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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: The Foldable That Feels Closest to a Pocket Tablet

I measure joy in battery cycles and how quickly a phone can switch from “just texting” to “I’m basically working from a laptop.”

That’s why the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is so hard to ignore. It’s a foldable phone that aims to be two devices in one: a normal smartphone when closed, and a big-screen multitasking machine when opened. Samsung pairs that giant screen idea with real flagship parts, including a 200MP camera and Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy performance.

If you have ever wanted a phone that feels like a pocket tablet without giving up premium phone cameras, this is the pitch.

📦 Unboxing and first setup

In the box, the basics are exactly what you expect for a modern flagship: the phone, a USB cable, a SIM tool, and quick start paperwork. There is no charger brick, so plan accordingly.

My first setup ritual was simple. I restored my apps, signed in, and then spent an embarrassing amount of time opening and closing the phone like a fidget toy. The hinge action feels deliberate, and the form factor makes it obvious that this is built for people who actually want to use the inner display, not just show it off.

The big screen experience

Samsung lists the Z Fold7 with an 8-inch main display and a 6.5-inch cover display, and the cover screen uses a 21:9 aspect ratio meant to feel more like a standard phone when closed.

Here is the story that sold me on the format:

I was at a café, trying to do “quick admin” before heading out. On a normal phone, that means flipping between email, a calendar, and notes, usually with my thumbs getting angry by minute ten. On the Fold7, I opened it and ran multiple apps side by side. I could scan an email on one side, check a calendar on the other, then drag my notes over. It is not magic. It is just more space, and it changes how you work.

The best part is that you can choose when to use it. When you are walking outside and just need a normal phone, you close it and move on.

Camera and AI features

Samsung highlights a 200MP wide camera on the Z Fold7, and it leans heavily into “pro-grade” camera language for this foldable generation.

My favorite use case is the one Samsung foldables do better than slab phones: using the main cameras for photos that normally live on the selfie camera.

Personal story time:

I tried taking a quick family-style group photo at home, but I wanted the better rear cameras. I unfolded the Fold7, used the big screen to frame the shot comfortably, and it felt less like guessing and more like actually composing a photo. The large display makes you slow down in a good way.

Samsung also markets AI photo edits and Gemini features like screenshare assistance. The practical value is that you can get help with what you are seeing on screen and do quick edits without bouncing between apps. Whether you use these tools daily or ignore them depends on your tolerance for AI prompts, but they are clearly part of the product’s identity.

Durability and daily carry

Samsung positions the Fold7 as thinner and lighter than before, but it is still a foldable. The feel in a pocket is different from a normal phone, and you notice it.

I learned this the slightly comedic way: I wore a lighter jacket, put the Fold7 in the inner pocket, and spent ten minutes convinced I had lost it because it did not sit the way my usual phone does. It was there the whole time. Foldables just carry differently.

On the materials side, Samsung’s press specs call out an Advanced Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the cover, and an IP48 rating. That does not mean “treat it like a rugged phone,” but it does signal that Samsung expects people to use it as a real daily driver.

Battery, performance, and heat

On Amazon, the Z Fold7 listing includes a 4400mAh battery capacity and 12GB RAM for the 512GB model. Samsung also emphasizes that the phone is built for all-day use and powered by a customized Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, aimed at multitasking and heavy workloads.

My real-world expectation for a foldable is straightforward:

If you treat it like a normal phone, it should be fine. If you keep the big screen on for long sessions, the battery will drain faster, because physics is still employed by the universe.

The good news is that the hardware is clearly geared toward the “I have too many apps open” lifestyle. That is the point of a Fold.

✅ Pros

• Huge 8-inch main display makes multitasking and editing feel natural
• Cover screen is sized to be usable as a normal phone
• 200MP camera headline feature brings flagship-level photo potential
• Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy and 12GB RAM should handle heavy use well
• Build materials and IP48 rating suggest serious daily durability for a foldable

❌ Cons

• Foldables still feel different in a pocket, and not everyone will like it
• No headphone jack, and no charger brick in the box
• The big-screen lifestyle can burn battery faster if you live unfolded all day
• Premium pricing is implied by the category, even before accessories

🆚 Galaxy Z Fold7 vs a normal flagship phone

A normal flagship phone is simpler. It is thinner, lighter, and generally easier to one-hand.

The Fold7 is for people who keep wishing their phone had “just a bit more space” for real work. If you read long articles, review photos, manage spreadsheets, or run multiple apps at once, the 8-inch display changes the experience. If your phone life is mostly messaging, scrolling, and quick photos, a traditional flagship will usually feel like better value.

Who is this for?

Buy the Galaxy Z Fold7 if you want a foldable phone that can replace “phone plus small tablet” for travel, commuting, or work.

Skip it if you want the simplest daily carry, the lightest pocket feel, or if you know you will never open the inner display.

⭐ Final verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is a foldable phone built for people who want a big screen without giving up premium camera ambitions. The combination of an 8-inch main display, a usable 6.5-inch cover screen, and a 200MP camera makes a strong case for “this can be my only device.”

It is still a foldable, which means you need to want the format. If you do, this is one of the clearest arguments for it.

Zach’s rating: 4.5/5 multitasking machines.