With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung has as soon as once more demonstrated its capability to reinvent the foldable section. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 was a terrific system, however it adopted a design language that did not really feel like an improve over its predecessor. Samsung, throughout closed-door briefings for the Fold 7, claimed that it nearly made the brand new foldable from the bottom up. And, the second you maintain the Fold 7 and 6 concurrently in your palms, you may see for your self the big distinction. Whereas in fact, the modern profile is the most important spotlight of the Fold 7, the upgrades do not cease there.

Aside from being thinner and lighter than its predecessor, the Fold 7 encompasses a cowl display improve that means that you can use it like a daily bar cellphone, offering extra display actual property. Even the inside show receives a bump in measurement, matching that of a small-screen pill. After all, the digital camera will get an enormous improve over the Fold 6, which we’ll break down in our digital camera part. Samsung hasn’t simply saved the surprises restricted to {hardware}, but additionally on the software program aspect.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is amongst a handful of gadgets that launch with One UI 8 based mostly on Android 16 out of the field. Sure, the brand new Pixel launch remains to be just a few days away on the time of penning this assessment, however we are able to expertise the most recent OS on a non-Pixel system. Nevertheless, one other bump Samsung has handed on the Fold 7 is in pricing, from the Galaxy Z Fold 6‘s launch value of Rs. 164,999 (for the 12GB + 256GB variant). You’ll have to shell out Rs. 1,74,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The highest-of-the-line variant, that includes 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, is priced at Rs. 2,16,999. Sure, the Fold 7 is at present the one smartphone in India that exceeds the Rs. 2 lakh threshold. A feat I wasn’t able to see this 12 months!

Pricing apart, is the Galaxy Z Fold 7 the best and finest foldable system Samsung has but produced? Let me reply that on this assessment.

The Fold 7, very similar to different premium Samsung telephones, does not ship with a charger

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Design: Skinny is in

• Dimensions – 158.4×143.2×4.2mm
• Weight – 215 grams
• IP Ranking – IP48

Samsung has nailed the design this 12 months. The corporate has simply resolved the most important ache level, which was associated to the book-style foldables – thickness. At 4.2mm (unfolded), the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the slimmest foldable obtainable in India. At 215 grams, the Fold 7 is lighter than some non-folding gadgets on sale in India. To place some context, the Fold 7 is lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max (227 grams) and even the Vivo X Fold 5 (217 grams), its closest rival. The truth is, it’s lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (218 grams). Now you may think about how extremely light-weight Fold 7 is.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighs 215 grams

Leaping to the hinge, which is the spine of a foldable system. This 12 months, Samsung has revamped the hinge and launched a brand new Armour FlexHinge, which the corporate claimed in its keynote presentation is compact and considerably extra sturdy than the one seen on the Fold 6. Due to the brand new hinge design, the crease is generally invisible throughout common use until you begin being nitpicky. With the brand new hinge design, the system does, in its preliminary days, really feel tighter and will get robust to open typically – particularly when you will have sweaty palms. One other factor that immediately caught my consideration was the perimeters of the cellphone. It tends to dig into your palms with common use, and a curved remedy would have been extra appropriate. A workaround for that is to make use of a case that resolves the difficulty.

Samsung says that the up to date Armour aluminium within the body and hinge housing will increase power and hardness by 10%

For defense, Samsung has used Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the quilt show whereas the again panel will get Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The aluminium armour feels premium in hand, and, in fact, provides sufficient confidence whereas in each day use. In comparison with the Fold 6, the Fold 7 is now wider and taller in design – and belief me, each these components affect on a regular basis utilization in a great way. Now you can use the quilt display of the Fold 7 as a daily cellphone. The ability button integrates a fingerprint scanner, making it handy to make use of and simply accessible whereas utilizing the Fold 7 with only one hand. The amount rocker buttons are additionally simple to succeed in when utilizing with only one hand and are additionally tactile sufficient. The Fold 7, nonetheless, is a really slippery system, and at occasions, I needed to be further cautious when taking it out of my pocket or selecting it up from the desk.

The quilt display on the Fold 7 (on the fitting) visibly seems greater than the one on the Fold 6 (on the left)

On the again, the Fold 7 takes inspiration from the Fold 6, however upon nearer inspection, you realise that the digital camera housings at the moment are protruding greater than in its predecessor, to such an extent that the Fold 7 wobbles on a flat floor when positioned with the show dealing with upwards. For water ingress safety, Samsung has added an IP48 score. Sadly, the Fold 7 nonetheless does not get a mud safety score, which implies you’ll have to take further care of this expensive system.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 8.9 mm in thickness when folded and 4.2 mm when unfolded

In India, the Fold 7 is out there in Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, and Jet Black colors. I obtained the Blue Shadow for this assessment, and it is among the most placing colors. Total, the Fold 7 is an improve that feels leaps and bounds forward of the Fold 6 in additional methods than your eyes can see.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Show: Strong improve

• Show – Principal: 8-inch foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X with 1968×2184 pixels, 2600nits, 368PPI, 120Hz
• Cowl: 6.5-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X with 1080×2520 pixels, 422PPI
• Further options – Titanium plate layer for show assist

The shows on the Fold 7 have obtained an improve, and that makes the foldable splendid to be used as a bar cellphone. Beginning with the quilt show, the Fold 7 encompasses a 6.5-inch display, in comparison with the Fold 6’s 6.3-inch display. The decision has additionally been upgraded, now providing 1080×2520 pixels and a 422 PPI pixel density. It options an LTPO AMOLED display and consists of all of the modern-day options, akin to a 120Hz refresh fee and HDR10+ assist.

The cellphone provides 2600 nits of peak brightness

Leaping to the inside show, Samsung has massively bumped the display measurement from 7.6 inches to eight inches on the Fold 7. This implies you will have a show as massive as an 8-inch pill. It’s a foldable LTPO OLED panel that includes a 120Hz refresh fee, HDR10+ assist, 368 PPI, and a decision of 1968×2184 pixels. You additionally get HDR streaming on Netflix, YouTube and different OTT platforms. Samsung has as soon as once more dropped Dolby Imaginative and prescient assist, however it’s unlikely that you’re going to discover the distinction in day-to-day utilization. It helps peak brightness of 2600nits.

The 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x inside show provides wealthy distinction, true blacks and vibrant particulars

Each shows are vivid sufficient for use underneath direct daylight and provide crisp photographs and sharp textual content. The Fold 7 is a enjoyable system for all media consumption, whether or not for gaming, binge-watching, or studying. With two shows, the person has the liberty to decide on the facet ratio and display measurement wherein they need to eat media on the Fold 7—a alternative that your common system does not provide.

Total, the shows on the Fold 7 elevate the person expertise, providing a greater facet ratio and display measurement. The standard, doubtless, is among the many finest I’ve seen on a foldable recently.

Each shows keep dazzlingly seen even in direct daylight

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Digicam: Impressed by the very best

• 200-megapixel major sensor with f/1.7 aperture, PDAF, OIS
• 10-megapixel telephoto sensor with PDAF, f/2.4 and 3x optical zoom
• 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with f/2.2 and twin pixel PDAF
• Cowl selfie digital camera – 10-megapixel sensor
• Principal – 10-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture
• Video assist – 8K at 30fps, 4K at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps

The digital camera division on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will get the most important replace. First up, it will get the identical major sensor because the Galaxy S25 Extremely and S25 Edge – a 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP2 with PDAF, OIS, and f/1.7 aperture. The 12-megapixel Sony IMX564 ultrawide digital camera is identical as final 12 months, however one essential addition is autofocus assist, which was lacking on its predecessor. There’s additionally a devoted 10-megapixel telephoto (3x) Samsung ISOCELL 3K1 sensor with PDAF and f/2.4 aperture. Each selfie cameras have additionally obtained a minor replace, now that includes a 10-megapixel Sony IMX374 sensor on the quilt and inside show. Samsung, nonetheless, selected to stay with fastened focus for some purpose.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 options the primary 200-megapixel major digital camera within the Galaxy Z collection

Leaping straight to real-world efficiency, the first digital camera is the Fold 7’s largest power. As I discussed within the efficiency part, the upgrades on the most recent foldable make it a real flagship. The 200-megapixel sensor can take some beautiful daylight pictures with plentiful particulars and correct colors. The sharpness is on level, and the dynamic vary is superb. The pores and skin tones and textures additionally come out effectively on the first digital camera. The 2x pictures from the first digital camera are additionally first rate, and we do not see a lot element loss. Even the portrait pictures come out effectively with good topic isolation and a superb quantity of blur—some samples under in your reference.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 daylight samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

Switching to the telephoto digital camera (3x), the Fold 7 proves to be a succesful shooter, boasting a strong setup for zoom pictures. In daylight, the telephoto manages to seize loads of particulars.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 telephoto (3x) samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

The zoom efficiency of the Fold 7 can be first rate, though the digital zoom is primarily unusable, and you shouldn’t exceed 10x. Like within the photographs under, you may see the zoom efficiency of the Fold 7

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 telephoto (3x) pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 10x pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 20x zoom pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 30x pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

The ultrawide digital camera with autofocus assist has been a terrific addition to the Fold 7, one thing I missed on the Fold 6. The dynamic vary is nice, and particulars are first rate. The color accuracy and sharpness are additionally good, and you’ll examine some samples under. Nevertheless, the ultrawide sensor is not pretty much as good as the first digital camera, which should not come as a shock.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 ultrawide digital camera samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

For selfies, the Fold 7 provides twin cameras – one on the quilt display and one other on the inside show. Each are succesful, and you’ll not be disenchanted. The pores and skin tones are captured effectively, and there are sufficient particulars. The daylight selfies are top-notch, whereas low-light selfies lose some particulars, and a few quantity of grain can be seen within the selfies.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 indoor digital camera samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

Shifting on to the low-light efficiency of the Fold 7, I am not as impressed as I’m with the S25 Extremely, however it nonetheless excels within the foldable class. The small print drop a bit in pitch-dark circumstances, whereas color accuracy can be barely off. Among the evening samples I clicked got here out as delicate and had loads of noise. Nevertheless, the digital camera does justice when there is a gentle supply round and it type of nails the body with correct colors, a superb quantity of particulars, higher white stability, and managed noise. The telephoto and ultrawide samples in low gentle are inferior to the first digital camera, however are usable in your social media uploads.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 low-light digital camera samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

This 12 months, Samsung has additionally upped the ante in terms of video high quality. It might file as much as 8K at 30 frames per second (fps) with the first digital camera. It might additionally file slow-motion movies at 240fps in Full HD and 120fps in Full HD. For skilled customers, the corporate has added the Galaxy Log video characteristic, which lets you obtain these movies to your system and carry out color grading. There’s additionally an AI Audio Eraser characteristic on the Fold 7 that can allow you to regulate volumes of various components within the video. The video high quality is superb from the first digital camera.

Total, the Galaxy Fold 7 is a huge leap when it comes to cameras for the Samsung line-up and places it subsequent to the very best – Galaxy S25 Extremely.

The cellphone sports activities a 10-megapixel 100-degree digital camera on the principle show that expands the body

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Efficiency: Lastly, a foldable that seems like a flagship

• Processor – Snapdragon 8 Elite
• RAM and storage – 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB, 16GB + 1 TB
• OS – Android 16 based mostly One UI 8

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 options the top-tier processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, which has been seen in Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Extremely this 12 months. Day-after-day duties are dealt with easily, and there aren’t any points with multitasking. The app opens tremendous rapidly, and switching between apps is easy. Whereas Samsung is not pushing the Fold 7 as a gaming system, this foldable is a really succesful one.

The Galaxy Z Fold7 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, which additionally powers the Galaxy S25 Extremely

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is out there in three RAM and storage configurations: 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, 12GB of RAM with 512GB of storage, and 16GB of RAM with 1TB of storage. Samsung ought to have provided a 16GB RAM possibility for all SKUs, contemplating the substantial price ticket. Samsung makes use of LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 on the Fold 7. To supply a greater perspective, I ran our suite of artificial benchmark apps, and the outcomes are under, in comparison with the Fold 6.

Benchmark	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Cowl/ Principal)	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Cowl/ Principal)	Pixel 9 Professional Fold (Cowl/Principal)
AnTuTu v10	1,820,509 / 1,845,876	1,642,118 / 1,695,896	11,15,037 / 10,65,151
PCMark Work 3.0	15,854 / 16,187	18,688 / 18,460	13,686 / 12,744
Geekbench 6 Single	1,784/ 1,923	2,216/ 2,197	1,872 / 1,651
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,239/ 8,798	6,725/ 6,689	3,734 / 3,971
GFXB T-rex (fps)	120 / 120	120 / 120	120 / 119
GFXB Manhattan 3.1 (fps)	120 / 120	120 / 120	119 / 86
GFXB Automotive Chase (fps)	119 / 119	119 / 119	78 / 49
3DM Slingshot Excessive OpenGL ES 3.1	Maxed Out / Maxed Out	Maxed Out / Maxed Out	Maxed Out / Maxed Out
3DM Slingshot	Maxed Out / Maxed Out	Maxed Out / Maxed Out	Maxed Out / Maxed Out
3DM Wild Life	16,474 / 16,742	15,678 / 15,210	8,683 / Maxed Out
3DM Wild Life Stress Take a look at	18,871 / 18,336	18,786 / 17,898	8,948 / 9,273

The foldable does get heat whereas gaming and when utilizing the cellphone for prolonged intervals, akin to for navigation or when the digital camera app is in use. But it surely by no means reaches some extent the place it turns into too heat to deal with.

The audio system on the Fold 7 aren’t very loud, however are ok to fill a medium-sized room, and the readability is there. Calls on the cellphone are first rate, with no name drops as a result of community points or the handset’s lack of ability to latch on to networks. I examined the Fold 7 for 5G on Airtel and Jio networks, and it really works with out a sweat. One of many strengths of the Fold 7 is its capability to latch onto a cell community in areas with restricted connectivity, akin to basements or inside elevators.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 runs One UI 8 on Android 16 out of the field

Due to the slim profile and an prolonged facet ratio, the Fold 7’s cowl display can be utilized as a daily cellphone, and I had a good time typing lengthy emails, texts, and even performing some gentle picture modifying on apps like Canva. In the actual world, the Fold 7 is gentle years forward of the Fold 6, which was powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

Leaping to the software program aspect, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is amongst a handful of Samsung gadgets launching earlier than the brand new Pixels with Android 16. That is one thing we do not usually see, however that is additionally Samsung for you. The One UI 8 relies on Android 16. Speaking concerning the interface typically, the One UI 8 does not convey ground-breaking modifications, as One UI 7 final 12 months already launched large upgrades.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 customers shall be among the many first to get entry to expertise Android 16

Very similar to Android 16, which focuses on enhancing the under-the-hood features of the UI, One UI 8 additionally brings minor modifications, together with an improved split-screen multitasking characteristic (90:10 from the sooner 70:30 cut up). The Now Bar and Now Transient are a part of One UI 8 and shall be rolled out to all suitable gadgets. The Now transient will present personalised briefings with advised content material and actions that replace in real-time, relying on the time of day you examine. It sits on the Dwelling display and is a pleasant contact. The Reminder app has additionally undergone an overhaul and can function a companion app for planning your subsequent household vacation. It might additionally take your to-do lists and drop you reminders on time. The Fast Share has additionally obtained some upgrades, making it simple to share information with only one faucet.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 brings AI options like Gemini Dwell, Photograph Help, Portrait Studio, Audio Eraser, and Circle to Search, amongst others

After all, there’s the same old AI suite of options, together with Name Help, Writing Help, Interpreter, Word Help, Transcript Help, Looking Help, Photograph Help, Drawing Help, Audio Eraser, Photograph Ambient Wallpaper, and Well being Help.

The digital camera app additionally receives helpful additions that allow you to swipe up or down to change between rear and entrance cameras. The default looking app has additionally obtained an replace that shows all choices for sharing and different options within the menu. Total, One UI 8 is a pleasant replace for Samsung customers, and it turns out to be useful on the Fold 7.

Samsung claims that the principle show has been redesigned to be thinner, lighter, but stronger

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Battery: Standard, standard

• Battery – 4400mAh unit
• Charging assist – 25W wired and 15W wi-fi
• Charging velocity – 50% in half-hour

If there’s one division that fully missed the improve cycle on the Fold 7, it needs to be the battery. The cellphone packs the identical 4,400mAh battery, which, on paper, seems to be on the decrease aspect when in comparison with new-age flagships launched this 12 months. The charging velocity is once more an Achilles’ heel for the Fold 7, capped at 25W.

There’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the again of the Fold 7

In real-world utilization, the Fold 7 lasts a couple of day with a full cost and provides a screen-on time of over 5 hours. I most popular a barely higher battery backup. The great factor is that Samsung now provides a variety of granular controls for battery settings, permitting you to restrict charging to 80% or barely extra.

When folded, the Galaxy Fold 7 can be utilized with only one hand with ease

For charging, the Fold 7 takes roughly half-hour to cost to 50%, whereas a full cost (0-100%) takes round 80-90 minutes. That is on the decrease aspect, and I want Samsung might have acknowledged this difficulty.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Verdict

This 12 months, Samsung has made positive that its Fold 7 comes out as a strong package deal combining energy and panache. It provides top-tier specs in a fantastically crafted, modern physique that may flip heads. It encompasses a top-tier processor that ensures uncompromising efficiency, after which there is a large digital camera improve that brings the very best from the Galaxy S25 Extremely. The One UI 8, based mostly on Android 16 with 7 years of software program assist, is the very best you may get on any Android system for the time being. The light-weight and modern design is the USP of the system, fixing the foldable conundrum that has been there for years.

The Fold 7 begins at Rs. 174,999 and goes as much as Rs. 216,999

After all, there are just a few ache factors, such because the charging velocity now feeling dated, and I want Samsung had acknowledged it this 12 months. The battery efficiency is not one thing that units a benchmark, and with the lacking S Pen assist, the Fold loses its attraction as a real multitasking system. Not skipping the worth bump, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an costly system, very similar to its predecessor.

The upgraded Armour FlexHinge is thinner and lighter, because of a newly applied multi-rail construction that reduces seen creasing

For alternate options, the Galaxy S25 Extremely is a solid contender for the Fold 7, if anybody needs a non-folding system. The Vivo X Fold 5 is the closest rival within the book-style folding section. Within the coming days, we are able to anticipate the new Pixel Fold from Google to affix the foldables league.