So what are my thoughts on the new Samsung Galaxy Z fold7? Well, one can best judge one’s experience with a new phone based on one’s relationship with one’s current phone. For a few years now, I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 before switching to the Galaxy S23 Ultra. I loved the Z Fold5 because of all the features a Galaxy foldable offers—split screen multi-tasking, larger screen, flexibility—but the camera is just okay, at 50 MP.
From left: The Galaxy Z Fold5, S23 Ultra, and the new Galaxy Z Fold7.
On the other hand, the S23 Ultra has a fantastic 200 MP wide-angle camera, with 10 MP telephoto lens and a 12 MP front camera. It has the split-screen function and although the screen is bigger than most slab phones, it’s still not foldable-phone big. Between the two, I favour better camera over bigger screen, because I need to create content—zooming with the Z Fold5 at the runways during Fashion Week wasn’t exactly satisfying. Which is why I abandoned the Z Fold5 for the S23 Ultra.
But I do miss using a foldable. If only they had a Galaxy Z Fold with the S23 Ultra’s camera capabilities…
… and hallelujah, that’s exactly what the Galaxy Z Fold7 is! I’m now a very happy camper.
The gorgeous Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 foldable phone
The Physical Specs
Compared to the other two phones, the immediate plus point to the new Galaxy Z Fold7 is its weight. See, another downside to the Z Fold5 is how very heavy it feels in the grip, at 253 g. Meanwhile, the S23 Ultra improved on that at a lighter 234 g. But the Z Fold7? Only 215 g—around the same if not even lighter than most non-foldable phones in the market now. That’s about 20 g lighter than the S23 Ultra, and nearly 40 g lighter than the Z Fold5. And that makes a whole lot of difference.
The Galaxy Z Fold7 feels so light and ergonomic in the grip. I feel like Goldilocks—when folded the Z Fold5 is too narrow, while the S23 Ultra is too wide. Hands down, the Z Fold7 is just nice.
A more comfortable grip.
The improved dimensions and sleeker design is also as strong as it is stylish. When folded, it feels and functions like a very effective slab phone, at just 8.9 mm thick—the same as the S23 Ultra (versus the Z Fold5 13.4 mm). It feels comfortable in the pocket, and makes navigating the front screen feel natural. Which is a big departure from the odd, narrow width of the Z Fold5.
When unfolded, the Z Fold7 measures just 4.2 mm in thickness. That’s super thin, which doesn’t feel normal for even a tablet. Friends who weren’t used to a foldable were anxious to unfold the Z Fold7 for fear of breaking it.
The slimmest Galaxy Z Fold yet.
But fret not, this is a durable phone, thanks to a tougher advanced Armor Aluminum frame and the new-fangled Armor FlexHinge. Add to that the Corning® Gorilla® Glass Ceramic 2 glass, a first on Galaxy foldables, and the Z Fold7 is anything but flimsy.
Slimmer, but bigger
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 achieved its thinner profile without having to compromise on screen size.
Movie on-the-go.
When folded, the cover screen measures 6.5 inches. When opened, the main screen stretches 8 inches—the largest of all Z Folds. A wider screen of course means greater viewing and reading experience—it’s basically a small tablet. One that is much lighter than my existing tablet, but with large enough a screen to make watching my TV shows and films enjoyable. (Even in the shower, courtesy of the phone’s iP48 water resistance).
The Ultimate Multi-tasker
But the thing I enjoy most about the Z Fold7 experience? Multi-tasking feels a lot smoother. As with previous models, the Z Fold7 can run up to 3 apps at once via its split-screen feature. So I can have my e-hailing app on to track how far away my driver is while watching a video and trying out the latest NYT Spelling Bee. Or maybe work on a presentation, and browse through My Files while keeping tabs on Whatsapp. All on the same screen.
Just when I thought Samsung couldn’t improve on this, they introduced new gestures I’ve not tried. With “swipe for split screen”, I can easily split the screen by swiping with two fingers from the side or bottom of the screen. If I want to turn my running app into a pop-up window, I just need to swipe from the top corner to the centre of the screen.
Split-screen multi-tasking.
And this is a Samsung, so the battery life lasts me an entire day on full charge. The phone supports 25W fast charging and wireless charging. So charging is relatively fast—it reaches 60 percent after less than half an hour. I say relatively because this is only slower when compared to other Samsung phones that support 45W charging.
More To Come
As mentioned, the camera capabilities equal that of my S23 Ultra. But there’s still a lot for me to discover camera-wise here—the Generative Edit AI feature helps to erase unwanted objects in photos— which requires more time to explore. I’m eager to test out the video functions: there’s now an upgraded Audio Eraser to remove unwanted background noise. So look out for Part 2 of my review.
Of course, I have to quote the price: at RM7,799, the price tag is exorbitant. (All the more reason to take advantage of Samsung’s interest-free instalment plans). How comfortable you are with that price depends on how much you hope to get out of your phone—what do you want out of such an investment? If you’re just a casual user, that price might seem too luxurious.
But for me, my smartphone is not just something to communicate or partake in social media with. It’s a tool I use to get work done efficiently, when I have time to spare, no matter where I end up—in between appointments, at the airport lounge, or when I don’t have my laptop with me.
So I view the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 as more than just a nifty smartphone. It’s my pocket laptop. It’s my camera and video recorder. I use it to write articles, do research, proof pages, edit videos, get on a Zoom call, on top of updating social media content for this magazine. It’s my translator when I’m on a press trip in foreign land, and my audio recorder when I’m doing interviews. Then when I’m not working, it’s my Kindle, jukebox and pocket cinema. It’s the ultimate multi-tasker for the ultimate multi-tasker. I’m going to work this phone to the bone, and I believe I will enjoy that experience to the max.
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