Galaxy Z Fold 7: Thinner, lighter, but is it worth $2,000?
Samsung solved almost every foldable phone hardware problem with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but mediocre battery life and a high price tag remain major hurdles.
After years of improvements, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has become a significantly improved version, overcoming most of the inherent disadvantages of the foldable phone line. However, with a non-breakthrough battery life and a price of up to $ 2,000, the question is whether this is the time for ordinary users to be ready to switch to a foldable phone.
Design Revolution: Surprisingly Thin and Light
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has broken the stereotype of thick and heavy foldable phones. At just 8.9mm thin when folded, the device is only about 0.7mm thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This is an impressive engineering achievement, especially when Samsung still equipped it with high-end components and a secondary screen.
More importantly, the weight of the device has been reduced to just 217g, lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This change gives a comfortable grip like a regular phone, whether in the pocket or in the hand. However, the ultra-thin design also makes opening the device a bit more difficult, requiring users to take time to get used to.
Another notable upgrade is the IP48 dust and water resistance. Although not completely dustproof, this is a step up from previous generations, giving users more peace of mind during daily use.
Bigger screen, more complete experience
Both displays on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 have been upgraded. The outer display now measures 6.5 inches in size with the same ratio as a standard smartphone, making it much more convenient to use when folded. Users are no longer forced to unfold the inner display for most tasks.
Meanwhile, the main screen inside has been expanded to 8 inches, providing a display space like a mini tablet. The crease on the screen is still there but has been significantly improved, becoming very difficult to notice both when looking and when swiping. The display quality of both screens is top-notch with a 120Hz refresh rate, vivid colors and high brightness.
Powerful performance and refined software
Equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 delivers smooth performance in every task, from multitasking, gaming to using Galaxy AI features. The One UI 8 interface on the Android platform operates stably and familiarly, focusing on perfection rather than introducing groundbreaking features.
Samsung's software could still learn from its rivals, however, especially when it comes to multitasking. Features like Oppo/OnePlus' "Open Canvas" allow for more efficient use of the large screen space. One thing to note is that due to the thin frame, the device tends to heat up more than previous generations when handling heavy tasks.
Camera system: Just enough
Samsung has brought a balance to the Z Fold 7's camera system. It is equipped with a 200MP main camera similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, providing good overall image quality. However, the secondary cameras are not as impressive. The 12MP ultra-wide camera and 10MP telephoto camera (3x optical zoom) are just enough to get the job done.
The selfie camera has been improved, with both the inner and outer display cameras now having 10MP resolution, replacing the poor quality under-display camera of the previous generation. Overall, the Z Fold 7's camera system is acceptable, but not the strongest point when compared to other flagships on the market.
Battery life: The Z Fold 7's Achilles' heel
The biggest weakness of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is battery life. Samsung has prioritized a thinner design over increasing battery capacity, so the device still retains the 4,400 mAh battery like previous generations. In real-life usage conditions, the device can last a day with about 4-5 hours of screen-on time, a number that is not very impressive in 2025.
The problem is compounded by the fact that charging speeds are still limited to 25W, which is quite slow by today's standards. For a device with such a small battery, slow charging speeds are a significant drawback.
The absence of the S Pen: A necessary trade-off?
After four generations, Samsung has decided to remove S Pen support on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The reason given is due to low user demand and, more importantly, to make room for a thinner design. This is considered a reasonable trade-off for a more compact and physically perfect device, although it may disappoint a small segment of loyal users.
Price and Conclusion
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the best foldable phone Samsung has ever made, solving most of the hardware issues that users have complained about for years. However, the biggest hurdle remains: the $2,000 price tag. This is a huge number, making the Z Fold 7 difficult to access for ordinary users.
If you're looking for the most complete foldable phone on the market and don't mind price or battery life, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a top choice. But for most users, price and battery life will still be factors that make them consider carefully.
