Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Review

A comprehensive guide to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 – how this model has addressed the shortcomings of its predecessors, what compromises remain, and who should really consider such a phone in Lithuania.

The position of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in the market and pricing reality in Lithuania

Launched in the summer of 2025, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 marks a milestone where foldable phones finally start to look like a real alternative to traditional flagships, rather than just a technological showcase. The design has slimmed down, the weight has decreased, the screen crease has become less noticeable, and the camera system finally matches the price level. The large internal screen makes it easier to work, read, or edit videos, but when folded, the device no longer feels like a “brick” in your pocket.

In Europe, foldable phones remain a niche but rapidly growing category – in 2024, they accounted for about 2% of all smartphones sold, while book-style models (like the Fold 7) reached less than 1% of the market. Despite this, Samsung still dominates here, although competition from Honor, Motorola, Google, and Huawei is noticeably strengthening.

In Lithuania, the Galaxy Fold 7 5G is sold through major operators – BITĖ, Tele2, Telia – and large electronics e-stores. Depending on the memory (256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB) and promotions, the price usually ranges from around €1,700 to over €2,100 for a new device. This is clearly a premium segment product, with a price similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra or other manufacturers’ top flagships with high capacity.

Thinner, lighter, and finally a “normal” phone in your pocket

Dimensions and weight – a step closer to a regular flagship

One of the biggest issues with the Z Fold series has always been thickness and weight. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 makes a significant leap here: the phone weighs about 215 g, which is already close to classic large flagships like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. When folded, it is about 8.9 mm thick, and when unfolded – about 4.2 mm. These parameters make the device much more comfortable to carry in a jeans or jacket pocket and hold in hand – there’s no longer a feeling that you’re carrying a mini tablet.

The reduced dimensions have been achieved through several directions: an optimized battery block, a slimmed-down foldable screen module, and a new, lighter hinge design. However, it is clear that thinness comes at a cost – we will discuss this in the battery and cooling section.

Materials, hinge, and IP48 resistance rating

The body uses an improved Armor Aluminum frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 for the outer surfaces. The hinge employs a “water droplet” type construction, allowing the screen to fold with a smaller radius, reducing stress at the center, and better protecting the extremely thin glass of the inner panel.

Water and dust resistance remains a compromise: the officially stated IP48 rating means good protection against water (submersion up to 1.5 m deep for a short time), but only partial protection against dust. Fine sand particles can still enter the hinge mechanism or damage the softer inner screen, so using the phone at the beach or in dusty workshops should be done with great caution.

Crease visibility and durability in everyday use

Thanks to the new hinge and thicker Ultra Thin Glass layer, the crease on the inner screen has become less visible. In the first days of use, it is hardly noticeable – you will only see it when looking from a certain angle or swiping your finger across the center. Long-term tests mention two trends: visually, the crease does become slightly more pronounced over time, but it is still less noticeable than in previous models, and the screen itself is quite resistant to bending, but not to scratches – even nails or small debris in your pocket can leave marks.

An 8-inch tablet in your pocket and a convenient 6.5-inch cover screen

Specifications and image quality

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features two high-end Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to 2600 nits peak brightness. The internal 8.0-inch screen (2184 × 1968 px, ~368 ppi) provides ample space for working with documents, emails, spreadsheets, or video editing. The 6.5-inch external (2520 × 1080 px, ~422 ppi) cover screen has a more convenient, “regular” phone format ratio, making it often sufficient for daily tasks – Messenger, WhatsApp, browsing, calls.

The internal screen is covered with a thickened UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) layer, which better protects against bending, but the hardness on the Mohs scale is still very low – in practice, this means that the phone must be kept away from keys, sand, and other hard objects, especially if used without a case.

Input and stylus – this time without S Pen support

Until now, some Z Fold series users appreciated the ability to work with the S Pen, especially during note-taking, sketching, or remote presentations. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has lost this capability – it is officially stated that this model does not support S Pen or other styluses. This is quite an unexpected turn, indicating that Samsung prioritized a thin body and a more reliable foldable screen over an additional digitizer layer.

Practically, this means that if it is important for you to write directly on the screen or use Air Actions gestures, it is better to look at the Galaxy S25 Ultra or other models continuing the Note tradition. The Fold 7 is more focused on multitasking and AI features rather than advanced stylus use.

Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, Galaxy AI, and multitasking

Power and cooling in a thin body

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy 3 nm processor, optimized for the Samsung ecosystem. The base models offer 12 GB of RAM and 256 or 512 GB of storage, while the most expensive version has 16 GB of RAM with 1 TB of storage. This essentially provides laptop-level performance in a phone: multitasking, more complex video editing, or gaming is not a problem for this chip.

However, the extremely thin body comes at a cost – long-term performance tests show noticeable thermal throttling. After extended 3D gaming or heavy AI tasks, the phone’s temperature rises, causing the system to gradually reduce frequency to avoid overheating. Reviews agree that for short intense tasks (e.g., a single gaming session of Genshin Impact), the power is sufficient, but for “marathons,” the Fold 7 falls behind thicker flagships like the S25 Ultra or some competitor models.

Galaxy AI, multitasking, and DeX

On the software side, the main advantage of the Fold 7 is the synergy of AI and multitasking. On the large 8-inch screen, it is convenient to hold multiple windows at once: for example, email at the top, a browser at the bottom, and an AI summary panel on the side. Galaxy AI offers text summarization, live translation, and “copy-clean-rewrite” functions that work directly in multi-window mode.

In Flex mode, the phone can act like a mini laptop – the upper part of the screen shows the image, while the lower part displays controls, a keyboard, or additional tools. In translation mode, dialogue texts in different languages are displayed in real-time on two halves of the screen – convenient for travel or negotiations.

Samsung DeX further brings the Fold 7 closer to the ultrabook class – when connected to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, the phone transforms into a desktop with a window system, a separate taskbar, and support for multiple applications, which you will use like on a regular computer.

One UI 8, Android 16, and a 7-year update promise

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 launches with the One UI 8 interface based on Android 16, optimized for foldable screens: many apps have special layouts that adapt to both tablet and phone modes.

A very important aspect is long-term support. Samsung promises up to 7 major Android version updates and 7 years of security patches for this model. This means that the device will theoretically remain secure and functional until the end of the decade – an important argument when you are paying nearly the price of two mid-range phones.

200 MP main camera and farewell to the under-display selfie camera

Triple rear camera – finally a true flagship level

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 uses a triple camera setup with a 200 MP main sensor, a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10 MP telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom. The main camera by default shoots with pixel binning (12 MP), but retains very good detail, dynamic range, and sufficiently accurate colors even in challenging lighting conditions.

Night photos are similar to the S25 series level – aggressive noise reduction, but still a lot of information in the shadows. The telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and 30x digital Space Zoom is not as impressive as the periscope on the S25 Ultra, but it is sufficient for everyday shots (portraits, closer objects).

Inner and cover selfies – the end of UDC experiments

In previous Fold models, Samsung used an under-display (UDC) camera that was theoretically “invisible,” but practically offered poor quality – grainy and washed-out images. The Fold 7 has stepped back from this experiment: the inner screen now features a standard 10 MP camera, and the same resolution sensor is on the cover screen.

From a design perspective, this looks less “magical,” but for video calls and Teams/Zoom meetings, this is a huge win. The image is sharper, colors are more accurate, and there are fewer artifacts in poor lighting. In practice, the inner camera becomes the main choice for remote work when you hold the phone in Flex mode on the table.

4400 mAh and 25 W – is that enough in 2025?

Real-world usage time

The nominal battery capacity of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is about 4400 mAh. Considering the two 120 Hz screens and powerful processor, on paper this seems modest, but software optimizations and the newer 3 nm chip help squeeze out decent usage times. With mixed usage (a bit of social media, email, messaging, browsing, and a few short videos), most reviews report a full workday and part of a second. With moderate use, it is possible to achieve two days without a charger.

Charging speed and compromises

The biggest disappointment is the charging speed. Samsung has remained conservative: the Fold 7 supports up to 25 W wired fast charging, 15 W wireless, and about 4.5 W reverse wireless charging. In practice, charging from 0 to 100% takes about an hour and a half, which in the context of 2025, when competitors offer 80–120 W solutions, seems slow.

This decision is related to thinness and thermal stability – faster charging would require thicker battery blocks and more complex cooling. However, if you are used to using Chinese manufacturers’ 15–25 min “full charge,” the Fold 7 may seem lagging in this regard.

Who is the Galaxy Z Fold 7 best suited for?

• Pros:
  • Design and ergonomics: one of the thinnest and lightest book-style foldable phones, close to a regular flagship in your pocket.
  • Displays: very bright 8.0″ and 6.5″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with 120 Hz, convenient cover format ratio.
  • Camera: 200 MP main sensor and the removal of poor-quality UDC – significantly better video calls and photos.
  • Software and AI: One UI 8, Galaxy AI, convenient multitasking, interpretation and summarization tools, DeX desktop.
  • Support: up to 7 OS versions and 7 years of security updates, which is very important for an expensive device.
• Cons:
  • Battery and charging: 4400 mAh capacity and 25 W charging seem modest compared to competitors.
  • Durability: IP48 – partial dust protection; the inner screen is still sensitive to scratches.
  • Stylus: no longer supports S Pen, which disappoints advanced writing enthusiasts.
  • Performance stability: under long-term load (gaming, AI tasks), performance drops more than in thicker flagships.
  • Price: >€1,700 for the base model – this device is certainly not for everyone.

Who is it recommended for and who is it not?

Especially suitable for:

• Business users and multitaskers: the 8-inch screen, DeX, and AI tools allow it to effectively replace a tablet or even a lightweight laptop for business trips.
• Creative professionals: content creators, social media specialists, video editors who value a larger screen with a powerful camera and a robust ecosystem.
• Technology enthusiasts: those wanting to have one of the most advanced and “mature” book-style foldable phones on the market.

Less suitable for:

• Hardcore gamers: due to thermal throttling and relatively modest battery, it’s better to choose a thicker but more stable gaming flagship.
• Users for whom endurance is paramount: if you charge your phone once a day or even less, it’s better to look for models with >5000 mAh batteries and faster charging.
• Stylus fans: old Note fans would be better off choosing the S25 Ultra, where the S Pen is integrated and fully supported.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a demonstration of the maturity of the foldable phone concept. It not only addresses the main shortcomings of its predecessors (weight, thickness, inner camera quality) but also offers long-term software support and deep AI integration. At the same time, it retains some compromises – a modest battery, slow charging, limited dust protection, and a very high price.

If you need a device that can simultaneously serve as a phone, tablet, and part of a laptop’s functions, and the price and compromises in the battery area are not critical – the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is currently one of the most logical choices in Lithuania among book-style foldable phones. If your priority is endurance, gaming performance, or S Pen – it’s more rational to look at other, traditional flagships.

Sources used

• Samsung. (2025). Galaxy Fold 7 5G – specifications and features. Samsung.com (for Lithuania and EU markets).
• BITĖ Lithuania. (2025). Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 5G smartphone. Bite.lt product and review sections.
• Tele2 Lithuania. (2025). Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 5G (256/512 GB) – technical specifications and offers. Tele2.lt.
• Telia Lithuania. (2025). Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 – for business and private clients. Telia.lt.
• Kaina24 / Kainos.lt. (2025). Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 512GB price comparison in Lithuania.
• The Guardian. (2025). Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review: the thinner, lighter and better folding Android.
• Android Central. (2025). When does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 launch?
• SamMobile. (2025). Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 will launch with One UI 8 onboard.
• Counterpoint Research. (2025). Europe’s foldable smartphone market – sales growth and market share.
• Euronews. (2025). Foldable phones: Will 2026 be the turning point for the mobile phone industry?
• BITĖ Profai and other Lithuanian technology portal reviews about the Galaxy Fold 7 and competitors.