Hands-on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Samsung is back in the foldable game with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, fresh off the stage at Unpacked 2025. At first glance, it might look like a minor update from the Fold 6 — but don’t be fooled. A revamped hinge, productivity-focused features, and (yes!) AI that feels useful at last are all features of this latest iteration.
It was a chance for me to try it out. Here’s the deep dive, especially for those of you who care about more than just “a new look.”
Hands-on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Sleeker, Lighter, Tougher: A Major Design Refresh
Let’s start with what you’ll notice right away: the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is just 11.2mm thick when closed, and 5.8mm when unfolded. That makes it the thinnest Fold to date — even thinner than an iPad Mini when fully opened.
The new “Flex Hinge 2.0” isn’t just a branding update. When unfolded, the screen lies almost completely flat with barely visible crease lines. Samsung claims the hinge is now rated for up to 400,000 folds — so you could open and close it 100 times a day for 10 years and still be good.
They’ve also upgraded the materials: Armor Aluminum frame (Gen 2) with IP48 rating for dust and splash resistance. Not fully waterproof yet, but a solid upgrade nonetheless.
The Display: Compact Outside, Spacious Inside
The Fold 7 retains its signature 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display with adaptive 1–120Hz refresh rate, QXGA+ resolution, and HDR10+ support. But the real change is in feel: the Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) layer is now thicker and sturdier, giving it a glass-like touch experience.
The cover display also gets an upgrade — 6.5 inches, FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz — with a more natural aspect ratio, making it feel like a regular candy bar phone. Perfect for one-handed texting, social scrolling, or firing off quick emails.
Performance & Battery: Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 “Elite Edition”
Under the hood, Fold 7 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite Edition, tuned specifically for foldables. Our hands-on unit had 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB UFS 4.0 storage.
Quick test results:
- Three-app multitasking was buttery smooth
- Lightroom and Excel launched in a snap
- The device stayed cool even during 4K video editing
The 4,400mAh battery may look unchanged, but power efficiency has clearly improved. Thanks to the adaptive refresh rate and AI-based Battery Management, we saw 7+ hours of screen-on time in mixed-use conditions.
However, the charging rates—25W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless—remain constant. It’s enough, but we’re hoping for a boost next year.
Cameras: 200MP Hardware, but the Real Magic Is in the Software
For the first time ever, a Fold gets a true flagship sensor: a 200MP ISOCELL HP2 main camera, supported by a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP 3x telephoto.
Image quality? Surprisingly bright, crisp, and sharp in dim light. But Fold 7’s biggest leap isn’t just hardware — it’s what the AI can do:
- Photo Assist: offers real-time composition tips
- AI Eraser: cleanly removes objects without destroying the background
- Digital zoom images are sharpened with AI Zoom Enhance, which produces less noise.
Best part? These tools run directly in the gallery app. No cloud syncing or third-party apps needed.
Foldable Features & Multitasking: No Longer Just a Gimmick
If you’re the productive type, this section’s for you. The Fold 7 is the most sophisticated foldable Samsung has ever provided, and it comes with One UI 8 (based on Android 16).
- Dynamic Taskbar: think mini desktop — drag and drop across apps
- App Continuity: seamless handoff between folded and unfolded modes
- Pop-up View & Flex Mode: perfect for video calls, dual-previewing, or slide presentations
Unfortunately, the standard Fold 7 does not yet support the S Pen. Samsung’s keeping that exclusive to the Galaxy Fold Ultra (also announced at Unpacked 2025). A bit of a letdown for creators and digital note-takers.
Price & Variants: Premium Fold, Premium Price
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has the following storage options and three different finishes: Titan Black, Silver Blue, and Sandstone Beige.
- 12GB + 256GB: Rp28,499,000
- 12GB + 512GB: Rp31,999,000
- 12GB + 1TB: Rp34,999,000
Pre-orders opened right after the Unpacked event, with Samsung bundling a free Galaxy Watch 7 and 1-year Samsung Care+ coverage.
Final Verdict: Should You Upgrade?
If you’re using a Fold 4 or older — this is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for. It’s thinner, better looking, faster, and smarter with meaningful camera and multitasking enhancements.
For Fold 6 owners? Unless you’re craving a flatter screen, lighter build, or AI tools, it might not be a must-have. And the lack of S Pen support could be a dealbreaker.
Nevertheless, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 makes it very evident that foldables are no longer just a tech demonstration. They’re the new standard.
