Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 in review – A larger foldable smartphone

Foldable phones have moved from an experimental novelty to an established product category. They are no longer just technology demonstrations, but an alternative to the traditional flagship phone. Samsung has been developing its Fold series for several generations, and the Galaxy Z Fold7 represents a mature stage in this development.

Fold7 aims to combine two usage modes: when closed, it functions as a slim smartphone, and when opened, it acts as an almost tablet-class workspace. The solution brings advantages, especially for multitasking, reading, and content manipulation, but also places demands on the structure, battery, and thermal management.

TEXT: Matti Komulainen - PHOTOS: Matti Komulainen and the manufacturer

The Galaxy Z Fold7 is Samsung's latest foldable smartphone to be launched in Finland. It attracts those interested with its slim design, which despite its minimalism offers a larger-than-life user experience. It is backed by a center-hinged structure that forms a double-sized screen when opened.

Commissioning and use

The sales packaging follows the current ecological line. The phone comes with only a SIM card tray key pin, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and a compact side press plate, which mainly warns of potential dangers. The charger must be purchased separately.

Setup is as effortless as it has been with Samsung's previous Android phones. It feels familiar right from the placement of the SIM tray and two mechanical buttons.

The core software is the latest in its category and its updates extend for seven years from the device's release, i.e. until the end of July 2032. The Android 16 operating system, the One UI 8 user interface with its diverse functions, and the artificial intelligence integrated into them form the functional foundation.

The current trend has brought the whole world into the palm of your hand, with smartphones being mini computers with all their functions. Thus, the devices pack a lot into a very slim pocket design, while keeping in mind the aesthetics of the fit of the outfit.

Samsung's number one innovation in foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Fold7, is a big and heavy device, in line with the current trend, if you remember, for example, the GSM handsets of the 1990s. Back then, smaller was better, when no one wanted to lug around bricks like the Mobira, a luxury product from the previous decade that launched the portable communication technology boom four decades ago.

To put things into perspective, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is a few millimeters narrower and lower than, say, the latest flagship from the same manufacturer, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. And when unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is only about half as thick.