Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Review: The North Star of Foldables

With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung has as soon as once more demonstrated its skill to reinvent the foldable phase. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 was an excellent system, however it adopted a design language that did not really feel like an improve over its predecessor. Samsung, throughout closed-door briefings for the Fold 7, claimed that it virtually made the brand new foldable from the bottom up. And, the second you maintain the Fold 7 and 6 concurrently in your palms, you possibly can see for your self the big distinction. Whereas after all, the modern profile is the largest spotlight of the Fold 7, the upgrades do not cease there.

Aside from being thinner and lighter than its predecessor, the Fold 7 encompasses a cowl display improve that means that you can use it like a daily bar cellphone, offering extra display actual property. Even the internal show receives a bump in measurement, matching that of a small-screen pill. In fact, the digicam will get a large improve over the Fold 6, which we are going to break down in our digicam part. Samsung hasn’t simply stored the surprises restricted to {hardware}, but additionally on the software program aspect.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is amongst a handful of units that launch with One UI 8 primarily based on Android 16 out of the field. Sure, the brand new Pixel launch remains to be a couple of days away on the time of penning this overview, however we are able to expertise the most recent OS on a non-Pixel system. Nonetheless, one other bump Samsung has handed on the Fold 7 is in pricing, from the Galaxy Z Fold 6‘s launch value of Rs. 164,999 (for the 12GB + 256GB variant). You’ll have to shell out Rs. 1,74,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The highest-of-the-line variant, that includes 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, is priced at Rs. 2,16,999. Sure, the Fold 7 is presently the one smartphone in India that exceeds the Rs. 2 lakh threshold. A feat I wasn’t able to see this 12 months!

Pricing apart, is the Galaxy Z Fold 7 the best and greatest foldable system Samsung has but produced? Let me reply that on this overview.

The Fold 7, very like different premium Samsung telephones, would not ship with a charger

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Design: Skinny is in

• Dimensions – 158.4×143.2×4.2mm
• Weight – 215 grams
• IP Ranking – IP48

Samsung has nailed the design this 12 months. The corporate has simply resolved the largest ache level, which was associated to the book-style foldables – thickness. At 4.2mm (unfolded), the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the slimmest foldable accessible in India. At 215 grams, the Fold 7 is lighter than some non-folding units on sale in India. To place some context, the Fold 7 is lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max (227 grams) and even the Vivo X Fold 5 (217 grams), its closest rival. In truth, it’s lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (218 grams). Now you possibly can think about how extremely light-weight Fold 7 is.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighs 215 grams

Leaping to the hinge, which is the spine of a foldable system. This 12 months, Samsung has revamped the hinge and launched a brand new Armour FlexHinge, which the corporate claimed in its keynote presentation is compact and considerably extra sturdy than the one seen on the Fold 6. Due to the brand new hinge design, the crease is usually invisible throughout common use until you begin being nitpicky. With the brand new hinge design, the system does, in its preliminary days, really feel tighter and will get robust to open generally – particularly when you might have sweaty palms. One other factor that immediately caught my consideration was the sides of the cellphone. It tends to dig into your palms with common use, and a curved remedy would have been extra appropriate. A workaround for that is to make use of a case that resolves the difficulty.

Samsung says that the up to date Armour aluminium within the body and hinge housing will increase power and hardness by 10%

For cover, Samsung has used Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the quilt show whereas the again panel will get Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The aluminium armour feels premium in hand, and, after all, presents sufficient confidence whereas in day by day use. In comparison with the Fold 6, the Fold 7 is now wider and taller in design – and belief me, each these components impression on a regular basis utilization in a great way. Now you can use the quilt display of the Fold 7 as a daily cellphone. The ability button integrates a fingerprint scanner, making it handy to make use of and simply accessible whereas utilizing the Fold 7 with only one hand. The amount rocker buttons are additionally straightforward to achieve when utilizing with only one hand and are additionally tactile sufficient. The Fold 7, nevertheless, is a really slippery system, and at instances, I needed to be additional cautious when taking it out of my pocket or selecting it up from the desk.

The quilt display on the Fold 7 (on the best) visibly appears larger than the one on the Fold 6 (on the left)

On the again, the Fold 7 takes inspiration from the Fold 6, however upon nearer inspection, you realise that the digicam housings at the moment are protruding greater than in its predecessor, to such an extent that the Fold 7 wobbles on a flat floor when positioned with the show going through upwards. For water ingress safety, Samsung has added an IP48 ranking. Sadly, the Fold 7 nonetheless would not get a mud safety ranking, which implies you’ll have to take extra care of this pricey system.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 8.9 mm in thickness when folded and 4.2 mm when unfolded

In India, the Fold 7 is accessible in Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, and Jet Black colors. I bought the Blue Shadow for this overview, and it is among the most putting colors. Total, the Fold 7 is an improve that feels leaps and bounds forward of the Fold 6 in additional methods than your eyes can see.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Show: Stable improve

• Show – Predominant: 8-inch foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X with 1968×2184 pixels, 2600nits, 368PPI, 120Hz
• Cowl: 6.5-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X with 1080×2520 pixels, 422PPI
• Extra options – Titanium plate layer for show help

The shows on the Fold 7 have acquired an improve, and that makes the foldable ideally suited to be used as a bar cellphone. Beginning with the quilt show, the Fold 7 encompasses a 6.5-inch display, in comparison with the Fold 6’s 6.3-inch display. The decision has additionally been upgraded, now providing 1080×2520 pixels and a 422 PPI pixel density. It options an LTPO AMOLED display and consists of all of the modern-day options, reminiscent of a 120Hz refresh price and HDR10+ help.

The cellphone presents 2600 nits of peak brightness

Leaping to the internal show, Samsung has massively bumped the display measurement from 7.6 inches to eight inches on the Fold 7. This implies you might have a show as giant as an 8-inch pill. It’s a foldable LTPO OLED panel that includes a 120Hz refresh price, HDR10+ help, 368 PPI, and a decision of 1968×2184 pixels. You additionally get HDR streaming on Netflix, YouTube and different OTT platforms. Samsung has as soon as once more dropped Dolby Imaginative and prescient help, however it’s unlikely that you’re going to discover the distinction in day-to-day utilization. It helps peak brightness of 2600nits.

The 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x internal show presents wealthy distinction, true blacks and vibrant particulars

Each shows are vibrant sufficient for use below direct daylight and supply crisp photos and sharp textual content. The Fold 7 is a enjoyable system for all media consumption, whether or not for gaming, binge-watching, or studying. With two shows, the person has the liberty to decide on the side ratio and display measurement wherein they wish to eat media on the Fold 7—a alternative that your common system would not supply.

Total, the shows on the Fold 7 elevate the person expertise, providing a greater side ratio and display measurement. The standard, no doubt, is among the many greatest I’ve seen on a foldable these days.

Each shows keep dazzlingly seen even in direct daylight

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Digital camera: Impressed by the very best

• 200-megapixel major sensor with f/1.7 aperture, PDAF, OIS
• 10-megapixel telephoto sensor with PDAF, f/2.4 and 3x optical zoom
• 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with f/2.2 and twin pixel PDAF
• Cowl selfie digicam – 10-megapixel sensor
• Predominant – 10-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture
• Video help – 8K at 30fps, 4K at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps

The digicam division on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will get the largest replace. First up, it will get the identical major sensor because the Galaxy S25 Extremely and S25 Edge – a 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP2 with PDAF, OIS, and f/1.7 aperture. The 12-megapixel Sony IMX564 ultrawide digicam is identical as final 12 months, however one essential addition is autofocus help, which was lacking on its predecessor. There’s additionally a devoted 10-megapixel telephoto (3x) Samsung ISOCELL 3K1 sensor with PDAF and f/2.4 aperture. Each selfie cameras have additionally acquired a minor replace, now that includes a 10-megapixel Sony IMX374 sensor on the quilt and internal show. Samsung, nevertheless, selected to stay with mounted focus for some motive.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 options the primary 200-megapixel major digicam within the Galaxy Z collection

Leaping straight to real-world efficiency, the first digicam is the Fold 7’s largest power. As I discussed within the efficiency part, the upgrades on the most recent foldable make it a real flagship. The 200-megapixel sensor can take some gorgeous daylight images with plentiful particulars and correct colors. The sharpness is on level, and the dynamic vary is great. The pores and skin tones and textures additionally come out effectively on the first digicam. The 2x pictures from the first digicam are additionally respectable, and we do not see a lot element loss. Even the portrait pictures come out effectively with good topic isolation and an excellent quantity of blur—some samples under on your reference.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 daylight samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

Switching to the telephoto digicam (3x), the Fold 7 proves to be a succesful shooter, boasting a stable setup for zoom pictures. In daylight, the telephoto manages to seize loads of particulars.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 telephoto (3x) samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

The zoom efficiency of the Fold 7 can be respectable, though the digital zoom is primarily unusable, and you shouldn’t exceed 10x. Like within the photos under, you possibly can see the zoom efficiency of the Fold 7

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 telephoto (3x) pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 10x pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 20x zoom pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 30x pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

The ultrawide digicam with autofocus help has been an excellent addition to the Fold 7, one thing I missed on the Fold 6. The dynamic vary is nice, and particulars are respectable. The color accuracy and sharpness are additionally good, and you’ll test some samples under. Nonetheless, the ultrawide sensor is not nearly as good as the first digicam, which should not come as a shock.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 ultrawide digicam samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

For selfies, the Fold 7 presents twin cameras – one on the quilt display and one other on the internal show. Each are succesful, and you’ll not be disenchanted. The pores and skin tones are captured effectively, and there are sufficient particulars. The daylight selfies are top-notch, whereas low-light selfies lose some particulars, and a few quantity of grain can be seen within the selfies.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 indoor digicam samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

Transferring on to the low-light efficiency of the Fold 7, I am not as impressed as I’m with the S25 Extremely, however it nonetheless excels within the foldable class. The main points drop a bit in pitch-dark situations, whereas color accuracy can be barely off. Among the evening samples I clicked got here out as smooth and had loads of noise. Nonetheless, the digicam does justice when there is a mild supply round and it form of nails the body with correct colors, an excellent quantity of particulars, higher white stability, and managed noise. The telephoto and ultrawide samples in low mild are inferior to the first digicam, however are usable on your social media uploads.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 low-light digicam samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

This 12 months, Samsung has additionally upped the ante in the case of video high quality. It could file as much as 8K at 30 frames per second (fps) with the first digicam. It could additionally file slow-motion movies at 240fps in Full HD and 120fps in Full HD. For skilled customers, the corporate has added the Galaxy Log video characteristic, which lets you obtain these movies to your system and carry out color grading. There’s additionally an AI Audio Eraser characteristic on the Fold 7 that can allow you to regulate volumes of various components within the video. The video high quality is great from the first digicam.

Total, the Galaxy Fold 7 is a huge leap when it comes to cameras for the Samsung line-up and places it subsequent to the very best – Galaxy S25 Extremely.

The cellphone sports activities a 10-megapixel 100-degree digicam on the primary show that expands the body

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Efficiency: Lastly, a foldable that looks like a flagship

• Processor – Snapdragon 8 Elite
• RAM and storage – 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB, 16GB + 1 TB
• OS – Android 16 primarily based One UI 8

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 options the top-tier processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, which has been seen in Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Extremely this 12 months. Daily duties are dealt with easily, and there aren’t any points with multitasking. The app opens tremendous rapidly, and switching between apps is easy. Whereas Samsung is not pushing the Fold 7 as a gaming system, this foldable is a really succesful one.

The Galaxy Z Fold7 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, which additionally powers the Galaxy S25 Extremely

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is accessible in three RAM and storage configurations: 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, 12GB of RAM with 512GB of storage, and 16GB of RAM with 1TB of storage. Samsung ought to have provided a 16GB RAM possibility for all SKUs, contemplating the substantial price ticket. Samsung makes use of LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 on the Fold 7. To supply a greater perspective, I ran our suite of artificial benchmark apps, and the outcomes are under, in comparison with the Fold 6.

The foldable does get heat whereas gaming and when utilizing the cellphone for prolonged intervals, reminiscent of for navigation or when the digicam app is in use. But it surely by no means reaches some extent the place it turns into too heat to deal with.

The audio system on the Fold 7 aren’t very loud, however are ok to fill a medium-sized room, and the readability is there. Calls on the cellphone are respectable, with no name drops on account of community points or the handset’s incapability to latch on to networks. I examined the Fold 7 for 5G on Airtel and Jio networks, and it really works with no sweat. One of many strengths of the Fold 7 is its skill to latch onto a cell community in areas with restricted connectivity, reminiscent of basements or inside elevators.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 runs One UI 8 on Android 16 out of the field

Due to the slim profile and an prolonged side ratio, the Fold 7’s cowl display can be utilized as a daily cellphone, and I had a good time typing lengthy emails, texts, and even doing a little mild photograph modifying on apps like Canva. In the true world, the Fold 7 is mild years forward of the Fold 6, which was powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

Leaping to the software program aspect, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is amongst a handful of Samsung units launching earlier than the brand new Pixels with Android 16. That is one thing we do not usually see, however that is additionally Samsung for you. The One UI 8 is predicated on Android 16. Speaking concerning the interface typically, the One UI 8 would not convey ground-breaking adjustments, as One UI 7 final 12 months already launched large upgrades.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 customers will probably be among the many first to get entry to expertise Android 16

Very like Android 16, which focuses on enhancing the under-the-hood features of the UI, One UI 8 additionally brings minor adjustments, together with an improved split-screen multitasking characteristic (90:10 from the sooner 70:30 break up). The Now Bar and Now Transient are a part of One UI 8 and will probably be rolled out to all appropriate units. The Now temporary will present personalised briefings with steered content material and actions that replace in real-time, relying on the time of day you test. It sits on the House display and is a pleasant contact. The Reminder app has additionally undergone an overhaul and can function a companion app for planning your subsequent household vacation. It could additionally take your to-do lists and drop you reminders on time. The Fast Share has additionally acquired some upgrades, making it straightforward to share information with only one faucet.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 brings AI options like Gemini Reside, Photograph Help, Portrait Studio, Audio Eraser, and Circle to Search, amongst others

In fact, there may be the same old AI suite of options, together with Name Help, Writing Help, Interpreter, Observe Help, Transcript Help, Searching Help, Photograph Help, Drawing Help, Audio Eraser, Photograph Ambient Wallpaper, and Well being Help.

The digicam app additionally receives helpful additions that allow you to swipe up or down to change between rear and entrance cameras. The default looking app has additionally acquired an replace that shows all choices for sharing and different options within the menu. Total, One UI 8 is a pleasant replace for Samsung customers, and it is useful on the Fold 7.

Samsung claims that the primary show has been redesigned to be thinner, lighter, but stronger

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Battery: Usual, standard

• Battery – 4400mAh unit
• Charging help – 25W wired and 15W wi-fi
• Charging pace – 50% in half-hour

If there may be one division that fully missed the improve cycle on the Fold 7, it needs to be the battery. The cellphone packs the identical 4,400mAh battery, which, on paper, seems to be on the decrease aspect when in comparison with new-age flagships launched this 12 months. The charging pace is once more an Achilles’ heel for the Fold 7, capped at 25W.

There’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the again of the Fold 7

In real-world utilization, the Fold 7 lasts a couple of day with a full cost and presents a screen-on time of over 5 hours. I most well-liked a barely higher battery backup. The nice factor is that Samsung now presents a spread of granular controls for battery settings, permitting you to restrict charging to 80% or barely extra.

When folded, the Galaxy Fold 7 can be utilized with only one hand with ease

For charging, the Fold 7 takes roughly half-hour to cost to 50%, whereas a full cost (0-100%) takes round 80-90 minutes. That is on the decrease aspect, and I want Samsung might have acknowledged this problem.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Verdict

This 12 months, Samsung has made positive that its Fold 7 comes out as a stable bundle combining energy and panache. It presents top-tier specs in a superbly crafted, modern physique that may flip heads. It encompasses a top-tier processor that ensures uncompromising efficiency, after which there is a large digicam improve that brings the very best from the Galaxy S25 Extremely. The One UI 8, primarily based on Android 16 with 7 years of software program help, is the very best you may get on any Android system for the time being. The light-weight and modern design is the USP of the system, fixing the foldable conundrum that has been there for years.

The Fold 7 begins at Rs. 174,999 and goes as much as Rs. 216,999

In fact, there are a couple of ache factors, such because the charging pace now feeling dated, and I want Samsung had acknowledged it this 12 months. The battery efficiency is not one thing that units a benchmark, and with the lacking S Pen help, the Fold loses its allure as a real multitasking system. Not skipping the value bump, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an costly system, very like its predecessor.

The upgraded Armour FlexHinge is thinner and lighter, because of a newly applied multi-rail construction that reduces seen creasing

For options, the Galaxy S25 Extremely is a solid contender for the Fold 7, if anybody desires a non-folding system. The Vivo X Fold 5 is the closest rival within the book-style folding phase. Within the coming days, we are able to anticipate the new Pixel Fold from Google to affix the foldables league.