Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Reviewed: A New Contender in Foldables

The launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 marks a significant step forward for the company in a rapidly evolving market for foldable devices. Positioned as Samsung’s flagship foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 boasts enhancements in display size, build quality, camera technology, and overall design. These improvements come as the competition intensifies, particularly from Chinese manufacturers offering formidable alternatives.

Design and Build Quality

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a refined design that measures 8.9 mm when folded, making it 3.2 mm thinner than the previous model, the Galaxy Z Fold 6. This reduction in thickness allows it to feel much like a conventional smartphone in hand, which is a significant achievement for foldable technology. Users will find it easy to carry, as it fits comfortably in pockets without being cumbersome.

Samsung’s innovative use of Armor Aluminum in the case enhances its durability while maintaining a lightweight structure. One notable design element is the camera bump located in the top-left corner, which can cause the device to wobble when placed on flat surfaces. The hinge mechanism feels robust yet is somewhat challenging to open, which may take some adjustment for new users.

Display and User Experience

Display quality remains a crucial aspect of any foldable device, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 excels in this area. It features an 8-inch inner display and a 6.5-inch cover screen, both supporting HDR10+ and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The vibrant colors and deep black levels make it ideal for media consumption, whether streaming on platforms like Prime Video or YouTube.

While the inner screen lacks S Pen support, it provides ample space for multitasking, gaming, and creative activities. Users have noted that the crease in the display is only slightly noticeable, and the screen can be flattened with minimal pressure.

The device is equipped with Samsung’s comprehensive AI suite, which includes features like live translation and audio noise reduction. The Audio Eraser function effectively minimizes background noise, while the Drawing Assist tool transforms basic sketches into refined illustrations, making it a valuable tool for creative users.

Camera Performance

Another significant upgrade is the camera system, which incorporates a 200MP main sensor from the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This advanced sensor captures high-quality images, even in low-light conditions, without excessive processing. Although the telephoto and ultra-wide lenses do not match the main sensor’s quality, they still produce satisfactory images in good lighting. The digital zoom is effective up to 10X magnification, though clarity diminishes beyond that point.

Selfies are adequately captured, but many users prefer to utilize the main camera through the cover screen for better results.

Performance and Battery Life

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 delivers a seamless user experience. Whether editing images, watching videos, or gaming, the device performs admirably, even with multiple applications running simultaneously. For gaming enthusiasts, titles like Call of Duty run smoothly at high graphics settings.

The battery life is adequate, with the 4,400mAh lithium-ion battery providing a full day of use under typical conditions. Users can expect to retain about 15% battery after a day filled with internet browsing, sketching, and video streaming. However, it lags behind competitors that have adopted silicon-carbon batteries, like the Oppo Find N5 with its 5,600mAh battery, which offers greater energy density and efficiency.

Charging speeds for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 are relatively slow, supporting 25W wired and 15W wireless options. A full charge takes approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes from zero to 100%.

The overall construction of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 presents a sleek and refined device with solid build quality. Its main camera stands out as expected for a flagship phone, while the other cameras do not meet the same standards. Additionally, the battery capacity and charging speeds fall short compared to recent offerings from its competitors.

In summary, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an excellent choice for those seeking a capable foldable phone with a robust build and impressive display. It is particularly well-suited for multitasking and content consumption, making it a valuable addition to Samsung’s lineup.

**Pros**: Impressive display, strong main camera, robust build quality
**Cons**: Secondary cameras underperform, slow charging speeds, smaller battery capacity

For those considering alternatives, other recently launched foldable devices in Singapore include the Oppo Find N5 with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage priced at S$2,088.99 (previously S$2,499), the Honor Magic V5 also at S$2,199, and the Vivo X Fold5 at S$2,199 (previously S$2,499).

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission. Prices are accurate as of the time of publication.