Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review : Samsung has been in the foldable phone game for over six years, and their latest release—the seventh generation—marks their most impressive advancement yet. It’s a significant leap in design, engineering, and innovation, setting a new benchmark in the smartphone world.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, launching on August 1, stands out as the thinnest smartphone I’ve ever used—at least when it’s fully unfolded.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
When folded and slipped into your pocket, it feels just like any other large-screen smartphone, coming in at 8.9mm thick—only slightly thicker than Samsung’s flagship S25 Ultra. Since most of your daily use happens with the device closed, it genuinely handles like a regular smartphone.
That seamless feel is largely thanks to its slim profile and the broader front display, which is now more practical than ever. Ironically, it’s so functional that you might find yourself using the inner screen less often than expected.
But when you do unfold it, the inner display steals the spotlight. Open it like a book, and you’re greeted with a spacious 8-inch screen—essentially a compact tablet in your hands.
In 2025, the Fold 7 no longer supports Samsung’s S-Pen, meaning you can’t write or sketch directly on the screen. They’ve also swapped out the under-display selfie camera for a traditional hole-punch design. Neither change is likely to put off potential buyers—these are minor trade-offs in the grand scheme.
What truly stands out is the engineering marvel revealed when you unfold it: the device is under 5mm thick. It almost feels unreal. Despite its size, it’s remarkably lightweight and comfortable to hold, and the expansive display makes multitasking effortless.
Why use the Fold’s big screen?
Whenever I unfolded the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, I typically used it in one of three ways. The most common? Simply expanding whatever I was doing onto the larger screen. For tasks like viewing maps, photos, or reading articles, the bigger display is a real game-changer—everything’s just clearer and easier on the eyes.
That said, some activities still feel better on the front screen. Take social media, for instance—ironically, you sometimes see more content on the smaller exterior display than on the larger inner one.
But this can be easily resolved with the Fold 7’s multitasking features. Samsung makes split-screen use incredibly intuitive, and the Fold 7 takes it further. You can run multiple apps side-by-side—say, Instagram on one side and your email on the other. You can even divide the screen three ways, layering messages and email on one side for full three-app multitasking.
The third way I used it was for entertainment. I’d stream live sports on the inner screen, split it horizontally, and place the video feed at the top. Below that, I could manage my inbox or chats, all while staying fully engaged in the viewing experience—no need to toggle back and forth.
Thin for thin’s sake?
Samsung has poured all of its expertise into this flagship foldable, and the result is truly impressive. However, it’s worth pointing out that the Z Fold 7’s excellent triple-lens camera creates a noticeable bump on the back. Place the phone flat on a desk, and it tends to wobble when you tap the screen—especially while checking notifications.
Given the $2,899 price tag, most buyers will likely opt for a protective case. I’d suggest choosing one that helps even out the back to minimize that wobble. Of course, that will add some bulk—bringing the thickness closer to a centimeter—but considering how many of us already use thick cases on large phones, it’ll likely still feel familiar.
Proper cameras, not a compromise
I have to give credit to the team at Samsung for managing to fit the incredible camera system from the flagship S25 series into the Z Fold 7—it’s a true top-tier camera setup.
With a 200MP main sensor, the phone delivers stunning shots in both bright daylight and low light. Honestly, the only thing missing for the average user is the 100x hybrid zoom found on Samsung’s S series Ultra models.
Did I miss that feature? Not in the slightest. Most users just want a powerful main camera, some zoom functionality, and a high-quality ultra-wide lens.
And in all those areas, Samsung absolutely nailed it.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 for you?
As impressed as I am with the Fold 7, it’s just not the right fit for me. I prefer more compact phones, and I found that I didn’t end up using the larger inner display all that much. Personally, I’m more drawn to the Flip 7 (more on that soon). That said, the Fold 7 is undeniably an exceptional device.
For users who spend a lot of time on their phones, thrive on multitasking across apps, or regularly stream videos and other content, it’s hard to find a better option.
Even if you don’t often use the inner screen, the Fold 7’s design allows you to prop it up in its folded form—perfect for watching videos on a table or during a flight.
If you’ve used a Fold before, you’re about to experience the best version yet. And if you’ve avoided it because it felt too bulky or oversized, this might just be the Fold that changes your mind.
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