Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review: the thinner, lighter and better folding Android | Samsung

SThe latest flagship from Amsung looks as if it had done a diet. The result is a conversion into one of the thinnest and lightest available devices and changes to better radical.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 8.9 mm thick when they are closed -well in the area of a standard smartphone if you ignore the camera flashing on the back. It fits easily into a pocket, but opens to turn into a folding tablet that is only 4.2 mm thick.

But at £ 1,799 (€ 2,099/$ 2,000/a $ 2,899) you pay a terrible amount for a device that is so unusual. It is an expensive, modern device that can theoretically replace your phone, tablet and PC in a pocket device.

The foldable seventh generation solves most of the niggles of the previous Faltblä Deses from Samsung. It weighs only 215 g, which is 24 g less than the previous year's model of the past year like large plate files, and is shaped like a normal handset when it is closed.

It fits better in your pocket. Enter reports, answer calls, receive instructions and take photos and work like a regular phone. Even the 6.5-inch screen on the front is first-class-hell, colorful, crispy and 120 Hz smooth and the improved fingerprint scanner in the on / off switch is precise and quick.

Open it like a book and the fold 7 is only a hair thicker than the USB-C connection. It is impressively thin and feels solid. It is difficult to see how a device can get thinner without warding off the loading connection. The flexible 8 -Coled -oled screen is smooth, crisp, superhell and almost square and ready to carry out two apps side by side.

The outdoor screen and the back are protected by the latest technology in hardened glass, but the inner screen is still covered by a necessarily softer layer as a standard telephone that easily absorbs fingerprints and is relatively glossy. The fold in the middle of the screen on which it folds is almost disappeared and only visible in glare.

Specifications

• Main screen: 8in QXGA+ 120 Hz (368ppi) Amoled flexible display

• Cover screen: 6.5 inches FHD+ 120 Hz (422ppi) amolated

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

• R.A.M: 12 GB

• Storage: 256, 512 GB or 1 TB

• Operating system: A UI 8 based on Android 16

• Camera: 200+12+10 MP rear with 3x -tele -tele; 10 MP+10MP Selfie cameras

• Connectivity: 5G, Dual Sim, E-SIM, USB-C, WIFI 7, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4, GNSS

• Water resistance: IP48 (1.5 meters for 30 minutes)

• Dimensions folded: 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9 mm

• Dimensions unfolded: 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.2 mm

• Weight: 215g

Power for multitasking

The Fold 7 does not speak of the processing performance with the same flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12 GB RAM S25 Ultra And S25 edge. This means that it flies in everyday tasks and high-end Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

The battery lasts almost two days by using the two screens for about four hours and spending several hours with 5G, which corresponds approximately to the predecessors and resembles normal plate phones. It takes longer if you only use the outdoor screen for telephone use, but most people probably have to charge it every other day.

A UI 8 for Android 16

Fold 7 is one of the first Samsungs to run a UI 8 (Android 16) from the box. It has not changed so much since last year's software, which is a good thing all -round because a UI 7 was great. It contains all functions of the S25 line from Samsung, including the Great now bar At the bottom of the lock screen, which shows live sports values, music, timer and other regular tasks.

Samsung does a better job than competitors to use the multiple modes and multitasking opportunities that are opened by the folding tablet form. On the internal screen you can open up to eight apps at the same time and have different start -on screen layouts for each screen. You can force apps in almost any size or shape, use apps in a partially folded mode, move them between the front and internal screens and many other small functions.

The FOLD 7 also has all AI tools from the S25 series, including Google Gemini, Circle to Search, writing and drawing tools, transcription and audio editing tools, etc. Some are good, others can safely be ignored like most tedious AI functions. Samsung will provide Android and security updates by July 31, 2032.

camera

The large lump of camera on the back holds the 200 megapixel main, 12-MP-Ultra-wide and 10-MP-3-fold telephoto cameras. The FOLD 7 also has two 10 megapixels -selfie cameras, one on every screen.

The main camera of 200 MP is the best of the bundle and fits that from the AB S25 edge. It is a top drawer camera that can take great pictures in a number of lighting conditions and is a significant upgrade of the folds of the previous generation.

The 12 megapixel -ultra -Wide camera is solid and able to make very good close -ups, macro photos, which is always fun. The 3x telephone camera is just as good and creates great portraits, but becomes a bit soft and grainy indoors and cannot match the 5 -FIC -ZOOMS on top plates. The selfie cameras are a similar story with great details that quickly gets a bit grainy. You can pick up selfies with the main camera with the outdoor screen when the phone is open, which achieves much better results.

The camera app has many modes, is easy to use and shoots solid videos. Overall, the FOLD 7 has a great camera system that does not represent significant downgrading from flagship plate phones, which is quite impressive.

sustainability

The battery has an expected lifespan of at least 2,000 full charging cycles with at least 80% of its original capacity.

The phone is generally repairable. On the screen Repairs cost around £ 500. Samsung offers A Self -repair programas well as care+ Random damage insurance This lowers the costs for repairs to £ 139.

The fold 7 consists of recycled aluminum, cobalt, copper, glass, gold, lithium, plastic, rare removal and steel, which is 13.7% of the weight. Samsung offers exchange And Recycling schemes for old devices and breaks down The environmental impact of the phone in his report.

Price

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 costs £ 1.799 (€ 2,099/ €/$ 1.999.99/A 2.899 USD).

For comparison, the Galaxy Z Flip costs £ 1.049The Galaxy S25 edge Cost £ 1.099The S25 Ultra Cost £ 1,249and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Cost £ 1.399.

Verdict

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an incredible, extremely expensive piece of technology that feels like a huge leap over earlier models and remove many of the niggles and compromises that had become synonymous for leaflets.

By making so much thinner, lighter and normal when it is closed, it feels like a normal handset. Open it and the internal screen is the best foldable screen so far. The wrinkle has practically disappeared, it is light, crisp and makes the best of multitasking.

The camera is far from the back of the back, but generally does not stand in the way, except to let the phone wobble on a table-a compromise is worthwhile for a first-class camera system. You can even get the same chip, the same battery life and great software as Samsung's top regular telephones.

This lacks the relative fragility of the form of folding, without the correct dust resistance and a softer inner screen and the eye price as the greatest compromise. If you are not sold by the idea of having a phone that is also a tablet in your pocket, I don't think this will convince you.

However, the FOLD 7 is the best available folding field and the most important upgrade that Samsung needs after a few more repetitive years.

Professionals: A telephone and a tablet in one, super thin and bright, just like a normal phone, when it is closed, great software with powerful multitasking skills, fantastic tablet screen, top performance, solid battery life, water resistance and long software support.

Disadvantages: Extremely expensive, no dust resistance, more fragile than a regular device and costly to repair, limited zoom camera compared to the best normal phones.