The Galaxy Z Fold 7 Finally Delivers the Foldable Leap Samsung Fans Have Been Waiting For

If you’ve been holding out for Samsung to finally nail the foldable formula, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 might just be your moment. This isn’t just a spec bump over last year’s Fold 6, it’s a complete reimagining. Thinner, lighter, sharper, and, finally, distinct. But as exciting as the Fold 7 is, it also brings with it a few letdowns, especially for long-time Samsung loyalists.

Let’s dive into why this might be the most exciting (and slightly frustrating) foldable Samsung has made yet.

A Foldable That Looks New for a Change

Samsung’s foldables, while cutting-edge in concept, have often lagged behind Chinese competitors in terms of actual hardware evolution. That’s what makes the Z Fold 7 so refreshing. For the first time in years, Samsung didn’t just upgrade the internals, they gave it a real visual and functional facelift.

Here’s what stands out right away:

• Massive drop in thickness: The Fold 7 is just 8.9mm when folded, down from 12.1mm. When open, it slims down to an almost tablet-thin 4.2mm.
• Bigger outer display: Now at a 21:9 aspect ratio, the front screen is easier to type on and genuinely useful without opening the device.
• It’s lighter too, 215g, making it more pocketable and pleasant to hold.
• And yes, it looks sleek. Compared side by side with the Galaxy S25 Ultra or even Samsung’s slimmest, the S25 Edge, the Fold 7 holds its own.

It’s finally a foldable that doesn’t scream “first-gen sci-fi prototype.”

A New Hinge That Changes Everything

The unsung hero of the Z Fold 7 might be the new hinge. It’s redesigned with updated Armor Aluminum and introduces Samsung’s Flex Hinge, a refined solution that fixes a few nagging issues:

• The crease is less visible and feels smoother, making daily use feel less like a compromise.
• It contributes to the foldable’s dramatically improved thinness.

For those who’ve always felt like the crease was a deal-breaker, this might be the phone that changes your mind.

A Bigger, Better Display That Doesn’t Add Bulk

Samsung also made the inside more immersive with an 8-inch inner display (up from 7.6″), pushing 2600 nits of peak brightness. Everything is more vivid and fluid thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate across both displays.

Despite this size increase, they managed to keep the same 4,400mAh battery, and powered it with Qualcomm’s newest and most efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite for Galaxy.

Here’s what that combo brings:

• More power than ever before
• Better thermal management
• Higher efficiency, meaning better battery life despite the brighter screen

Cameras That Finally Justify the Price Tag

For the first time, Samsung has packed a 200MP main camera, the same sensor used in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, into a foldable. That’s a big leap for a device category that usually played it safe with cameras.

Here’s the full setup:

• 200MP main sensor
• 3x telephoto lens
• 12MP ultrawide
• Improved 10MP front camera with a 100° FOV
• HDR video and log recording up to 8K
• And yes, 8K at 30fps is here. Still no 4K at 120fps, though.

While the S25 Ultra still wins on overall versatility, this is the closest a foldable has come to flagship-level photography in Samsung’s lineup.

Storage, RAM, and Everything Else

Samsung didn’t skimp here either:

• 12GB RAM on the base 256GB model
• Options for 512GB and 1TB, with the 1TB model jumping to 16GB RAM
• Android 16, One UI 8, Bluetooth 5.4, and Wi-Fi 7
• IP48 water resistance for protection against splashes and submersion
• Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, like previous generations

One caveat: charging speeds remain at 25W wired, and wireless charging is unchanged. No upgrade there.

Beautiful Color Options to Match the Premium Feel

The Z Fold 7 comes in four finishes:

• Jet Black – Sleek, classic, and stealthy
• Blue Shadow – Vibrant and bold (a fan favorite already)
• Silver Shadow – Clean and timeless
• Mint – Think Tiffany blue; it pops and turns heads

Whether you want minimalist or flashy, Samsung’s given this generation a more fashion-forward approach.

The Bad News: Price and Some Odd Decisions

Here’s where things get a little sticky. Despite the major improvements, the starting price is now $2,000, making it even less attainable for most consumers. Sure, trade-ins and deals will help, but that’s a hefty price increase.

And then there’s the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which looked promising with its edge-to-edge cover display, but it’s using Exynos 2500 instead of the Snapdragon chip seen in the Flip 6. Samsung’s Exynos track record doesn’t inspire confidence.

Even worse, the Galaxy Z Flip FE, touted as the budget option, starts at $899 and is powered by an even older Exynos 2400. That’s a hard sell when better options already exist at similar prices.

And for stylus lovers: still no S Pen support on the Z Fold 7. That’s a real disappointment for anyone hoping to use the Fold as a productivity beast.

Final Thoughts: A Foldable That Finally Feels Worth It

Despite the few downsides, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a generational leap. Samsung has addressed nearly every major complaint about its foldables, from bulk, display size, and hinge quality to the camera system.

Yes, the price is high. No, it doesn’t have S Pen support. But for anyone who’s been waiting to truly switch to a foldable without feeling like they’re giving something up, this is the phone you’ve been waiting for.

If you get the chance to try it in person, you’ll see exactly what I mean. The wow factor is back, and that’s what makes the Galaxy Z Fold 7 so exciting.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was released on July 25, 2025. Pre-orders began on July 9th, following the official unveiling at Galaxy Unpacked 2025. The phone is available for purchase at Samsung.com, in stores, and through various retailers.