5/Android 13. So Fold7 has newer software + new AI features (Gemini integration, enhanced multitasking UI, etc.) that Fold5/6 might not get fully. Also, Samsung’s extended update policy means Fold7 will get updates a year longer than Fold6 (which in turn was promised longer support than Fold5). For example, if Samsung promises 7 years for Fold7, the Fold6 might get 6 years from 2024, etc.
  • Price: Samsung kept pricing fairly steady until now. Fold5 and Fold4 launched at $1,799 (256GB) in the US; Fold6 got a slight bump to $1,899; and now Fold7 is $1,999 for the base model phonearena.com. So each year it crept up ~$100 in the US, though some markets like UK held steady for longer techradar.com techradar.com. If you’re upgrading, Samsung’s trade-in deals can significantly offset the cost (some carriers and Samsung were offering up to $1,000 credit with trade-ins on pre-orders phonearena.com). Still, Fold7 is the priciest Fold yet, and some feel that’s tough to swallow even with all the improvements. “It’s great, just not $2k+ great,” a longtime foldable user opined on Reddit reddit.com, reflecting concern about diminishing returns for the money. Others disagree, pointing to the Fold7’s comprehensive upgrades; “The Fold 7 is going to be the biggest upgrade to the Fold series so far,” one community member predicted enthusiastically.

In summary, compared to Z Fold5 and Z Fold6, the Z Fold7 brings meaningful upgrades in design, displays, cameras, performance, and software – essentially every key area except battery/charging. The jump from Fold6 to Fold7 is especially large, making the Fold7 feel like what the “Fold6 should have been.” It addresses many of the long-standing criticisms (bulk, narrow screen, under-display camera, so-so main camera) in one go. TechRadar goes so far as to call the Fold7 “the closest thing to a Z Fold Ultra yet”, given it “has had more upgrades than we usually see when moving from one generation to the next” techradar.com. By contrast, the step from Fold5 to Fold6 last year was relatively small (a slight hinge refinement and minor spec bump). So if you held onto a Fold5 or earlier, the Fold7 will feel like a major evolution. Even Fold6 owners will notice significant differences – though some may be waiting to see if Samsung has a Fold8 or “Tri-Fold” device next year before upgrading.

Latest Announcements, Leaks & Industry Buzz (July 2025)

The Galaxy Z Fold7 didn’t arrive without plenty of buzz beforehand. Leaks accurately foretold many of its features in the months and days leading up to Unpacked July 2025. Renowned leaker Roland Quandt shared promotional materials just a day before launch, revealing the Fold7’s exact dimensions (4.2mm thin unfolded), its 215g weight – playfully noting that’s “less than a large bar of chocolate” – and even the controversial detail that Samsung would drop S Pen support on the slimmed-down Fold7 theverge.com theverge.com. Sure enough, all of that came true in the official announcement. Another leak a week prior hinted at Samsung calling this the Fold “Ultra” internally, given the inclusion of an Ultra-grade camera sensor and other high-end specs techradar.com. Samsung’s own teasers before the event highlighted the silhouette of an impossibly thin foldable, building anticipation. By the time Unpacked arrived on July 9, there were few surprises left – Samsung’s keynote confirmed everything: a thinner, lighter Fold with a 200MP camera and advanced AI features.

During the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 presentation in Brooklyn, Samsung officially unveiled both the Z Fold7 and the smaller Z Flip7, alongside new Watch8 wearables. The Fold7 took center stage as the pinnacle of Samsung’s innovation. In press materials, Samsung proclaimed it “once again redefining innovation in foldable smartphones”, calling the Fold7 an “ultra-premium experience that integrates into every part of daily life” news.samsung.com. The company clearly sees this model as a turning point for foldables – perhaps hoping to sway more mainstream buyers. Industry analysts noted Samsung’s confidence: after dominating the foldable market for years with only incremental changes, Samsung pulled out significant upgrades here just as competition is heating up. In 2023–2024, competitors like Google (with the Pixel Fold), Xiaomi, OPPO, Honor, and others released foldables that challenged Samsung on various fronts (especially in China and Europe). The Fold7 feels like Samsung’s answer, leaping ahead with a truly refined design.

One thing Samsung didn’t show at Unpacked – despite some hopeful rumors – was a “tri-fold” device or other wild form factor. There was speculation that Samsung might tease a tri-folding tablet/phone concept (a device that folds in two places) as a “one more thing.” But as the event ended, a Verge reporter on scene noted: “Doesn’t look like we’ll get a trifold tease… guess there’s always January.” theverge.com In other words, Samsung might be saving any new foldable form factors for a future date (possibly CES or a separate event). For now, the Fold7 and Flip7 are the flagships carrying the foldable banner into late 2025.

The no-S-Pen decision has been one of the most talked-about news items in industry commentary. Engadget’s live blog bluntly highlighted “there’s no more support for the S Pen. Removing the digitizer layer for styluses meant Samsung could make the device even thinner” engadget.com. TechRadar even scored an interview with Samsung’s product chief, who explained that their user research showed wider screens and a lighter design were higher priorities for Fold users than stylus input, leading to that call techradar.com. Still, the tech press is divided – some think Samsung should have found a way to keep S Pen support (pointing out rival foldables like Oppo’s Find N series managed a stylus without too much bulk techradar.com), while others feel it’s an acceptable compromise.

Another headline from Unpacked was pricing and availability. The Fold7’s $1,999 base price raised some eyebrows since Samsung had held steady at ~$1,799 for a couple generations. The slight price hike – despite the mature foldable tech – suggests Samsung is positioning Fold7 as a true no-compromise flagship (and perhaps accounting for higher component costs of that 200MP camera and new hinge). In the US, pre-order deals included generous trade-in credits (up to $1000 off with an eligible trade) and freebies like storage upgrades. Samsung even offered a limited “free Galaxy Watch 8 Classic” bundle in some markets for early pre-orders reddit.com. Many foldable enthusiasts jumped at these deals, softening the blow of the $2k sticker. On forums, you can find accounts of savvy shoppers stacking trade-ins, cashback and loyalty rewards – one user managed to get their Fold7 effectively for ~$900 after trading a Fold6 and using discounts reddit.com.

Consumer interest in the Fold7 appears to be higher than ever for a Fold launch. Samsung reported strong pre-order numbers (though exact figures aren’t public), and the buzz on social media is significant. A Reddit thread titled “Who else is excited about the Fold7 coming out in July?” was filled with comments like “My body (and wallet) is ready. Day 1 purchase” reddit.com. Longtime Fold series owners expressed that this is the upgrade they’ve been holding out for. “Trading in my S24 Ultra for this – can’t wait to have a Z Fold again,” one user wrote, noting they skipped upgrading their Fold since the Fold2 because the improvements until now weren’t enticing enough reddit.com. Now, with the Fold7, even some previously hesitant users (and even iPhone owners) are taking the plunge. That said, there’s also a segment of the community voicing caution: a portion of Fold3/Fold4 owners are perfectly happy and plan to wait for Fold8 or a price drop. “The Galaxy Fold 7 is basically the Galaxy Fold 6 SE,” one skeptic on Reddit quipped, suggesting it’s an iterative upgrade and predicting Fold8 will reintroduce the S Pen and be the one to get reddit.com. Samsung certainly hopes the Fold7 convinces more buyers, as foldable adoption is still a fraction of the overall smartphone market theverge.com.

In the broader industry context, the Fold7 arrives as foldables gain mainstream traction. 2025 is seeing more competition: Google’s Pixel Fold (first gen) came in 2023, and rumors of a second-gen Pixel Fold or a foldable from Apple persist (though Apple hasn’t confirmed anything, some analysts think a foldable iPhone or iPad could emerge by 2026). Meanwhile, Chinese brands have iterated rapidly – devices like the Huawei Mate X3, Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, OPPO Find N2/Find N3, Honor Magic V series, and Vivo X Fold have pushed boundaries in thinness, weight, and battery, albeit many aren’t widely available in the West. Samsung still holds the crown for global foldable sales and is the default choice in markets like the US and Europe. But the Fold7 clearly shows Samsung felt the pressure to step up its game. It’s now at least on par with rivals in hardware design (thinness, aspect ratio) and ahead in some areas (water resistance, software support). Where Samsung lags (battery, charging), it’s becoming more apparent as others excel. This competitive push-and-pull ultimately benefits consumers, as each new Fold brings more refinement.

Expert & Reviewer Opinions – Is the Fold7 Worth the Hype?

Professional tech reviewers and analysts have been weighing in on the Galaxy Z Fold7, and the feedback is largely positive – albeit with some pointed caveats. Here’s a roundup of notable quotes and opinions from experts:

  • The Verge (Victoria Song) – in a hands-on titled “Samsung finally made the foldables we’ve been asking for,” praised the radical redesign: “Samsung just announced its seventh-generation folding phones, and it finally retired the long and narrow Z Fold design that it had stuck with for far too long… After years of incremental upgrades and barely warmed-over designs, Samsung’s foldables are finally taking a leap forward with some bold choices — just be prepared to pay up for them.” theverge.com theverge.com. She emphasized how much thinner and lighter the Fold7 feels compared to the Fold6, calling it a night-and-day difference that “honestly feels like a different phone” theverge.com. The Verge’s live coverage also noted the lack of any tri-fold surprise and the high price, but overall conveyed that Fold7 delivers on the long-awaited improvements fans wanted.
  • TechRadar (James Rogerson) – describes the Fold7 as “bigger, thinner, and more powerful” than before, even dubbing it “almost a Galaxy Z Fold 7 Ultra” due to the across-the-board upgrades techradar.com. In TechRadar’s breakdown, they highlight the jump to the 200MP camera and larger screens, and conclude: “The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 might not have ‘Ultra’ in its name, but this feels like the closest thing to a Z Fold Ultra yet… it has had more upgrades than we usually see when moving from one generation to the next.” techradar.com. However, their early verdict also cautions that we’ll need to wait for full reviews to see if the huge camera sensor truly translates to better photos in practice techradar.com. TechRadar also noted the price increase – the Fold7 is £ unchanged in the UK but $100 more in the U.S. – which could give buyers pause despite the improvements techradar.com.
  • Android Authority (Hadlee Simons) – had a nuanced take. He commended Samsung for finally delivering a cutting-edge hardware design, writing: “I’d given up hope of Samsung offering a truly cutting-edge design that would compete with rivals. [Now] Samsung clearly nailed the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s design…” androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. He specifically lauded the 21:9 cover screen and thin, light build, saying “this is as close as a foldable phone has gotten to a conventional phone” when folded androidauthority.com. On the flip side, he didn’t pull punches about specs: “Samsung needs to catch up in the specs war.” He criticized the unchanged 4,400mAh battery and 25W charging, noting rivals’ larger batteries and faster charge tech put Samsung to shame androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. He also pointed out that secondary cameras (ultrawide, tele) haven’t improved much: “I really wish Samsung would offer a 5× telephoto… I don’t have faith in the phone’s long-range zoom.” androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Overall, Android Authority’s take is that the Fold7 is hugely improved in form factor and still the software king, making it a compelling option, but Samsung left some “Ultra” upgrades on the table (battery, zoom) that it must address to stay ahead.
  • MKBHD (Marques Brownlee) – the popular tech YouTuber was impressed by the hardware changes. In a social media post announcing his Fold7 video, Marques remarked “The new Z Fold 7 is way thinner + gets an ultra camera”, highlighting the slim profile and the 200MP “Ultra” camera upgrade x.com. He also noted the Z Flip7’s larger cover screen in the same breath. While we don’t have a direct quote from his review (video) here, the tease indicates that he sees the Fold7 as a significant refinement that adopts features from Samsung’s Ultra line. Many of his viewers echoed excitement, though some commented on the lost S Pen – an issue he likely addressed in the full review.
  • Engadget (Sam Rutherford) – in an article titled “The big design revamp we’ve been waiting for,” Engadget praised the Fold7’s hardware improvements but balanced it with the cost and feature omissions. “After a few generations of minor tweaks, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 finally delivers the design overhaul fans demanded,” he wrote, pointing to the lighter build and wider cover display. However, Engadget’s piece bluntly stated: “But at $2,000, it’s still super expensive and it no longer supports Samsung’s S Pen.” engadget.com. They likely delve into how that could alienate some power users. Engadget’s first impressions also reportedly mention that holding and using the Fold7 feels much nicer now, but they remain skeptical whether that’s enough to convert mainstream users at the current price.
  • Input from Analysts: Market analysts note that Samsung’s Fold series needed a boost. Counterpoint Research data (cited by The Verge) shows curiosity in foldables is high but actual sales are relatively low theverge.com. By packing the Fold7 with top-tier specs and polish, Samsung is clearly trying to broaden the appeal beyond just tech enthusiasts. Some analysts, like Ross Young of DSCC, have commented on Twitter that Samsung’s new Ultra Thin Glass and hinge design in the Fold7 are “a generation ahead” of what competitors are using, which could help Samsung maintain its lead in durability and yield (though those comments are behind subscription reports, they’ve been paraphrased in news). Financial analysts also point out that Samsung’s foldable lineup is increasingly important to its premium market share – the Fold7’s success or failure will indicate if foldables can become a mainstream part of Samsung’s business, or remain a niche. The early signs – strong pre-orders, positive reviews – are encouraging.
  • User Reviews & Social Media: While not “experts” per se, it’s worth noting some early adopter opinions as they often highlight practical points reviewers might miss. On Reddit’s r/GalaxyFold, a user posted a detailed Fold7 mini-review after an hour with a demo unit, and their verdict was largely glowing: “Lightweight, amazing screens, good camera… the Fold 7 is finally a normal phone [when closed].” They did list weaknesses (“small battery, no S Pen, very expensive, no good zoom camera”), but still went ahead and pre-ordered because the pros outweighed the cons for them reddit.com. Another Redditor who got to try it wrote: “This thing is almost the perfect 2-in-1 device. The new aspect ratio is perfect… [but] the punch-hole (camera) kills it for me. Otherwise I would be all over it.” reddit.com. This shows the split in the enthusiast community – some are ready to declare the Fold7 the foldable to beat, while others are nitpicking details like the switch back to a visible inner camera or the missing pen. YouTube comments on Fold7 videos also reflect excitement about the thin design (“Samsung finally did it!”) and disappointment about price (“$2k 😱 I’ll wait for a sale or Fold6 price drop”). Many current Fold owners are simply happy Samsung is iterating and addressing feedback. As one comment summed up: “Fold7: thinner, lighter, bigger screen, better cameras – Samsung is listening”.

Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 has made a strong first impression on both tech experts and early users. It’s widely seen as the most polished and feature-packed foldable Samsung has produced, bringing the Fold series much closer to mainstream viability. There are, of course, reservations – the sky-high price, the removal of S Pen support, and the feeling that a couple specs (battery, zoom lens) are stuck in last year. But the consensus is that Samsung took a bold step forward with Fold7, delivering on long-requested improvements. For tech enthusiasts who have been following foldables, it’s an exciting culmination of Samsung’s foldable journey so far. “There’s never been a better time to buy a Galaxy Fold,” Android Authority writes, noting the combination of slim design, expansive software, and promised support makes the Fold7 a milestone device androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Time will tell if the Fold7 can convert more of the “curious but cautious” consumers into actual foldable buyers, but as of July 2025 it certainly has the tech world’s attention.

Conclusion: Folding the Future into the Present

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 represents a pivotal moment for foldable phones – it’s Samsung’s strongest argument yet that foldables can truly replace your traditional phone (and even your tablet). By addressing the common pain points (bulk, awkward outer screen, mediocre cameras) and pushing the envelope on design and performance, the Fold7 makes a compelling case as the ultimate all-in-one mobile device. It unfolds into an 8-inch mini-tablet for unparalleled multitasking and media, yet folds into a svelte phone that’s finally as pocketable and usable as one could hope for a device of this nature.

For general consumers, the Fold7’s improvements make it more approachable than previous generations – it feels more natural in hand and more fully featured, reducing the compromises that early foldables required. For tech-savvy users, the spec sheet largely satisfies the craving for the latest and greatest (save for a couple lingering wishes). As one tech reviewer put it, “Samsung’s foldables are finally taking a leap forward with some bold choices”, and the result is that the Galaxy Z Fold7 sets a new benchmark in the category theverge.com. It’s not perfect or cheap by any means, but it cements Samsung’s leadership in foldable innovation and inches these devices closer to the mainstream.

If you’re considering the Galaxy Z Fold7, you’ll be investing in bleeding-edge tech: you get the wow factor of that expansive, versatile display and Samsung’s robust ecosystem and support behind it. Just go in with eyes open about the trade-offs – the sky-high price, the still-average battery life, and the fact that early adoption means living with certain quirks (and now, no stylus for jotting notes). The early user feedback indicates that for many, the joy of using such a futuristic, do-it-all device outweighs the downsides. “This thing is almost the perfect 2-in-1,” wrote one user, capturing the sentiment that the Fold7 delivers an experience unlike any other phone today reddit.com.

As 2025 continues, keep an eye on how Samsung refines its foldables further – and how competitors respond. But as of now, the Galaxy Z Fold7 stands tall (or rather, ultra-thin) as the pinnacle of foldable phones, showing us a glimpse of a not-so-distant future where our phones can unfold new possibilities. Whether you’re a multi-tasker, a tech trendsetter, or just someone intrigued by the next big thing in mobile, the Galaxy Z Fold7 makes a fascinating and formidable case to be your next device.

Sources: Samsung Newsroom news.samsung.com news.samsung.com; TechRadar techradar.com techradar.com; The Verge theverge.com theverge.com; Android Authority androidauthority.com androidauthority.com; PhoneArena phonearena.com; Reddit (r/GalaxyFold) reddit.com reddit.com; and more as cited above.

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