Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 first impressions

I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a foldable phone person. They’re often too thick, too clunky, and too much of a compromise. Most of them felt like half-baked tablets disguised as very expensive phones. The early Galaxy Z Fold series, while always impressive on paper, didn’t quite nail that seamless transition from pocket to productivity.

But the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 that Samsung announced at its July Unpacked event today? This one feels different. For the first time, it feels like a phone first, and a foldable second. Here are our first impressions of the newest and slimmest foldable from Samsung yet.

A foldable that feels like a phone

At just 8.9mm thin when folded, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is surprisingly sleek. It’s close to being as thin as a lot of regular slab phones. In fact, it is lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra and nearly as thin.

When we held it, it didn’t scream “Look at me, I fold!”, it simply fit. And that might be the biggest win of all. Samsung seems to have finally realised that foldables aren’t meant to be party tricks anymore, they’re supposed to blend in. This one does.

A big reason for that is the redesigned hinge. Samsung’s new Armor FlexHinge is slimmer, stronger, and feels invisible. There’s no clunky resistance or over-engineered sensation. It almost disappears into the phone’s silhouette.

Let’s talk about the cover screen, which is usually a big pain point. The Fold 7’s 6.5-inch outer display now uses a 21:9 aspect ratio, which makes it feel way more natural and usable, like a regular phone screen. It’s sharp at 422 PPI, smooth at 120Hz refresh rate, and topped with Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2; the toughest display protection Samsung’s used yet.

ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched in India with an ultra-slim design, 200MP camera

What struck us most was how normal it felt. We could check texts, scroll Instagram, watch YouTube, no weird adjustments needed. And when you do need more space? It still expands into a massive 8-inch tablet, ready for multitasking, reading, or just getting lost in a bigger canvas.

Bigger, brighter, better inside

As we mentioned before, unfold the phone and you’re greeted with a vibrant 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display. It now peaks at a whopping 2,600 nits. It’s 11 per cent larger than last year, and it makes a difference.

Whether you’re reading, sketching, or multitasking, this screen feels like it was made to be used, not just shown off. And yes, the crease is still there. But it’s way more subtle this time around.

Hardware that hints at serious power

Inside, Samsung’s gone with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite for Galaxy – a chipset built to handle both daily multitasking and heavier AI workflows. We didn’t get much time with the device, but everything felt smooth during our brief hands-on.

The camera setup, too, is no longer holding back. A 200MP main sensor is the big upgrade, flanked by a 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto. We’ll need time with the improved camera setup in the real-world to say anything conclusive, but it’s looking promising on paper.

What hasn’t changed

The battery is still 4,400mAh with 25W wired charging – unchanged from last year. But considering how much slimmer and lighter the Fold 7 is, that’s actually impressive. Samsung’s managed to retain the same capacity while trimming the bulk, which could mean battery life won’t take a hit, especially with the more efficient display and processor in play.

Samsung claims you’ll still hit 50 per cent in 30 minutes, which is not blazing fast, but reasonable.

The IP rating also remains the same – you get IP48 dust and water resistance, which protects against large dust particles and full submersion in water.

Early thoughts

If you’ve been skeptical of foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 might just shift your perspective, it definitely nudged mine. It doesn’t demand attention, it earns it. It feels like a proper phone – sleek, reliable, familiar – that just happens to unfold into something more.

These are, of course, just first impressions. There’s plenty left to explore – the cameras, the software experience, the battery life under real-world pressure. But right now, the Fold 7 feels less like a tech experiment and more like a product finally hitting its stride. Stay tuned for the full review.