The folding-phone concept used to seem like a weird experiment. The device was thick and chunky, capable of folding in half, yet it always carried a hint of fragility. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 will change that. This one seems like a proper phone you’d want to use on a daily basis.
It’s thinner, lighter, and much more solid than past models. So if you’ve been wondering if foldables are ready for life in the mainstream, this is Samsung’s answer: they believe this is the one that will win you over.
Folks are saying it’s like having a tiny tablet you can slip into your pocket. But marketing speak is one thing; everyone wants to know just how well it works in daily use. Let’s do a plain, honest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 performance comparison and see what you’re actually getting.
A Thinner, Tougher Design
Samsung put some thought into slimming down the Fold7. It’s 8.9 mm thick when folded, and when you open it up, the thickness tips over to just over 4 mm. It’s thinner than many regular phones. It feels easier to grip and carry in your hand than any older Fold does.
The hinge is sturdier, too. Samsung refers to it as the Armour FlexHinge, and that may sound fancy, but the important thing is that opening and closing feels smooth and solid. The materials are also better—there’s Gorilla Glass on the outside and a stronger aluminium frame, so you’re going to worry less about accidentally breaking it by using it daily.
Big, Bright Screens
Open the Fold7, and you have the big 8-inch AMOLED display. It’s bright and vibrant, boasting rich color and sharp, incredibly bright (up to 2,600 nits).
What that means is that it is easy to read even in bright sunlight. It’s great for watching movies or playing games, and the 120 Hz refresh rate means it all looks buttery smooth.
And then there’s a 6.5-inch cover screen on the outside. It’s wider now, so it feels more like a normal phone when it’s shut. You don’t have to open it just to respond to a text or check the weather. Both displays have tough Gorilla Glass, which should help them resist scratching.
Real-World Performance
However, Samsung did not compromise on performance. The Fold7 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite for the Galaxy chip, which has 12 GB of RAM as a standard and 16 GB if you opt for the 1 TB version.
Its performance scored approximately 2,896 single-core and over 9,200 multi-core on Geekbench. That’s as strong as Samsung’s own Galaxy S25 Ultra.
But the cherry on the top is its day-to-day applicability. If you’re editing photos, playing games, or juggling many apps, it remains smooth. Reviews say it doesn’t slow down, even with heavy multitasking. This is the point at which the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 outperforms its competitors and demonstrates it managing to keep pace with the best flagship phones around.
Camera Improvements
Earlier Fold models sometimes felt like they were behind Samsung’s other top phones. Not anymore.
The Fold7 now includes a 200 MP main sensor, like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Pictures are sharp and detailed, even in challenging light conditions. There’s a 12 MP ultra-wide for those sweeping landscape shots and a 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom.
You also have two front cameras—one on the case and one beneath the main display—each 10 MP. For video recording, it’s 4K at 60 fps, with support for 10-bit HDR.
Whether you’re taking selfies, shooting videos, or just looking to shoot your best, this feature adds a much-needed boost to your experience that will keep your media on par with or better than anyone else’s.
Battery and Charging
It wasn’t easy shoving all this technology into a thin body, but Samsung managed to fit a 4,400 mAh battery. The company promises video playback for up to 24 hours. In normal use cases, the battery must last for an entire day unless used extensively.
Charging is 25 W wired. It’s not the fastest one on the market, but it’s dependable. Most people should be fine plugging them in for an hour or so for a top-up.
Smart Features and Software
The Fold7 runs Android16 with Samsung’s One UI8. Samsung has filled it with its Galaxy AI tools. These have uses for live translation, photo editing, and audio cleanup.
You can run several apps side by side, crop photos in a pinch, or take notes as if you’re on a tablet, thanks to the big screen. It’s clear Samsung has also made an effort to ensure you’re getting more than just a big screen here – it’s meant to be useful.
Comparing to the Fold6
The Fold7, Samsung claims, is 38% faster (in processing), 26% ahead (in graphics power), and 41% better in AI features—that’s compared to the Fold6.
It’s not just numbers, though. The feel is what’s really different, reviewers say. It is lighter, thinner, and better balanced. The hinge is nicer, and you can finally use it one-handed.
A Few Downsides
It’s not perfect. The transition to a slimmer design also means the S Pen is no longer compatible with the Fold7 screen. Some users will miss that.
And there was no increase in battery size, so people with a real need for power might still wish for more. And, of course, it’s a very expensive phone. It’s a hefty commitment, at about $2,000.
Conclusion
With the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, Samsung has its most polished foldable yet. It no longer feels like a bizarre gadget. It feels like an actual phone that opens up to be a tablet.
It is slim, light, and easy to hold, with gorgeous screens and solid cameras. Performance is solid—right in line with other flagships, and everything stays nice and fluid even under stressful use.
It’s not cheap, and you’ll have to make do with a couple of trade-offs, such as no support for the SPen. But if you are looking for the best foldable experience on the market, this is about as good as it gets. The performance comparison of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 demonstrates that it can compete effectively with any top-tier phone, especially due to its large, foldable screen.
Samsung didn’t just fix it—they made it feel like it was meant to be part of real, everyday life.