Samsung has finally listened. After years of incremental updates that left many foldable enthusiasts wanting more, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 arrives as a genuine leap forward that addresses nearly every complaint users had about the Fold 6. This isn’t just another yearly refresh with minor tweaks—it’s a complete reimagining of what a premium foldable should feel like in your hands and pocket.

The Transformation You Can Actually Feel

The most immediately noticeable change is how dramatically Samsung has slimmed down the Fold 7. When folded, it measures just 8.9mm thick compared to the Fold 6’s bulky 12.1mm profile. That’s a 26% reduction that transforms the entire user experience. Where the Fold 6 often felt like carrying a small book in your pocket, the Fold 7 practically disappears. Users are already reporting moments of panic thinking they’ve lost their phone, only to find it sitting unnoticed in their pocket.

This isn’t just about vanity metrics. The thinner design fundamentally changes how you interact with the device. Samsung also managed to shed 24 grams of weight, bringing the total down to 215g. Combined with the slimmer profile, the Fold 7 now feels less like a foldable phone trying to be a regular phone and more like a regular phone that happens to unfold into something magical.

Displays That Finally Make Sense

Samsung has expanded both screens in ways that matter for real-world use. The outer cover display grows from 6.3 inches to 6.5 inches, but the real game-changer is the new 21:9 aspect ratio. This wider format makes the closed phone feel like using any premium smartphone, rather than the cramped, narrow experience that plagued previous generations.

The inner display jumps from 7.6 inches to a full 8.0 inches, providing more breathing room for multitasking and content consumption. Whether you’re editing documents, watching videos, or running multiple apps side by side, those extra inches create a noticeably more comfortable experience. The larger canvas particularly shines when you’re trying to be productive, making the Fold 7 feel more like a mini tablet when opened.

One controversial change Samsung made was ditching the under-display camera on the inner screen in favor of a traditional punch-hole camera. While some might see this as a step backward, early reports suggest the improved camera quality makes this trade-off worthwhile for most users.

Camera Capabilities That Actually Compete

The camera upgrade represents one of the most significant improvements over the Fold 6. Samsung equipped the Fold 7 with the same 200MP main sensor found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, a massive leap from the Fold 6’s aging 50MP sensor that hadn’t changed since the Fold 4.

This isn’t just about megapixel counts on paper. The new sensor delivers substantially better low-light performance, improved detail capture, and more dynamic range. For foldable users who often choose these devices for their versatility, having a camera system that doesn’t require compromises compared to traditional flagship phones removes a major barrier.

The ultrawide and telephoto cameras remain largely unchanged from the Fold 6, which is disappointing but understandable given the space constraints of the folding form factor. However, the main camera improvement alone represents such a significant step forward that most users will notice the difference in their everyday photography.

Performance That Prepares for Tomorrow

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor replaces the Fold 6’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. While both chips are more powerful than most users will ever need for current applications, the Elite’s improved efficiency becomes crucial in such a thin device. Early testing shows meaningful improvements in both performance and battery management, though the thinner profile does present some thermal challenges.

Samsung has maintained the same 4,400mAh battery capacity despite the dramatically thinner design, which is engineering achievement in itself. Combined with the more efficient processor, battery life should remain competitive with the Fold 6, though the larger, brighter displays will demand more power during intensive use.

The base model comes with 12GB of RAM, but upgrading to the 1TB storage option now includes 16GB of RAM, providing additional headroom for the kind of heavy multitasking that foldable users expect.

The Price Reality Check

Samsung has increased the starting price to $1,999, up from the Fold 6’s $1,899 launch price. This $100 increase might feel steep, but when considered against the magnitude of improvements—particularly the design overhaul and camera upgrade—it represents relatively good value in the premium foldable market.

For current Fold 6 owners, the decision becomes more personal. If you purchased your Fold 6 recently and it meets your needs, the improvements might not justify the upgrade cost. However, for users coming from the Fold 4 or Fold 5, or those considering their first foldable purchase, the Fold 7 represents the most compelling entry point Samsung has offered in years.

What This Means for Your Daily Life

The combination of improvements creates a device that finally feels refined rather than experimental. The thinner profile makes it genuinely pocketable for more people, while the larger outer screen means you’ll spend less time feeling forced to unfold the device for basic tasks.

The improved cameras remove one of the last major compromises foldable users had to accept, making the Fold 7 a true flagship phone that happens to fold rather than a folding phone trying to be a flagship.

Samsung has also introduced One UI 8 alongside the Fold 7, bringing enhanced AI features and better multitasking capabilities that take advantage of the larger displays and improved performance.

Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Fold 6

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 represents the most significant generational improvement Samsung has delivered in the foldable space since the original Fold 3 established the basic formula. It addresses fundamental usability concerns while pushing the hardware forward in meaningful ways.

For the first time in several years, Samsung has delivered a foldable that feels like a worthwhile upgrade rather than an incremental refresh. The combination of the dramatically thinner design, improved cameras, and larger displays creates a device that finally feels like it belongs in 2025 rather than catching up to where the market was heading.

If you’ve been waiting for Samsung to prove it could create a truly refined foldable experience, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 appears to be that proof of concept brought to life.