With the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung is getting closer than ever to perfecting its folding smartphones. The new model is a substantial improvement over the Fold 6 with a much thinner, lighter design, larger and brighter display and an improved hinge design that reduces visible creasing to almost nothing. It's also more powerful and comes with a new wide-angle camera that finally matches up with the mainstream Galaxy S series.
Though it superficially resembles the previous model, Samsung has improved the Fold 7 nearly everywhere. That starts with the display(s), with the main AMOLED 2X main display (120Hz, 2,184 x 1,968) now 11 percent larger at 8 inches with up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness. It's also tougher thanks to the use of Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2. The cover screen uses the same display tech and is also bigger at 6.5 inches compared to 6.3 inches, with a 21:9 aspect ratio.
The main improvement, though, is with the lighter and thinner Armor FlexHinge that reduces visible creasing noticeably compared to the Fold 6, addressing a key concern for buyers. It also boosts durability thanks to a "multi-rail structure" that evenly disperses stress.
Though the screens are larger, the Fold 7 is lighter and thinner than its predecessor. Weighing in at 215 grams, it's 24 grams lighter than the Fold 6 and lighter even than the non-folding Galaxy S25 Ultra. It's also just 8.9mm thick when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded, a hefty 27 percent reduction compared to the previous model.
Under the hood is Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy that boosts CPU and GPU performance by 38 and 26 percent respectively, while lifting NPU compute by 40 percent. Other key specs include 12GB memory, up to 512GB internal storage and a 4,400mAh dual battery (with wireless Qi charging and a 50 percent wired charge in around 30 minutes). Samsung is also touting its latest One UI 8 on Android 16 that is very AI-centric, as you'd expect, with features like Gemini Live, Circle to Search and Galaxy AI optimized for large screens.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 also has updated cameras, negating one of our biggest complaints about the Fold 6. It now comes with the same 200MP wide-angle camera as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, though the 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto cameras are unchanged — as are the 10MP selfie cover camera and 10MP main camera. Still, at least you're no longer getting compromised optics with the principal camera, especially considering this smartphone's price.
And the Galaxy Z Fold 7 certainly isn't cheap with another $100 boost in price compared to last year. It's now available for pre-order in the US at Samsung.com and elsewhere starting at $2,000 in Jetblack, Blue Shadow and Silver Shadow options. Shipping is set to start around July 25, 2025.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsungs-galaxy-z-fold-7-is-thinner-lighter-and-has-a-larger-8-inch-display-140054089.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsungs-galaxy-z-fold-7-is-thinner-lighter-and-has-a-larger-8-inch-display-140054089.html?src=rssLogin to add comment
Other posts in this group
Amazon Prime Day has returned for the summer, making it a good time to check to see if any big-ticket gadgets on yo
The Naya Create modular keyboard is now available for general purchase after being an exclusive for Kickstarter backers. It features a spli
