Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 Review: It’s the one they had to do, thin is good folks – but.

Announced last week in Brooklyn, New York the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 has been topping the charts for hype every single day since. From TikToks to articles I’m blown away by how impressed everyone is! But what is it really like to use, strap in, this is my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 review.

I get it, I’ve been hyping this up legit ever since I was allowed to talk about it – the idea that this phone could be almost half the width of the original, remarkable. The fact it frankly exists in this current form blows my mind.

But let’s unpack it all.

We’ve come a long way

For perspective, and context, I was never a fan of the Fold format. Mainly because in the pocket it was just such a strange device, tall, narrow and fat. Never felt right in the jeans pocket, which is why I lean toward the “Flip” form factor far far more.

And then there is the case of “why”. What am I not getting from my smartphone that this delivers – in essence, what question does this answer.

But boy, when you compare it to early models of the Fold you realise why the researchers, engineers and designers at Samsung should rightly be doing a parade through HQ right now – this thing is beautiful.

I feel like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is actually a product of that same team, making advances in their design and putting it out first in the traditional smartphone form factor.

Several times over recent years I’ve suggested that Samsung had this kind of remarkable advance in their pockets, ready to release, but waiting until the bigger stronger competition loomed larger, perhaps this is a sign that they expect that sooner rather than later, because I for one can’t imagine a roadmap showing much more advance on this device.

The Size

Unfolded is when this comes into it’s own. You can’t believe what you’re seeing, it doesn’t seem possible. That screen inside works? And the one outside does too? All in the space of less than half a centimetre? Come on!

But here’s where I call a little BS on some of the things even I’ve been saying all week. 4.2mm thin? Really? I don’t know where they are measuring that, because I’m getting 4.5 on my measure. Call it a bit out and not technical grade, still seems sketchy.

My guess is that the 4.2 is the measurement of the touchscreen to the back wall of the phone, because around the whole thing is this simple black liner, which is set higher than the inner screen. It also helps account for why the closed width is 8.9 and the open is not half that?

Though my closed measure is also a touch off

0.3 is a lot of margin in this space, but again, give it some slack on the exact how and where I’m measuring and it’s still – stunningly thin.

For true context, look at it in the middle of the S25 Edge (right) and S25 Ultra (Left):

Wow.

But then there’s the camera bump.

Boy, it’s more like the Goiter Elaine encounters when Volunteering with seniors – it’s impossible to ignore.

With the phone sat on your desk, screen up, if you’re like me you might tap the screen to see the time, or a notification. Don’t. It just wobbles on the table.

That’s because it’s huge, but any measure.

I’m not trying to challenge the published specs, just pointing out what I’m seeing in the real world.

It’s really, really easy to forgive all this when you unfold it and open it up.

Come on, how could it ever be made any thinner?

They would need to get rid of USB-C and move to 100% wireless charging, and that’s not anyone’s level of courageous just yet.

Using the big-screen

I wish there was a statistic in settings for when you use the big-screen. Because other than a couple of instances, I’ve been very very happy on just the normal outer – now far wider, front screen.

90% of the time I’m opening it is to show someone, or take photos.

But this is where I show myself as not worthy of the Fold.

I’m not a big multitasker on mobile. I’m good to switch between apps.

The other day I found that purpose though. Watching the Supercars on the weekend, I also had to monitor the family chat and just divided up the screen into three, Kayo up top,

Utterly marvellous. Making good use of wasted space.

App makers aren’t dedicated to this format.

One of the best uses I had was plane spotting, Flight Radar looked amazing.

But you cannot transition from the front screen to full-size inner screen without rebooting the app.

That’s on app makers, not Samsung.

I had it happen in a game too.

Bottom line, this is the area of need, this is the area where the question I’ve never asked gets answered.

So if you’re someone who goes from app to app, getting details from one into another, working on the web and email at the same time, whatever it is – The Fold might well be for you.

For average users, just like my concerns from day one – what you see on the outer screen is often more than what you see inside. Its perhaps just easier to read inside because it’s bigger?

But if you’re big into messaging, then the chat list and chat view style of SMS and WhatsApp is appealing – for sure.

Unfolding is hard

I gotta say though, none of the TikTokers are taking the time to be real with you. This thing is hard to unfold. Now I’m not looking for a one handed opening, though a button to flick it out would be cool.

I’m just saying that it legitimately takes force to get it open. Because of the squared off nature of the edges, there’s no natural nook or cranny to get the fingertip in to get leverage to open the device. I think that’s a failing. It likely also means this hinge is legit epic, strong and durable – so is that the right trade-off for Samsung? Probably. But I think you should know this before blindly buying your next $2,899 smartphone.

Battery Life

I had a massive panic on my first full day back in Australia thinking the battery life was rubbish. Turns out, that was just a really, really long day for me on reflection.

Every other day it’s been great. Actually, today, I’ve been up 12 hours at the time of writing, and it’s been a busy day on the phone – 50%!

It’s an all-dayer without concern.

An Ultra level Camera?

Sure there’s no 100x periscope lens or something here, but you won’t miss it. The photos are great.

I’ve not gone utterly out of my way on the photo test because I genuinely think the areas above are far more important in decision making on this device. We know how good S25 is, so this will be great.

These will look crappy and compressed, but Galaxy Z Fold7 on the left, iPhone 16 Pro Max on the right.

Detail is excellent, and I think by a pinch, colours are better on the Samsung.

Same same, but different.

I think the smartphone camera battle is over. We need to stop trying to better then – they will never be SLR’s, so why are we trying.

What we have is amazing, let’s focus on slimming down that Camera bump.. Get some Wegovy for the camera team like you did the overall smartphone body team.

Those “Compromises”

Two things a picky person might mention are the lack of S-Pen support and the return of the Hole-Punch inner camera.

No-one cares about the hole punch, you don’t notice it, it’s fine. Move on, if you’re dying on this hill, it’s a strange one.

Ditto the S-Pen, you think Samsung doesn’t know exactly how much it’s getting used on existing devices? You think this wasn’t debated and compared in engineering meetings to say “but it will be 1.5mm thicker with S-Pen support” (or whatever it would be) – of course! Move on.

Overall – should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7

If you’re going to buy, do it NOW – these pre-order deals are insane.

I think there are two types of buyer for this device.

Firstly, anyone – legitimately anyone who owns or has owned a Fold – rush out, trade in, get this. You’ll be blown away.

Secondly, You’ve wanted one, love the multi-tasking split screen stuff, but have seen them and didn’t love the design, style or form factor. Give it another go.

The rest of us are either never going to get it, or we’re all in on the Flip. More on that soon.