I’d buy the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 with my money, and here’s why

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of using all four of Samsung’s latest products: the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and the Galaxy Watch 8.

I’ve reviewed two of them and used the others to create supplemental material around our reviews, but all have been my primary devices at one point or another.

Through this, I’ve gained enough insight into what they’re like to live with each day, and have an excellent idea about which ones I’d spend my money on.

If you’re about to put down a sizable amount of money on a new Samsung phone and smartwatch, this may help you make a final decision.

Here are the two I’d buy

Wallet at the ready

The two new Samsung devices I’d buy would be the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Watch 8.

We’ll come back to the prices and what this means in a while (yes, I know it’s a lot), but after spending time with all the devices, these would be the two I’d most want to live with long-term.

Plus, when looked at in the right way, the duo represents good value, too.

Let’s start with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. What a superb blend of expert, innovative engineering and outright performance it is.

I’ve been using the phone closed up a lot, and not because I’ve forced myself to, but because it’s so easy and comfortable to do.

The thin profile is transformative, just like it is on the Galaxy S25 Edge, and I haven’t felt any need to justify using the Z Fold 7 over a non-folding phone, because there are so few compromises left.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is a prime reason I would choose it over the Z Flip 7.

The performance is noticeably greater throughout the operating system, and there’s none of the heat buildup I experienced on the Flip at all. It makes multitasking and gaming more pleasurable, and makes the most of One UI 8 too.

The Z Flip 7 is compromised when it comes to performance, but the Z Fold 7 is not.

I also love the big, open screen and its delightful smoothness, with the phone seemingly being better than ever at getting the variable refresh rate right.

Speed and smoothness make a phone comfortable and effortless to use, and the Z Fold 7 succeeds at both.

Why not the Z Flip 7?

The cheaper option is tempting

Don’t take my decision as evidence that I don’t like the Z Flip 7, as this is not the case.

It’s more fun than the Z Fold 7, and I love its pocket-friendly dimensions and social media-friendly camera, but it’s not a big step forward over its predecessors in the way the Z Fold 7 is.

The cover screen is bigger than before, but this doesn’t mean it does more, or is any more helpful.

I wouldn’t upgrade my Z Flip 5 to the Z Flip 7, which says a lot about the lack of meaningful changes over the past few generations.

Here’s where the value argument comes in. The Z Fold 7 is so far ahead of its predecessors, and much of the competition, there’s a very strong chance I’ll be satisfied with it for a lot longer than I would the Z Flip 7.

Samsung has put in the effort to provide seven years of software updates for its new phones, so I may as well make the most of them.

I know, $2,000 is a massive amount of money for any smartphone, but if the aim is to keep it for at least three years, it becomes easier to justify.

Plus, it really does do so much, I could probably get by without a tablet or even an e-reader during that time.

Yes, I know I’m working hard to justify such an extravagant purchase here, but these are genuine considerations when looking at a versatile, big-screen foldable.

Most expensive phone

With the cheapest smartwatch

I admit it, I’ve fallen head over heels for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, and also consider the 40mm version the one to get, regardless of your wrist size.

The cushion-style case is a minimalist winner, and because the profile is so thin, it never veers into awkward territory. This is where the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic unfortunately sits.

I’m not convinced the rotating bezel works, design-wise, on top of the smartwatch’s body, especially paired with lugs which sit low down on the case. It looks wrong to my eyes.

The 40mm Watch 8 is a comfort superstar, and far more wearable 24/7 than the top-heavy Watch 8 Classic.

If you’re going to buy a smartwatch, chances are you want to make the most of the health and activity tracking features, which entails wearing it during the day and night. The Watch 8 is ideal for this.

Samsung wants you to see the Watch 8 Classic as the “stylish” or “dressier” option, but this is little more than a marketing bluff. It’s the ugly duckling of the current range, and nothing about it says classy in the slightest.

The 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 is the cheapest way into Samsung’s latest smartwatch range, offsetting the decision to go for its most expensive smartphone by far.

See? A sensible buying decision next to a slightly less sensible one means it all works out in the end, but how much money are we talking about here?

Open wide

Wallets open, mouths agape

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 in 40mm costs $350, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $2,000, meaning I’d be set to invest $2,350 in my new mobile setup. I know. Ouch.

You must be really committed to spend that amount of money, but there’s strong value here when they’re looked at as long-term purchases. The Z Fold 7 will genuinely last for years, and there’s no reason the Watch 8 won’t either.

The Watch 8’s design sets it apart from the competition, in a good way, and I think when you appreciate the way it looks, you’ll wear it with pride. That makes a difference long-term.

Feeling something for any product you put on your body lessens the chances you’ll want to quickly change it.

Given the choice between the four latest Samsung products, and after using all of them for several weeks, deciding on the two that would be my own choices was surprisingly easy. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 are the two I’d choose.