Galaxy Z Fold 7: Peak Design Has Arrived, But There’s Still Room for Improvement
If you ask mainstream users why they hesitate to buy a premium foldable phone, the answers often revolve around three factors: price, size, and weight. Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 7 has addressed two of these three issues while also fixing one of the biggest drawbacks of foldable smartphones.
When Thin and Light Becomes the New Standard
At just 4.2mm when unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is now the thinnest foldable phone in the U.S. market, second only to the Honor Magic V5 by a mere 0.1mm. However, the bulky circular camera on the Magic V5 makes it feel thicker in the hand compared to Samsung’s design.
In terms of weight, the Z Fold 7 weighs just 215 grams—24 grams lighter than its predecessor. Compared to its rivals—the Honor Magic V5 (217 grams), Oppo Find N5 (229 grams), and Pixel 9 Pro Fold (254 grams)—Samsung is clearly leading the foldable weight race.
The Secret to Success: Feels Like a Regular Phone
When designing the Z Fold 7, Samsung set an ambitious goal: to create a foldable phone that feels indistinguishable from a regular smartphone when closed. And they nearly nailed it. Although it is 0.7mm thicker than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Z Fold 7 is 3 grams lighter.
In tests with 30 regular users, over one-third were impressed by its thinness, and another third were surprised by its unexpectedly light weight. Interestingly, many did not realize it was a foldable phone until they opened the screen.
Has the Design Reached Its Limit?
The Z Fold 7 is so refined that it raises the question: has foldable phone design already reached perfection?
According to Samsung, the Z Fold 7 can only be made 0.2mm thinner without compromising the USB-C port. This means that making future versions significantly thinner will be a challenge.
One area for improvement is the camera module. Although it features a 200MP main sensor on par with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Z Fold 7’s camera bump is quite prominent. Its off-center placement prevents the phone from lying flat on a table—something that the Magic V5 and Find N5 have solved with a centered circular camera design.
Other Factors to Consider Beyond Design
Despite its outstanding design, the Z Fold 7 still has some drawbacks:
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A 4,400mAh battery, much smaller than the Magic V5 (5,820mAh) and Find N5 (5,600mAh)
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Secondary cameras (12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto) that are not particularly impressive
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Boxy screen edges that may feel uncomfortable for some users
Conclusion: A Design Masterpiece, But the Journey Isn’t Over
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 represents the most refined foldable smartphone design to date. Samsung has created a device that is nearly perfect in terms of thinness and weight, offering a premium in-hand feel. However, there is still room for improvement in battery life, secondary camera quality, and software experience.
For those looking for the best foldable phone experience available today, the Z Fold 7 is a top choice. But if you’re willing to wait another year, the next generation may bring performance and battery upgrades without sacrificing the current outstanding design.