The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is even making Apple loyalists look sideways

Six years ago, Samsung did something no other manufacturer dared to do – it released a real foldable phone, one you could actually buy. It was a bold move, and the response matched: The first generation of the Fold was sent to journalists, and some of the devices simply broke during reviews. The screen was too sensitive, the hinge problematic, the protective layer peeled off, and the overall design felt like a lab experiment released a bit too early.

Even I looked at that product back then and didn’t understand the insistence. It felt like a technological solution looking for a problem. For several generations, each new version was slightly better – but still not quite enough to make the Fold a device I could wholeheartedly recommend.

Until now.

I come from the Apple world. Most of my digital life is wrapped in its ecosystem – and for better or worse, none of Samsung’s foldables until now made me pause and think, “Maybe it’s time for a change.” But the seventh generation of the Fold, even if it doesn’t look different in photos and the concept – a phone that opens like a book – hasn’t changed, still feels completely different in use. It’s thinner, more complete, more stable – and most importantly: It no longer feels like a tech showcase. It feels like an everyday smartphone. One that proves that in the end, Samsung’s persistence was justified. That it wasn’t chasing a fantasy – but building a real solution for a new way to use a phone.

We returned from the launch in New York, got the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for an in-depth review – and came back with a clear conclusion: we were wrong. And Samsung, through quiet and consistent work over seven generations, managed to achieve the impossible.

We knew it would be thinner. The rumors said so. Samsung hinted. But no photo or video really prepares you for the moment you hold the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in your hand for the first time. It doesn’t feel like a minor upgrade from the previous generation – it feels like a new category.

When open, it’s only 4.2 mm thick. When closed – 8.9 mm. And it’s not just thin – it’s 26% thinner than the Fold 6, which is a massive engineering improvement for a seventh generation. The weight has also dropped – only 215 grams – placing the device almost in the same range as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and even slightly narrower. Considering this is a foldable with two screens and a complex hinge – this is nothing short of a revolution.

In practice, when you hold it – it just feels unreal. It’s light, slim, and just as importantly – balanced. Not heavy on one side, not thick in the center, no adjustment period required. Within minutes you forget you’re using a foldable device. And that’s the point.

The previous generation – the Fold 6 – suddenly feels clunky next to it. Thick, heavy, like an early draft of an idea. The Fold 7 manages, almost for the first time, to feel like a complete device – not like a prototype rushed to production.

Samsung also finally ditched the attempt to hide the internal selfie camera under the screen – and went with a simple and direct 10MP hole-punch camera. Yes, there’s now a small black dot on the display, but the gain in photo quality is worth it. The screen itself also got bigger – so there’s enough space around it to not really notice.

This step forward also requires sacrifices. Samsung chose to drop support for the S Pen – a logical move if you understand that it was previously enabled by an extra screen layer that was removed here for thinness. It’s a bit disappointing for those who loved the stylus on a foldable screen, but honestly? If the price of the pen is double the thickness – no one will really miss it.

And for the nitpickers – note that the screen doesn’t always open to exactly 180 degrees, but stops at 179, like the Pixel Fold once did. You won’t notice it in use, but if you’re into measuring things with a ruler – now you know.

If you’ve tried one of the previous Fold generations, you probably remember that moment when you open the device, see the big screen – and then realize it’s nice, but… feels a bit cramped. Not as dazzling as expected. The crease in the center? Always there. The camera? Hiding under pixels. Impressive experience – but not really smooth. With the Fold 7, it’s a whole different story.

The internal screen here is simply a delight. First of all – it got bigger. From 7.6 inches to a full 8 inches. That may sound like a small upgrade, but when you see it – you feel it. More room for text, videos, multitasking. Not “almost a tablet” – a tablet.

And the crease? Almost completely gone. It’s still there if you look at it from a certain angle when the screen is off, or under strong lighting, but the moment the display lights up – it disappears. The new hinge Samsung designed allows the screen to fold inward in a way that distributes pressure more intelligently, and together with a new reinforcement layer behind the panel – it just works.

Brightness improved (up to 2,600 nits, which is a lot), refresh rate varies from 1 to 120 Hz – as usual – and the colors here feel like someone personally fine-tuned them. Everything looks sharp, rich, and accurate. Even compared to competitors like Google’s Pixel Fold – Samsung’s display is still a step ahead.

The internal camera, by the way, is no longer hidden. Samsung went back to a regular tiny hole in the screen. It may slightly break the visual continuity, but on the other hand – you can finally take a selfie without feeling like you’re using a disguised hidden camera. And after two days, your eyes just ignore it.

The external screen, by the way, also saw a significant change – but more on that next. It deserves its own section.

One of the most annoying things about foldables is the external screen. On most models, it felt like something temporary – a quick glance for notifications or to answer a call. With the Fold 7, that’s no longer the case.

The external screen is 6.5 inches, and feels very, very close to what we’re used to in “regular” smartphones. Its ratio is less narrow than usual – more phone-like. Almost. It needed about 3–4 mm more in width to reach perfection – and that’s a bit of a shame, because it’s so close.

And what’s really a bit disappointing is that Samsung didn’t fully commit to the concept. The black bezels around the screen – especially top and bottom – stand out. Nothing critical, but enough to make you wonder why they didn’t just give us an edge-to-edge display. It feels like a design miss in a generation that’s nearly perfect in every other area.

Still – the actual experience is excellent. The screen is sharp, bright, super responsive, and most importantly: Comfortable. You can easily skip songs, answer messages, check emails or even watch a video without opening the device. It’s likely some users will find they prefer working from the external screen on a daily basis – simply because it’s good enough for that.

And by the way, a small word to all foldable manufacturers: Maybe it’s time to add a microscopic button that gives a little push to help open the device? Not everyone walks around with nails ready for the job.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 comes with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip – which means it’s equipped with the same chip powering nearly every flagship phone in 2025. Paired with 12 GB of RAM (depending on the model) and large storage, nothing here is surprising: Performance is very good, as expected.

Apps open fast, transitions are smooth, and multitasking works without drama. Even under heavy use – multiple open apps, half an hour on YouTube, switching between games, Telegram, Chrome, Google Docs – everything runs. No unusual heating or sudden slowdowns were observed, at least not during regular daily use.

In any case, there’s no dramatic leap from the Fold 6, but certainly a stable improvement – mainly in overall flow. And that’s exactly what this device needed: Not just power for power’s sake, but speed that enhances the experience.

Taking photos with a tablet is embarrassing. There’s no nice way to put it. It always looks clunky and is about as awkward as walking around with a selfie stick in 2025. But it seems that in the near future, we’ll start getting used to a new sight – people taking pictures with tablet-like screens, only this time they’re not tablets, but foldables. And the Fold 7? It comes with an advanced camera system, one that justifies the device’s price.

The biggest innovation is in the main camera – upgraded to 200MP, just like the S25 Ultra. It delivers very high-level results: Sharpness, rich colors (sometimes a bit too rich), and impressive detail. By default, photos are saved at 12MP resolution (with pixel binning), but with one tap, you can switch to 50 or 200MP.

In good lighting conditions, the colors look great – warm, rich, sometimes exaggerated but definitely impressive. Even at night – the main camera manages to maintain sharpness and detail.

Beyond the main camera, Samsung cautiously tweaked the other modules. The ultra-wide stays at 12MP but now includes an auto macro mode, which works well as long as you don’t move too much. There’s distortion at the edges, as always with wide angles, but most photos are usable – especially in good lighting.

The telephoto camera remains at 10MP with 3x optical zoom, and up to 30x hybrid zoom. In the selfie department, Samsung cleaned things up a bit: The external screen camera includes an especially wide 100-degree field of view – great for group shots without effort. And the internal camera, previously hidden under pixel layers – no longer hides anything. Just a small, clean hole that gives sharper images. Less impressive visually, but much more practical.

The camera interface remains packed – in a good way. There are portrait, night, slow-motion, manual video, RAW photo, “Single Take,” “Dual Recording,” and more. Not everything is relevant for everyone, but it’s nice to know it’s there when you want to experiment.

Bottom Line – this is a camera system that justifies itself. Not because it’s revolutionary, but because it’s stable, complete, and finally feels like something you can rely on. That’s a real change from previous years, when the cameras were “good for a foldable.” This time – they’re just good. Period.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the most impressive foldable Samsung has ever made. Period. And it’s not just because of the powerful processor, the stunning screen, or the new camera. It’s because of the quiet, meticulous work done on every tiny detail to finally make this device feel like a real smartphone. One you can hold in one hand, slip into a pocket, use without a second thought – then open it and get a tablet-sized screen.

It’s thin – in a way that’s hard to explain without holding it. It’s relatively light. The crease is almost gone. The external screen is convenient, the internal screen is addictive, and the whole package feels tighter than ever. This isn’t a tech demo – it’s a complete product. But all of this comes with a price tag that quickly brings you back down to earth: Starting at NIS 7,499, and the price only rises if you choose more storage. It’s very expensive – even compared to regular smartphones, and especially compared to a folding market that’s slowly expanding.

Still – you can’t take credit away from Samsung. It didn’t give up, didn’t rest on its laurels, and didn’t try to sell more of the same. It took the boldest format of the last decade and turned it into something many more people can connect with. Not just gadget lovers.

And so, even if it’s expensive, even if it’s not perfect – the Fold 7 is the first device in the genre that feels truly relevant. Not a prototype, not a tech hobby – but a real alternative to the “regular” smartphone you’re holding right now.