Samsung’s 7th-gen foldables slim down, may finally fit in your pocket

Samsung is shaking up the foldable smartphone market with its latest releases, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, marking a significant leap in design and functionality. As the smartphone landscape has become predictable, with a focus on flat designs and incremental upgrades, Samsung's foldables offer a refreshing alternative, albeit not without their challenges. The new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 are notably thinner and lighter than their predecessors. The Z Fold 7, in particular, boasts a weight that outstrips even the Galaxy S25 Ultra. While these innovative devices come at a premium price, Samsung is also introducing a more affordable FE version of its flip phone, catering to a broader audience. For years, Samsung has led the foldable trend, but previous generations saw minimal improvements. However, this seventh generation is a game-changer, responding to competition from brands like Google and Oppo. The Z Fold 7 features a slimmer and slightly wider design, with a closed thickness of just 8.9 mm—only marginally more than the Galaxy S25 Ultra and significantly reduced from the previous 12.1 mm of the Z Fold 6. When opened, it measures a mere 4.2 mm, making it thinner than Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Despite the sleek design, Samsung has retained the same 4,400 mAh battery, which the company claims will provide all-day usage. However, users should note that heavy use of the internal display may lead to quicker battery depletion, necessitating a midday charge. The display configuration has also been upgraded for practicality. The cover screen is now a 6.5-inch, 120 Hz OLED with a resolution of 1080×2520, maintaining a standard 21:9 aspect ratio. This improvement allows users to operate the Z Fold 7 comfortably in its closed state without the previous issues of awkward app rendering. Once opened, the device reveals a larger 8-inch, 120 Hz OLED display with a resolution of 1968×2184. Unfortunately, the updated design means that support for the S Pen stylus has been dropped from the Z Fold 7, a notable loss for stylus enthusiasts.