When Samsung launched its first foldable years ago, many of us were curious but skeptical. The concept was exciting, yet the execution felt experimental. Fast-forward to the seventh generation, and it feels like Samsung has finally reached the point it envisioned from the start. The Galaxy Fold 7 doesn’t just look futuristic — it genuinely works as both a smartphone and a tablet without forcing compromises in day-to-day use.
The Fold 7 feels slimmer, lighter, and more refined than ever. Open it up, and you get an expansive canvas that puts regular bar-style phones to shame. Fold it back, and you’re holding a surprisingly comfortable device that no longer feels bulky or awkward. Compared directly to the Galaxy S25 Ultra or even the iPhone 16 Pro, the Fold 7 is slimmer and lighter, yet delivers something they cannot: true two-in-one flexibility.
But what sets the Fold 7 apart isn’t just the engineering polish. It’s how it fits seamlessly into daily life in ways you don’t expect until you start using it.
A Cover Screen That Feels Normal
Earlier generations of Samsung’s foldables often felt compromised on the outside screen. It was narrow, cramped, and clearly not meant for full-time use. With the Fold 7, that issue is gone. The cover display feels like a proper smartphone screen. You can use it for texting, browsing, or even full apps without constantly thinking you need to open the device. In fact, you may even forget you’re using a foldable at times, and that’s one of the biggest differences between the Fold 6 and Fold 7.
Durability has also taken a step forward. The new build is tougher, more scratch-resistant, and water- and dust-protected with an IP48 rating. While you wouldn’t want to dunk it in water, it can easily shrug off spills, splashes, and daily dust exposure. Samsung has also refined the hinge further. It’s slimmer and smoother, though some wobble is still noticeable if you’re particular.
Everyday Usefulness Beyond the Gimmick
Foldables often get dismissed as “show-off” devices, but living with the Fold 7 reveals just how practical it can be. The built-in kickstand effect of the hinge makes it perfect for hands-free video watching, whether you’re on a coffee break or on a flight. Unlike holding a regular phone propped against something, the Fold 7 stands confidently on its own.
Watching content feels natural, not just because of the larger inner display but because of how well the software has been optimized. You can read comments and reply while watching videos, something you’d struggle to do on a typical phone. Split-screen multitasking also shines here — comparing food delivery prices between Zomato and Swiggy, or drafting an email while referencing another app, becomes second nature.
One of the cleverest uses comes with Samsung Notes. Imagine shooting a 4K vlog with the primary cameras while keeping your script open in split-screen like a teleprompter. It’s small touches like these that make the Fold 7 more than just a novelty.
Samsung’s software, particularly One UI, has matured to the point where foldables feel seamless. Close an app on the big display, and it transitions instantly to the cover screen. Multitasking between two or three apps feels smooth, and editing photos with side-by-side before-and-after views becomes intuitive. After years of refinements, this feels like the polished foldable experience Samsung promised.
Cameras That Aim for Flagship Status
Camera performance has always been a sticking point for foldables. If you’re paying flagship-level money, you expect flagship-level photography. This time, Samsung has made a serious push. The Fold 7 comes equipped with an upgraded 200MP primary sensor that captures highly detailed images. Zoom into a shot, and it almost feels like you’ve taken multiple photos from one click.
In normal mode, images strike a balance between natural tones and punchy contrast. The dynamic range is solid, though not perfect, and the ultra-wide lens delivers surprisingly strong results. Portrait shots look sharp with good edge detection, even when taken casually. Low-light photography is decent but not groundbreaking — rival flagships still do better in extreme conditions.
Selfies on the cover display camera are more than usable, but the real trick is using the main cameras for selfies. Flip the device, use the outer screen as a viewfinder, and you suddenly have flagship-grade selfies even in tricky lighting.
Video capabilities are equally impressive. The Fold 7 shoots up to 8K at 30fps, but most users will find 4K 30fps the sweet spot. Dynamic range holds up well, and Samsung has included support for log recording at high bit rates, giving creators flexibility to color grade footage. At 60fps, you can even create smooth slow-motion video that looks cinematic.
A Display That Outshines Competitors
It’s no exaggeration to say the Fold 7 has the best display of any foldable on the market. Color accuracy, sharpness, and outdoor visibility all hit flagship levels. Even against strong competition like Vivo’s X Fold, Samsung’s screen just feels a notch above.
There is a minor disappointment, though. Unlike the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Fold 7 lacks an anti-reflective coating out of the box. It’s not a dealbreaker, and Samsung does offer protective films with anti-reflective properties if you buy its official case, but it’s a small detail that could have been better.
Another quirk is the punch-hole camera on the inner display. It’s visible when watching content, unlike under-display solutions from earlier folds, and can occasionally be distracting. Still, the overall experience is so strong that these issues fade into the background quickly.
Performance and Cooling Upgrades
Performance is exactly what you’d expect from a Samsung flagship. The Fold 7 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen for Galaxy, delivering blazing speed. In fact, you could theoretically run three games simultaneously — not that anyone should — just to show off how powerful it is.
Samsung has also doubled the cooling area compared to the Fold 6, using higher-density graphene sheets. The result is more efficient thermal management, meaning the phone stays cooler under heavy loads. For gamers, video editors, or anyone pushing performance, this makes a noticeable difference.
Battery Life: The Ongoing Struggle
If there’s one compromise that still remains, it’s battery life. With light use, the Fold 7 can make it through a day, but heavy users will likely find themselves charging by early evening. The capacity simply hasn’t caught up with the demands of a foldable this powerful.
There’s been speculation about Samsung adopting newer battery technologies like silicon-carbon cells, which could offer higher capacity. However, concerns about long-term degradation have kept the company cautious. For now, Samsung seems to prefer giving users consistent four-to-five-year battery reliability rather than chasing early gains that fade after two years.
Behind the scenes, Samsung is said to be developing its own advanced battery tech that could combine capacity and longevity. But that’s for the future. For now, Fold 7 buyers will need to live with a battery that, while acceptable, doesn’t quite match the rest of the flagship experience.
Durability Concerns and Hinge Longevity
A recurring worry with foldables is hinge durability. Over time, dust and debris can affect how smoothly the device opens and closes. Samsung has addressed this with tiny brushes inside the hinge that push dust out during use. The advice is simple: keep folding it. The more you use it, the less chance dust has to build up.
While no foldable is indestructible, the Fold 7 feels sturdy enough for everyday use, and with proper care, it should hold up better than earlier generations.
Price and Value
At ₹1,75,000, the Fold 7 is undeniably expensive. It sits squarely in flagship territory, and for most people, that’s a tough pill to swallow. However, Samsung does offer exchange bonuses and bundle discounts. Pairing it with a Galaxy Watch, for example, nets you around ₹18,000 off the total price, making it a slightly more palatable purchase.
Is it worth it? That depends on how much you value the unique experience of a foldable. For those who want the best of both smartphone and tablet worlds in one device, there’s nothing else like it.
Final Thoughts: The Foldable Era Feels Real
The Galaxy Fold 7 finally delivers what foldables have been promising for years — a device that feels premium, polished, and practical. It’s slim, light, durable, and powerful, with cameras and software that stand up against the best bar-style flagships.
Battery life remains its Achilles’ heel, but for everything else, the Fold 7 feels like a complete package. This isn’t just a device for early adopters anymore. It’s a phone you can realistically use every day without feeling like you’re making compromises.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to buy a foldable, that time might just be now.
About the Author
