Samsung's foldable season is back, and right on schedule, the brand has unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7. I've been using the Fold7 for a few days now, and I have to say it's hard not to be impressed. The first thing I noticed was how much lighter and slimmer it feels compared to the last generation. It's like the Fold7 has hit the gym, lost some extra weight, and returned with a leaner body. But what else does the Galaxy Z Fold7 offer? I've spent some time with it, and here's what stood out during my first experience.
Design and Display
I've been using the Blue Shadow variant of the Galaxy Z Fold7, and I have to admit, it's a real head-turner. The shade has this perfect balance; it's not too bold, yet not too muted either. It lands in that sweet spot that catches your eye without screaming for attention. That said, the matte finish does come with a bit of a trade-off. It tends to collect smudges easily, which triggers the neat freak in me every single time. I like my tech looking spotless, and this one keeps challenging that.
The camera bump on the back is really hard to miss. Even from across the room, it stands out. Folded, the phone is 8.9mm thick, and when opened, it slims down to just 4.2mm. That's actually thinner than the Galaxy S25 Edge, which is a big deal. Samsung clearly put a lot of effort into trimming this one down. This refinement helps Samsung stay competitive, especially when foldables like the recently launched Vivo X Fold5 and the already-available Honor Magic V5 have been boasting slim form factors as a major selling point for users.
Once you unfold it, the size difference is instantly noticeable. It feels bigger than last year's Fold6 and almost matches the footprint of my iPad mini, which I never expected. That larger unfolded screen is especially appealing for someone like me who wants to multitask or enjoy media on the go, offering a tablet-like experience. The cover screen also feels more usable now. It's wider, taller, and gives a proper smartphone-like experience without making things feel cramped.
What I really love is how easy it is to switch between screens. If I'm reading something or watching a video on the cover screen and decide to flip it open, everything continues without a hitch. The 120Hz refresh rate on both displays only makes things better; it feels smooth, responsive, and honestly a lot more fun to use. So for buyers who are into productivity or content consumption, this fluidity could be a key differentiator.
That's my early experience with the design. There's still more to uncover, and I'll be sharing my full review soon on MySmartPrice.
Hardware and Software
Powering the Galaxy Z Fold7 is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the same processor found inside 2025's most powerful flagships like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, OnePlus 13, iQOO 13, and Xiaomi 15. So right from the get-go, you know performance isn't going to be an issue. Samsung seems to be serious about making sure this foldable doesn't just look premium, but runs like it too. Compared to last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Fold6, the new chipset brings efficiency gains and better thermal management, something power users will really appreciate.
I haven't run the usual benchmarks yet, but in real-world usage, it hasn’t skipped a beat. Whether I was scrolling endlessly through Instagram, hopping on Google Meet work calls, reading through articles, binge-watching YouTube, playing music at the gym, or capturing moments with the camera, it handled everything without a hiccup. Not once did the phone stutter or slow down on me. This is exactly the kind of performance you’d expect from a phone in this price range: smooth multitasking without any compromises, especially now that more people are looking at foldables as their all-in-one device.
The first thing I noticed when I powered up the Galaxy Z Fold7 was just how clean and refined OneUI 8 felt. It runs on Android 16 right out of the box, which is something I really appreciate. It's always nice when a phone comes updated and ready to go, instead of making you wait around for the latest software. Samsung has always been good at delivering a smooth, polished software experience. To give you some context, when Vivo launched the X Fold3 Pro in India last year, it got quite a bit of attention online. But not all of it was positive. The phone came with a bunch of pre-installed bloatware apps, and people weren't too happy about it. It took away from what should have felt like a premium experience. When you’re spending a fortune on a foldable, the last thing you want is to deal with unnecessary apps or delayed updates. That's why Samsung feels like the safer bet, especially if you care about clean software and long-term reliability.
So far, using the interface has been easy and intuitive. I didn't have to dig through menus to figure things out, and everything worked smoothly right from the start. There's definitely more to explore, especially with all the new Galaxy AI features packed in, but I'll dive into those in my full review.
Now, when it comes to battery life, there's a bit of a mixed bag. The 4,400mAh battery is exactly what we got in last year's Fold6, so nothing has changed on that front. While I appreciate how much slimmer and lighter the Fold7 feels, I do wish Samsung had found a way to improve battery capacity too. It matters to people like me who are often out for long hours and rely on a phone that can last. Especially when rivals like the OnePlus Open and the recently launched Vivo X Fold5 offer comparable endurance despite a similarly thin chassis, it's a missed opportunity for Samsung.
That said, I was able to get around 12 hours of usage before needing to plug it in, which isn't bad at all for a foldable. I'll be running the PCMark battery test soon to get more concrete numbers. Until then, keep an eye out for my full review on MySmartPrice.
Cameras
On paper, the camera setup looks like a clear step up from what Samsung offered last year. We get a 200MP main sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide shooter. For selfies, there's a 10MP camera on the cover screen and another one with the same megapixel count tucked into the main display.
I haven't had the chance to go all out with the camera just yet, but from the handful of shots I've taken, I'm impressed. The colours have looked true to life, the lighting has felt natural even in trickier conditions, and the skin tones are on point. If this consistency holds up, it could finally bring the Fold series in line with the Samsung’s S-series in terms of everyday camera reliability.
Of course, I still need to run it through more varied scenarios. But as far as first impressions go, the camera system feels reliable.
Wrapping it Up
After spending some time with the Galaxy Z Fold7, I can already tell this isn't just another yearly refresh. Samsung has made changes that you can actually feel, whether it's the refined design, the slimmer build, or what's happening under the hood. And honestly, I've enjoyed using it so far.
Yes, it does come with a steeper price tag this year, starting at Rs 1,74,999. That's a Rs 10,000 jump compared to last year, and I won't pretend it's not a lot. But when you factor in how much sleeker and more refined this phone feels, I think there's a case to be made for the extra spend.
That said, there are still some big questions on my mind. Can it really handle daily tasks when pushed to the limit? Does it manage heat well during long gaming sessions or video calls? And what about the Galaxy AI features: are they actually useful or just nice to have? I’m also curious to see how it stacks up against other foldables like the Vivo X Fold5, the OnePlus Open, and even last year's Galaxy Z Fold6. I'll be answering all of that in my full review, so if you're as curious as I am, keep an eye on MySmartPrice.
