Galaxy Z Fold 7: Thinner, lighter, but is it worth $2,000?

After years of improvements, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has become a significantly more refined version, addressing most of the inherent drawbacks of foldable phones. However, with its unremarkable battery life and a price tag of up to $2,000, the question remains whether this is the right time for mainstream consumers to switch to a foldable phone.

A design revolution: Surprisingly thin and lightweight.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 shattered the stereotype of thick and heavy foldable phones. At just 8.9mm thick when folded, it's only about 0.7mm thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This is an impressive engineering achievement, especially considering Samsung still equipped it with high-end components and a secondary display.

More importantly, the phone's weight has been reduced to just 217g, lighter than even the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This change provides a comfortable grip, similar to a regular phone, whether in a pocket or in your hand. However, the ultra-thin design also makes opening the phone slightly more difficult, requiring users some time to get used to it.

Another notable upgrade is the IP48 dust and water resistance rating. While not completely dustproof, this is an improvement over previous generations, giving users more peace of mind during daily use.

Bigger screen, more immersive experience.

Both screens on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 have been upgraded. The outer screen now measures 6.5 inches with an aspect ratio similar to a standard smartphone, making it much more convenient to use when the device is folded. Users are no longer forced to open the inner screen for most tasks.

Meanwhile, the main display inside has been expanded to 8 inches, providing a display area comparable to a mini tablet. The screen crease remains but has been significantly improved, becoming almost imperceptible both when viewed and when swiping. The display quality of both screens is top-notch with a 120Hz refresh rate, vibrant colors, and high brightness.

Powerful performance and well-developed software.

Equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 delivers smooth performance in all tasks, from multitasking and gaming to using Galaxy AI features. The One UI 8 interface, based on Android, operates stably and familiarly, focusing on refinement rather than introducing groundbreaking features.

However, Samsung's software still has room to learn from competitors, especially in multitasking capabilities. Features like Oppo/OnePlus' "Open Canvas" allow for more efficient use of the large screen space. One point 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 adequate.

Samsung has brought a balance to the Z Fold 7's camera system. It features a 200MP main camera, similar to the one on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, delivering good overall image quality. However, the secondary cameras are less impressive. The 12MP ultrawide camera and the 10MP telephoto camera (3x optical zoom) only perform adequately.

The selfie camera has been improved, with both the inner and outer screen cameras now boasting 10MP resolution, replacing the lower-quality under-display camera of the previous generation. Overall, the Z Fold 7's camera system is acceptable, but not its strongest point when compared to other flagships on the market.

Battery life: The Achilles' heel of the Z Fold 7

The biggest weakness of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is its battery life. Samsung prioritized a thinner design over increasing battery capacity, so the device retains the same 4,400 mAh battery as previous generations. In real-world use, it can last a day with about 4-5 hours of screen time, a not-so-impressive figure in 2025.

The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that the charging speed is still limited to 25W, which is quite slow by current standards. For a device with a modest battery life, slow charging speed is 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 that user demand is not high and, more importantly, to make room for a thinner design. This is seen as a reasonable trade-off to achieve a more compact and physically refined 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 created, addressing most of the hardware issues users have complained about for years. However, the biggest hurdle remains: the $2,000 price tag. This is a huge sum, making the Z Fold 7 difficult for the average consumer to afford.

If you're looking for the most refined foldable phone on the market and don't mind the price or battery life, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a top choice. But for most users, price and battery life remain crucial factors to consider.