Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 first impressions: Polished where it counts
Samsung has announced its latest foldable smartphone – the Galaxy Z Fold7 – at the Galaxy Unpacked July 2025 event. The phone appears to bring the improvements on almost all fronts, including the ones – users were asking for for years now. For instance, the crease is almost gone, the thickness is just 8.9mm when folded, and the camera has been bumped up to 200MP.
I tried the new Galaxy Z Fold7 for a while, and here are my initial thoughts about it.
Galaxy Z Fold7 is a looker Remember the Galaxy S25 Edge – the slim 5.8mm phone that launched a month ago? Well, the Galaxy Z Fold7 builds upon that slim design and form factor. You’ll notice the change the moment you pick it up. The Galaxy Z Fold7 is lighter — 215g compared to last year’s 253g — and thinner too, especially when folded (now just 8.9mm) – Galaxy S25 Ultra is 8.2mm thick, by the way. From the looks of it, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is sleek, sharp and shredded.
2/7
Durability is in check, too The hinge feels tighter and cleaner. Samsung has quietly redesigned it with a new multi-rail structure and a water-drop fold that leaves less of a visible crease on the inner screen, and that’s perhaps the biggest change most people will notice. Durability improvements are subtle but reassuring: Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the cover, Armor Aluminium on the frame, and a thicker UTG layer on the main display. Samsung foldables have started feeling less fragile over the past several generations, and this one feels even more reassuring when it comes to build quality and durability. Yes, it comes with the IP48 rating as well.
3/7
As natural as a bar phone It has lost weight and inches all over, but it still folds like a book, and still clicks satisfyingly into place, but the dimensions make all the difference. The cover screen — now 6.5 inches in a 21:9 aspect ratio — feels more usable than ever. It’s still narrower than a traditional slab, but typing and swiping no longer feel cramped, and the overall experience is like a candy bar phone Unfold it and the Fold7 reveals a brighter, more expansive 8-inch AMOLED panel that now peaks at 2,600 nits. The bezels are slimmer, the crease is harder to notice, and Samsung’s Vision Booster tech makes it usable and crisp in almost all scenarios.
4/7
Software that’s designed and tuned for foldables Hardware is just one part of the Galaxy Z Fold7. It’s the software that unlocks the real utility. One UI 8, built on Android 16, finally feels designed for a foldable. Multitasking features like pop-up windows, split-screen suggestions, and drag-and-drop gestures work smoothly across apps. You can review edits on one half of the screen while keeping the original visible on the other. It feels natural — not something you wrestle with, and more usable in day-to-day life. The AI features tucked inside are less flashy and more functional. You can clean up photos with Generative Edit, remove background noise from videos using Audio Eraser, and translate text in real-time using the camera. Most of it happens on-device now, thanks to the new chip.
Flagship performance The Galaxy Z Fold7 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, and the gains are visible in everyday use. In the short time I spent with it, the performance was snappy. Apps open faster, AI tools run locally without lag, and I didn’t have an option to try games on it. But, I have used and reviewed the Galaxy S25 Edge – runs the same chip – in that slim form factor and with that, I can say that Galaxy Z Fold7 won’t be any slouch when it comes to performance. While the battery capacity remains unchanged, the more efficient nature of the Snapdragon 8 Elite + the optimisation of One UI 8 will make a big difference. I will have to use the phone long enough to tell you more about the battery life. Do check out the full review when it is out. Still, the 4,400mAh cell should comfortably last a full day. Charging is still capped at 25W wired and the phone supports wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
6/7
Finally, a flagship camera This is where things get interesting. The 200MP main sensor on the Fold7 marks a significant jump from the Fold6’s 50MP setup. It’s not just about resolution — Samsung’s ProVisual Engine and AI-based tuning make a bigger impact. From a couple of photos captured using the phone, the quality overall has gone up in multiple folds compared to the Z Fold6. The details, dynamic range and colours were all well tuned without overprocessing. More on that, in the full review. There’s a new 10MP selfie camera on the inside, too, with a wide 100° field of view — good for unfolded group selfies. You’re not getting Ultra-level periscope zooms here, but for most users, the Fold7’s camera is now good enough to be your only camera. Editing on the big screen is an underrated win. With side-by-side editing and Suggest Erase, it’s easy to clean up product shots, remove background clutter, or refine portrait lighting — without jumping to a separate app.
7/7
Initial impressions In the short time I spent with the Z Fold7, it feels more polished and well-designed than ever. The new design, upgraded performance, and camera make it feel complete, and with the changes users were asking for, the Z Fold7 has started feeling like a foldable that’s finally ready for everyone — not just early adopters.
