Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Long-Term Review: The Ultimate Foldable Experience

Samsung has finally delivered a foldable phone that justifies its premium positioning with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. After spending several months with the device, it's clear that this is not just an incremental upgrade but a transformative leap in foldable technology.

Design and Build The Z Fold 7 redefine what users expect from foldable phones. At 215 grams, it is the lightest foldable on the market, even lighter than flagship non-foldables like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Its slim profile makes it incredibly portable, to the point where users might forget it can fold. Samsung has also enhanced durability with a stronger armor aluminum frame, improved hinge protection capable of surviving 500,000 folds, and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the cover display. Despite these advances, the IP48 rating still leaves room for dust particles to enter through the hinge.

Displays The Z Fold 7 features a 6.5-inch FHD+ AMOLED cover display and an impressive 8.0-inch QXGA+ AMOLED inner display, both boasting a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The screens deliver vibrant colors, excellent brightness levels around 1,400 nits, and minimal screen crease compared to previous models. However, the absence of an anti-reflective coating and stylus support on the inner display are notable omissions.

Performance Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, 12 or 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage, the Z Fold 7 offers unparalleled performance. Android 16 with One UI 8 provides a refined user experience, including new multitasking features like the 90/10 split-screen mode and side-by-side editing for photos. The device also supports 7 years of software updates, ensuring long-term usability.

Battery and Charging The 4,400 mAh battery is a carryover from last year, resulting in screen-on time of around 5 to 6 hours, which is disappointing. Wired charging is limited to 25W, and wireless options include 15W and 4.5W reverse charging. The thin design limits the space for a larger battery or more advanced cooling solutions.

Camera Capabilities The Z Fold 7 sports a 200MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide with autofocus, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens. While it performs well in most scenarios, especially for close-up shots, it falls short of the Galaxy S25 Ultra in zoom capabilities due to the absence of a periscope lens. Video recording is strong, supporting 4K at 60fps across all cameras, though low-light performance could be better.

Verdict The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 stands out as the best foldable phone available today, offering a blend of elegant design, powerful performance, and versatile functionality. While it has minor flaws like average battery life and speaker quality, these are overshadowed by its overall excellence. For users who can justify the premium price, the Z Fold 7 represents the future of foldable smartphones.