The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the first time I love a Samsung foldable

Reviewing a Galaxy Z Fold device is typically straightforward. I’ll enjoy using them and respect the technology, but the price usually results in me dismissing them as enthusiast devices, not suited for the average smartphone buyer. Samsung has made that conversation a bit more difficult this year with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It’s an oddly liveable phone for a book-style foldable, and I can see the merits of more casual users picking one up.

However, it’s still a $2,000 device, and underneath that very sleek exterior, some typical folding phone compromises are lurking to give you pause. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is Samsung’s best foldable effort yet, but it comes with a showstopping price tag. If you pick one up, you’d better know what you’re doing, because it’s not a device for the indecisive — here’s why.

Editor’s choice

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

8.5
/
10

SoC

Snapdragon 8 Elite

RAM

12GB or 16GB

Storage

256GB, 512GB, or 1TB

Battery

4,400mAh

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the thinnest and lightest in the series to date, integrating a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor for enhanced AI capabilities and a 200MP pro-grade camera. Built for enhanced durability with an Armor FlexHinge and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, the device features a wider 6.5-inch cover screen and unfolds into an expansive 8.0-inch main display for immersive viewing and productivity.

Pros & Cons

• Wider cover screen
• Excellent feel in the hand
• Fantastic performance

• $2,000 price tag
• Bettery life could be better
• Slow charging speeds

$2000 at Samsung
$2000 at Best Buy

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Price, specs, and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is available through Samsung and Best Buy starting at $2,000. The base configuration comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with a top-end model available featuring 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It’s available in four colors: Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jetblack, and Mint, with the last being a Samsung website exclusive.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 comes unlocked from Samsung and is compatible with all major service providers and most MVNOs.

Creature comforts make a difference

The phone we’ve been waiting for

Samsung highlighted a few key areas of complaint with the previous Galaxy Z Fold devices, hoping to alleviate some of the frustration expressed by buyers. It doesn’t go unappreciated, and I love that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 feels like a device I can live with. It fits snugly into a front pants pocket, and the enlarged cover display is excellent for typing.

Samsung not only made the cover screen larger, giving the Galaxy Z Fold 7 a 6.5-inch outer display. But it also made the panel wider, affording my thumbs some much-needed breathing room. It makes the Galaxy Z Fold 7 enjoyable to use on a day-to-day basis, and I no longer feel cheated if I need to spend most of my time using the cover screen.

Unfortunately, that brings me to the first drawback of the device — it’s not the same viewing experience you get from a substantially cheaper Galaxy S25 Ultra. The Galaxy Z Fold 7’s external panel is limited to 1080p. It also lacks the anti-reflective layer of the Galaxy S25 Ultra and doesn’t get as bright. Sure, I understand it’s not meant to be the centerpiece of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but it’s a stark reminder that if you’re someone who won’t get full enjoyment out of unfolding your phone, you should save your money.

I mentioned how the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is more livable this year, and much of that has to do with the feel. Previous generations were a bit bulky for one-handed use, but the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s thinness makes it just as pleasant to use in the hand as my Galaxy S25 Ultra. It’s a more significant change than you might think, and if you’re a casual user considering Samsung’s top foldable, it’s worth experiencing for yourself.

When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a delight to use. The expansive 8-inch display is bright and vibrant, and you will be genuinely impressed with how wonderful the phone feels in the hand. It’s a much easier phone to use one-handed this year, and I attribute much of that to the weight, or lack thereof. It’s a well-balanced phone, but the design isn’t without drawbacks.

An ultra-thin chassis and upgraded camera system result in noticeable table wobble for the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It’s not a dealbreaker, and other thin foldables overseas feature aggressive camera humps, but it’s something to consider. It also carries an IP48 rating, so while it’s still not a phone I’d run through the sand with, it’s less of a worry than in previous years.

Software to fit the experience

Samsung makes some much-needed changes with One UI 8

Android 16 runs well on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. There aren’t many visual changes or overhauls to One UI 8, but that’s to be expected given all the enhancements introduced with One UI 7. Samsung has done a significantly better job this year in giving us more uses for the larger internal display on the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

I have always appreciated the cool technology on older Galaxy Z Fold devices. Still, I didn’t need to pay that kind of premium for what amounted to a larger screen experience of the same apps and functions I have on a phone like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung needed to sell me on why I should pay for the gorgeous 8-inch screen on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and it’s started to do so.

It’s still not quite like Open Canvas on the OnePlus Open, but Samsung has improved multitasking on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. I love the 90:10 multitasking split, as it allows me to slide an app to the side of the screen and open it up as I need information. If a new notification arrives, I can slide the app back over, respond to the message, and return to what I was doing with minimal interruption — exactly how I’d want to interact with my apps.

Samsung also added other functions that make better use of the added screen real estate. If you’re editing photos, you’ll be able to see a side-by-side comparison of your changes. That’s useful for capturing the right shot for social media or just fooling around with images. It’s something I can’t do on my Galaxy S25 Ultra, and that’s the point.

Unfortunately, the software experience isn’t all bright spots. Now Brief is more in your face than ever, and it’s still a solution in search of a problem. I was encouraged when Samsung added features like traffic updates and parking spot reminders, but I’ve yet to get any use from them.

If you add the address of your appointments, Now Brief will provide you with traffic updates, which can be helpful, but I’ve never been able to get it to work consistently. I’m pleased that Samsung at least recognizes Now Brief needs to do more, but it’s a work in progress. Samsung DeX is available for diehard fans, and it runs smoothly with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Impressive performance and decent battery life

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is capable

It’s almost boring to talk about hardware performance on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy) is excellent — period. It chews through everything I throw at it, and I’ve yet to be disappointed with a smartphone powered by one. I initially had concerns about power efficiency when the chipset was released, but those fears proved unfounded. Paired with 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a top performer. I wish 16GB were the standard across the board, but at least Samsung offers the option for those willing to pay more for the 1TB model.

The battery life on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a mixed bag. Samsung didn’t see fit to increase battery size for 2025. As a result, this year’s Z Fold carries the same 4,400mAh cell as its predecessors. I understand Samsung wanted to keep the device thin, and yes, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is a more efficient chipset, resulting in better performance. I also wouldn’t consider battery life bad, as I’m able to make it through a full day of mixed use without issues.

However, I don’t spend $2,000 on a smartphone for just the usual Instagram scrolls and WhatsApp messages. Yes, I get decent performance with mixed use, but I want to utilize all the fancy features and extra screen real estate Samsung provides to the fullest.

If you’re a hardcore gamer or spend a lot of time messing with photos, you’ll notice the battery starts to drain away. It’s a struggle to keep a phone thin while increasing battery size, but I hope Samsung can find ways to fit slightly larger cells into thin devices going forward.

A flagship camera experience

Samsung listened to complaints

I never complained about camera performance on previous Galaxy Z Fold phones. I thought the performance was decent, and I didn’t think it was the massive drop-off other users complained about. Still, I understood the complaint — people paying an enormous amount of money for a phone want the best.

Samsung mostly delivers with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The 200MP primary sensor is a noticeable improvement. The photos are crisp with excellent color. The contrast is deep, and low-light performance has been significantly improved. If you were someone turned off by previous Galaxy Z Fold cameras, you’ll enjoy the experience this year. The natural depth added to photos is fantastic, and I’ve come to prefer Samsung’s color science to Google’s — I like a slightly warmer, saturated image.

The 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide round out a versatile camera lineup, and I see little reason to complain this year, even if we didn’t get the new 50MP ultrawide featured on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 7?

It’s always a multipart question when I’m asked if someone should buy a Samsung book-style foldable. If you’re a Galaxy Z Fold 4 or 5 user and enjoy your experience, you should absolutely pick up a Galaxy Z Fold 7. It takes everything you already love about the Z Fold and makes it better.

If you’ve been on the fence about foldabes in the past, and you’re worried about spending so much extra, it’s a more difficult conversation. Samsung has done more to make the Galaxy Z Fold 7 worth it for casual users. If you’re heavy on content creation on TikTok or Instagram or use your phone for work, the Z Fold 7 might finally be worth paying more for. It’s an excellent smartphone, and you’ll enjoy using it — just have a plan in mind before you spend $2,000.

Editor’s choice

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

8.5
/
10

SoC

Snapdragon 8 Elite

RAM

12GB or 16GB

Storage

256GB, 512GB, or 1TB

Battery

4,400mAh

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the best Samsung foldable to date, and it’s the first time I would recommend casual users take the plunge if they are curious. Samsung has taken steps to make the larger inner display more useful, and I like the improved multitasking. All told, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a good choice for many, if you can stomach the price.

$2000 at Samsung
$2000 at Best Buy

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