Evolution of the Foldable Phone
When it comes to smartphones, some companies play it safe while others take bold steps. Samsung is one of those companies that have taken significant risks in the foldable phone market. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a testament to their persistence and innovation.
I’ve had the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a week now, and overall, this is the foldable phone people have envisioned. While the S Pen is missing, which I’ll discuss later, when folded, it finally feels like a normal phone—just with the ability to unfold into an 8-inch display. This evolution marks a significant step forward in the foldable phone space.
Build Quality and Features
The Fold 7 is the fourth Fold I’ve had, though I returned the Z Fold 4 due to issues. I’m quite familiar with its evolution. Saying the Fold 7 is a big leap from the Fold 6 would be an understatement. It’s astonishing how thin it is compared to last year’s model. Everyone I show it to reacts with surprise, often saying “wow,” even if they already know about it.
At 8.9mm folded and 4.2mm unfolded, it fits the standard 6.5-inch modern smartphone form factor. This year, there’s a slightly wider cover display with a more typical 21:9 aspect ratio (compared to 22.1:9 on the Fold 6). That makes typing more natural and allows you to use the Fold 7 mostly folded. When you want a bigger experience, you can open it up to an 8-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED display that lets you view photos or read more comfortably.
Another notable feature is the 200MP camera instead of the older 50MP sensor. This addresses a long-standing issue with foldable phones: worse cameras. While it’s behind the Galaxy S25 Ultra in terms of lens options, the wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses get the job done for most users. As someone who has loved the S25 Ultra, this makes it easier to transition since they seem to have the same primary camera.
The S Pen Controversy
One of the biggest changes is the absence of the S Pen. Samsung removed its digitizer to reduce thickness, which is why other models like the Pixel 9 Pro and OnePlus Open Find N2 Flip are thinner. However, none of Samsung’s current competitors in the foldable space use a pen. Do I miss it? Not really. I love the idea of the S Pen, but I barely used it on previous Folds and Ultra phones. Samsung knows this is true for most Fold users, as the S Pen was often an extra cost or required a bulky case.
Samsung made a bet that more people would appreciate the thinness over the missing S Pen. I think they were right. Still, I hope the S Pen returns in some form for niche users.
Other Gripes
There are a few small issues that bug me. One is the need to clumsily pry open the Fold 7, an issue I had with the Fold 4. Samsung could benefit from a notch or something to grip. A case helps, but some may not want that. There’s also the missing under-display camera, which was once a neat feature but ultimately flawed. Samsung has gone back to a simple hole-punch camera, which is better.
Battery life on the Fold 7 has been on par with the Fold 6, despite being thinner. The battery size remains the same, but the larger displays might increase drain. However, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is efficient enough to manage. Despite lacking a vapor chamber, the Fold 7 reportedly runs cooler than the Fold 6.
Samsung Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra
I’ve been using the S25 Ultra since it came out, putting aside the Fold 6 despite liking it. The S25 Ultra offers a beautiful anti-reflective screen, a perfect balance between size and quality. It’s the best phone for most people, with stellar camera, battery life, display, and design. However, the S25 Ultra lacks the pocket-tablet experience that the Fold 7 offers.
If you’re looking for a pocket-tablet experience with most of the S25 Ultra’s features, the Fold 7 is a great choice. But it comes at a higher price. The S25 Ultra is available for $1,099, saving $900 compared to the Fold 7.
Final Thoughts
As an early skeptic of the Fold series, I applaud Samsung’s commitment to making this form factor work. It’s not for everyone, but it took big risks to get to this seventh version. Samsung’s persistence has resulted in its best phone since the excellent S25 Ultra. While the price is high, the Fold 7 is a remarkable accomplishment worth considering.
