The Samsung Z Fold7 is not just an improvement on past models—it’s become the gold standard for what we expect in a smartphone, foldable or otherwise.
There’s something quietly revolutionary about watching someone unfold their Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 for the first time. It’s not the dramatic flourish you might expect—quite the opposite, actually. At just 215 grams and a remarkably svelte 8.9 mm when folded, this latest iteration feels more like opening a premium leather wallet than deploying a piece of cutting-edge technology. And that lightness is not to be understated—somehow, all other phones that I’ve gotten to hold in the past month feel heavier in comparison, I kid you not.
Thinner & Better
Samsung has clearly been listening. The previous generation’s bulk—that slightly awkward heft that made you acutely aware you were carrying something substantial—has been refined away. Now, when folded, the Z Fold7 mimics the familiar feel of a traditional smartphone complete with a 6.5-inch cover display that actually makes sense—no more awkward narrow dimensions.
Left to right: comparing the thinness of the Galaxy Z Fold7 with the Z Fold6 & Z Fold5.
But the real magic happens when you do decide to open it up. That 8-inch main display doesn’t just give you more screen real estate; it transforms the entire experience. Suddenly, editing photos becomes genuinely pleasurable rather than an exercise in squinting. The new Side-by-Side Editing feature lets you compare your original shots with AI-enhanced versions in real time—a small detail that speaks to Samsung’s growing understanding of how people actually use their devices.
AI, Your Personal Assistant
Speaking of AI, Samsung has woven it throughout the Z Fold7 with the kind of thoughtful integration that feels natural rather than gimmicky. The camera’s new 200-megapixel sensor captures impressively detailed shots (easily my favourite feature of this new model, having experienced the previous 50-megapixel setup before this), while features like Suggest Erases automatically identify and remove unwanted photobombers. It’s the kind of functionality that you didn’t know you needed until you see how more captivating vacation photos look without all the extras in the background.
The Suggest Erases feature of the Galaxy Z Fold7
The partnership with Google’s Gemini Live creates genuinely useful moments. Imagine spotting an intriguing dessert on Instagram, then simply asking your phone to identify it and suggest nearby restaurants that serve something similar. The AI can even add the recommendations to your calendar—all without leaving the original app. It’s contextual assistance that actually makes sense.
Design Excellence
Then, from a design perspective, Samsung has achieved something quite remarkable: making a foldable phone feel inevitable rather than experimental. The Armor FlexHinge has been redesigned to be both thinner and more durable, significantly reducing the visibility of the crease that has long been foldables’ most obvious tell. The result is a device that feels as polished as it looks.
The build quality reflects this maturity. Corning’s new Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 protects the cover display, while Advanced Armor Aluminum reinforces the frame. The phone might feel delicate (because of its thinness and lightness) but it’s surprisingly durable. Case in point: throughout my one month of reviewing this device, I’ve dropped it a total of six times—from my pocket, from the table, from a bar stool a metre high, half of the time either with the open screen or rear camera landing on to tiled flooring. Not a scratch or a dent. Thank god.
On-The-Move Workspare
For content creators, the Z Fold7 offers something unique: a portable editing suite that doesn’t compromise on capability. The upgraded Audio Eraser can intelligently reduce background noise in videos—perfect for cleaning up those café conversations or street interviews. As someone who edits videos on the regular, this feature is a godsend, made all the more satisfying with such a generous screen to work on. Meanwhile, the 10MP front camera with its 100-degree field of view means group selfies no longer require strategic positioning and prayer.
Audio Eraser to eliminate background noise
At RM7,799 for the base model, the Galaxy Z Fold7 certainly commands premium pricing (but that’s what Samsung’s instalment plan is for). That said, consider this: you’re essentially buying a smartphone and a tablet that happens to fold into a single, pocketable device. When viewed through that lens, the value proposition begins to make sense.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 doesn’t reinvent the smartphone so much as it perfects the concept of what a smartphone could be. It’s technology that adapts to your life rather than demanding you adapt to it—and in a world of increasingly indistinguishable rectangles, that feels genuinely refreshing.
