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The Hindu
14 hours ago
- The Hindu
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Review: Evolves as a practical daily driver beyond multitasking
Samsung's seventh generation foldable finally feels like it has found the right note. I've been using the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a couple of weeks and can feel the difference in its slim and light design while doubling on sturdiness and in-hand feel. Galaxy Z Fold 7 also brings deeply infused Galaxy AI and the newly introduced One UI 8 which is becoming more refined and personalised. Galaxy Z Fold 7 battles with the newly launched Vivo X Fold 5 with its latest processor, improved camera and a hard to beat ecosystem. Let's find out how Fold 7 performs against its rival. Design and Display The Galaxy Z Fold 7 does not have a radical shift from its predecessor, but all the little tweaks add up smartly. In hand, the difference in thickness and weight is immediately noticeable. Closed, it's about the same thickness as a regular phone. Samsung managed to shave off roughly 24 grams to achieve 215 grams compared to last year. The hinge feels robust and opens smoothly with just enough resistance to hold at half-fold for laptop-mode. The aluminium frame, Gorilla Glass Victus at back and Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on cover make it less scratch-prone than before. When closed, it measures just 8.9 mm thick and 4.2 mm when open. It bears the IP48 rating which means it can only handle spills. The build is sturdier yet sleeker, the folding mechanism feels smooth, and the creased center is now almost invisible unless you look for it. (For top technology news of the day, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today's Cache) The displays are gorgeous too. The cover screen is a 6.5-inch FHD+, AMOLED with a 120 Hz refresh rate. It's bright and feels like using a normal phone which is good because a foldable fails if the outer screen isn't good enough to use. I was replying to messages, scrolling, and even snapping quick photos with the Fold 7 closed and never felt cramped. Open it up, and you're greeted by a massive 8-inch main AMOLED QXGA+ screen with same dynamic refresh rate and 2,600 nits bright. Samsung made a controversial choice to drop S Pen support entirely this year with no digitiser layer in the screen because it helped make the screen thinner, stronger with a reduced crease. Performance and Software Galaxy Z Fold 7 is as high-end as it gets. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip inside is a mouthful, but basically, it's one of the fastest mobile processors you can get right now. Paired with 12 GB of RAM, it absolutely flies. Everything launches instantaneously and multitasking is silky smooth. Thermals are well-managed too. What really shines is how Samsung's One UI 8 based on Android 16 takes advantage of the big display. Multitasking feels natural. You can run up to three apps in split-screen and even have floating windows on top if you're feeling wild. I often had two apps open side by side while watching a YouTube video without any lag. The new One UI adds handy features like a persistent taskbar that makes app switching a breeze. Also, Samsung's Flex Mode is improved with a lot of apps now supporting the half-screen controls, turning the bottom half into a touchpad or playback controls while the top shows the content. It's great for YouTube, camera mode, and even some editing apps. Essentially, the Fold 7 feels like a tiny laptop when you want it to, which has been the foldable promise all along. On the software front, Samsung has thrown in everything including the kitchen sink. All the new AI-based features from the Galaxy S25 series are here, from on-device voice transcription to advanced photo editing and that smart Now Playing widget on the lockscreen. Samsung has also committed 7 years of software support for this phone, so you're future-proofed in that regard. Camera Foldables historically had to compromise on cameras due to space, but the Galaxy Z Fold 7 finally packs a setup that doesn't feel like a downgrade. The phone inherits a lot from the Galaxy S25 lineup. You get a triple camera on the back: a whopping 200 MP main sensor, a 12 MP ultrawide, and a 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. There are two selfie cameras: a 10 MP on the cover screen and another 10 MP main display. In practice, the main camera is an absolute beast. It captures sharp, vibrant shots that rival any flagship out there. In daylight, photos are crisp with excellent dynamic range. Low light performance also saw a boost; the large sensor pulls in a lot of detail and Samsung's image processing has gotten more balanced. I took some night skyline shots and only when I zoomed in, I noticed a bit of softness, otherwise, it's flagship-quality imaging. The 3x telephoto is solid for portraits and getting closer shots; it's not as impressive as the 10x zooms some slab phones have, but it holds its own. The 12 MP ultrawide shots look fine, at night or in complex lighting it can't capture as much detail. That said, it's okay for casual wide shots or group photos, just not the X factor of this camera system. One perk of the foldable form: you can use the rear cameras for selfies by unfolding the phone partway and using the cover screen as a preview. A bit clunky, but the results are miles better than the built-in selfie cams, especially in low light. The actual front cameras are 10 MP with good colours and they even handle tricky backlighting. In the camera app you can preview shots on one side and view the last photo on the other side, which is good. The Fold 7's cameras are no longer a big compromise. Samsung effectively gave it an S-series calibre main camera, so you're not missing much versus a standard Galaxy S25 Ultra or other flagships. Battery Battery life on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 surprised me, in a good way. Even though the capacity is around 4,400 mAh, the efficiency of the new chip and software optimisations help it go the distance. In my daily use, which involves a mix of big-screen and cover-screen time, I consistently get through a full day and often into the next morning before needing a charge. Overall, most people will get a comfortable day of use. Samsung hasn't improved on charging speed, still 25W wired charging support and 15W wireless charging. In absolute terms, 25W is pretty sluggish now and it takes more than an hour to go from 0 to 100%. It could have gone up to 45W with Fold 7. Verdict Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a foldable that can genuinely replace your phone and tablet. Samsung has refined the hardware to a point where Fold 7 isn't just a phone but evolves as a practical daily driver that goes beyond multitasking. The design improvements make a huge difference in day-to-day convenience. Performance is top tier; the cameras no longer play the second lead hiding under the guise of productivity and the battery life is solid enough to take it through a day. However, Samsung did remove the S Pen functionality, which I personally don't use much, and has not improved the charging speed. It could have also added a layer of dust and pressure resistance as did the Vivo's X Fold 5. Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at ₹1,74,999 and competes with the recently reviewed Vivo's X Fold 5 which is under ₹1.50 lakh but with last year's processor. Perhaps, Samsung's expertise and ecosystem gives the Fold 7 an edge over its rival. If you love large screens and multitasking, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the most polished and user-friendly fold yet.
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
Gadgets: Foldable, unforgettable
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today Spice issue dated July 2025)Most foldable phones are either all show and no substance or so delicate you're afraid to sneeze near them. Enter the Vivo X Fold 5, a device that not only dares you to fold, unfold, and occasionally even drop it by mistake, but even survives to tell the tale. Skipping a 'Fold 4' entirely, Vivo's new foldable feels like that friend who missed a party but turns up next time with better FOR REAL LIFE, NOT THE MUSEUMForget the dainty prototypes of yesteryear. The Vivo X Fold 5 is slim (9.2mm folded, 4.3mm unfolded), featherlight (217g), and so tough it boasts IP58 and IP59 ratings, yes, you read that right. The hinge claims it can survive 6,00,000 folds; our accidental drop confirmed it's not just a claim. Vivo throws in a premium leather case for good measure, but we do wish the glossy edges had been matte for better grip and fewer fingerprints. BRIGHT ENOUGH TO ANNOY THE SUNWith an 8.03-inch inner and 6.53-inch cover AMOLED, both at 120Hz and 4,500 nits, you won't squint, no matter where you are. Colours pop, blacks go deep, and LTPO tech keeps things smooth yet power efficient. Some apps still wrestle with the foldable format (looking at you, Instagram), but that's an industry-wide growing pain, not a Vivo blunder. ZEISS KNOWS BEST (MOST OF THE TIME)Three 50MP cameras co-engineered with Zeiss deliver crisp detail and punchy colours in daylight. The Zeiss filter tries to keep things natural but sometimes over-brightens the scene. Portraits? Great detail, but skin tones can get a tad too rosy. Low-light shots are solid, though Samsung's Z Fold 7 has a slight edge. For videos, 4K at 60fps is the sweet spot—stable and sharp, ready for your next viral THE FASTEST, BUT DEFINITELY THE SMARTESTVivo sticks with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (last year's champ), and while spec-heads may scoff, real-world performance is smooth. With 16GB RAM and 512GB storage (plus LPDDR5X and UFS 4.0), multitasking is a breeze, and gaming is respectably smooth. Just don't expect console-level graphics. Software's covered by FunTouch OS 15 and the surprisingly useful Origin Workbench, letting you run five apps at once for full-on productivity chaos. Four years of Android updates and five years of security is decent, though the competition stretches it tad FINAL TAKEA huge 6,000mAh battery (biggest in a foldable yet) delivers a day and a half of solid use, charging fast at 80W (and wirelessly at 40W). Even after hours of video and gaming, you'll rarely be left hunting for a charger. The Vivo X Fold 5 delivers on design, durability, display, and who want less fragility and more function, it's the real Rs 1,49,999 Subscribe to India Today Magazine- Ends
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Galaxy Z Fold 7 is even thinner than Samsung claims, rivals found fudging numbers
A recent study conducted by the Korean Consumer-Centered Enterprise Association has revealed that Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner than officially claimed, while competing foldable phones are not as slim as manufacturers advertise. This finding raises questions about the measurement methods used by smartphone manufacturers and their impact on consumer perception. The study used a micrometer to measure the thickness of various foldable phones, showcasing discrepancies in official claims and actual Galaxy Z Fold 7 has been found to be 8.82mm thick, slightly less than the company's official claim of 8.9mm. In contrast, other manufacturers like Honor, Vivo, Xiaomi, and HUAWEI have reported discrepancies which show their devices to be thicker than stated. The discrepancies, while sounding minimal, challenge these brands' claims of producing the thinnest foldable phones, a significant selling point in the competitive foldable phone Honor Magic V5, for instance, is advertised as the world's thinnest foldable phone. However, the study revealed it to be 0.54mm thicker than claimed. Similarly, the Vivo X Fold 5 and Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 were found to be 0.57mm and 0.62mm thicker, respectively, than their official measurements. The findings suggest a need for a more standardised approach to measuring foldable phones, particularly regarding the inclusion of inner protective film layers, which are often overlooked by manufacturers when declaring device thickness. The significance of accurate measurements goes beyond mere specifications. These numbers influence consumer decisions, especially when brands emphasise having the thinnest or lightest devices. Foldable phones, being relatively new to the market, often face additional scrutiny, and discrepancies in their advertised features might affect consumer trust. The study's results suggest that consumers should be cautious and well-informed about the methods used to measure such has been criticised for its measurement practices, which exclude the inner protective screen layers. This method has been deemed misleading, as these layers are integral to the phone's structure and functionality. The report warns consumers against removing this film, which is intended to remain permanently affixed. Such practices highlight the need for clearer guidelines and transparency from manufacturers to ensure consumers have an accurate understanding of the products they study also noted that brands such as Huawei and Oppo, alongside Honor and Vivo, weigh their foldable phones without considering these inner films. This raises further queries about the integrity of claims regarding the lightest devices on the industry's measurement practices are now under scrutiny, with calls for more consumer-friendly and transparent methods. The discrepancies identified in the thickness of these phones could prompt manufacturers to revise the ways they present their product specifications. The push for transparency is seen as a step towards better consumer protection and fairness in marketing position in this study as the only manufacturer found to have understated the thickness of its foldable phone could influence consumer preferences and bolster its reputation for accuracy in product specifications. This development may place pressure on rival brands to reassess their measurement and marketing strategies to maintain credibility in the the foldable phone market continues to grow, consumers are encouraged to critically evaluate manufacturer claims and consider independent reviews and studies when making purchasing decisions. The findings of the Korean study serve as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accuracy in product descriptions, which play a crucial role in building consumer trust and satisfaction.- EndsMust Watch
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Foldable, not forgettable
Most foldable phones are either all show and no substance or so delicate you're afraid to sneeze near them. Enter the Vivo X Fold 5, a device that not only dares you to fold, unfold, and occasionally even drop it by mistake, but even survives to tell the tale. Skipping a 'Fold 4' entirely, Vivo's new foldable feels like that friend who missed a party but turns up next time with better stories.
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- The Hindu
Vivo X Fold 5 Review: A new benchmark for foldables
Vivo's approach to foldable phones has been nothing short of phenomenal as it presents the new X Fold 5 as its most refined phone yet. Launched alongside the Vivo X200 FE, the new X Fold 5 challenges the newly launched Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a more affordable price. However, it retains the same processor which was introduced in its predecessor, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, launched in 2024. Priced at ₹1,49,999 for the 16 GB/512 GB variant, the Vivo X Fold 5 isn't that cheap either but, promises an ultra premium experience with a futuristic design, marathon battery life and impressive cameras. So, does the Vivo X Fold 5 deliver on those promises? Let's unfold this review and find out. Design Gone are the days when foldable used to be bulky. The Vivo X Fold 5 breaks that stereotype, effortlessly with just 217 grams of weight which is evenly distributed. I reviewed the Black variant of the phone which has a sleek aesthetic with a frosted matte glass back that repels fingerprints and a circular camera module that adds character without too much protrusion. In the hand, the device feels impressively slim and balanced. When unfolded, the X Fold 5 measures just 4.3mm thin, unfolded, and 9.2mm when folded. Vivo has kept the edges rounded in X Fold 5 which is good and there's no gap when the two screens meet. Vivo used an advanced Armor aluminium frame and improved hinge mechanism in X Fold 5, which claims 6 lakhs opening/closing. The hinge operates smoothly and can hold the display at various angles, useful for flex-mode viewing or hands-free video calls. It gets IP5X, IPX8, and even IPX9 ratings for durability and protection against dust, full water immersion, and high-pressure water jets. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 only features the IP48 standards which makes it only water resistant. (For top technology news of the day, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today's Cache) All buttons sit on the right edge, the volume rocker and power button, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which I don't like personally. Vivo has ditched the in-display ultrasonic sensor for a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Interestingly, there's a Smart Key on the left panel, which is a programmable button, like the Plus Key on the OnePlus 13s, that can be assigned to actions like torch, notifications, launching camera or any app or toggling specific features. Display Vivo equipped the X Fold 5 with two AMOLED displays. The outer screen is a 6.53-inch AMOLED with a good bar like 21:9 aspect ratio. I found typing on this outer display quite comfortable. It is wide enough that UI elements don't feel cramped. The outer panel is sharp with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz for silky smooth scrolling. It's also incredibly bright, peaking up to 4,500 nits for HDR content or even under the sun. I had no trouble reading text or viewing photos. Open the device, and you're treated to an expansive 8.03-inch inner display that turns the phone into a mini tablet. This foldable OLED panel offers a 120 Hz LTPO refresh rate and a crisp resolution. Colours on the inner display are vibrant and punchy, matching the outer screen's calibration closely so you get a consistent look. Both panels support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, making media consumption a delight. It has up to 4,500 nits peak brightness on the inner screen as well which is more than sufficient. The screen crease where the inner display folds is present, but it's relatively subtle. When viewing content head on, I barely noticed it; only at off-angles or when swiping exactly across the middle I did feel the crease. The hinge's new droplet design helps keep that crease shallow and also allowed the device to fold flat without a gap. The ultra thin glass layer on top of the inner display gives it a smooth feel. The inner display has an anti-reflective coating, cutting down on glare and supports a split screen and multitasking interface. OS and AI Vivo X Fold 5 operates on Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15 out of box. It is clean, intuitive and packed with useful features. The UI feels polished with smooth animations and the interface is better optimised for the foldable form factor. You get a persistent taskbar at the bottom when using the big inner screen, making it easy to switch apps or drag them into split-screen. Vivo has also integrated some smart AI-driven features to enhance productivity. One standout is the Origin Workbench mode. When you swipe in from the bottom right corner, the current app shrinks into a floating window, revealing a sidebar where you can open up to four more apps in mini windows. Vivo promises four years of Android updates and five years of security patches in X Fold 5 while Samsung's offers 7+7 policy. I was a bit disappointed that it ships with Android 15 and not the new Android 16, especially since Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 comes with Android 16 out of the box. Performance Under the hood, the Vivo X Fold 5 packs last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It was surprising to see Vivo not using the Snapdragon 8 Elite, commonly found in most flagships launched this year. But, this has certainly helped Vivo contain X Fold 5 under ₹1.50 lakh. I honestly did not feel any lack of power during day-to-day use,. The X Fold 5 zips through everything. The apps launch quickly, the UI transitions are buttery, and even the multitasking didn't slow it down. It has got a 512 GB UFS 4.1 storage for quick file transfers. The Adreno 740 GPU handled intense games without any difficulty. Graphics stayed smooth and the phone only warmed up moderately after continuous gameplay but the vapour chamber cooling system helps here. Overall, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 isn't the newest silicon available but, it has proven its worth in X Fold 3 Pro. The new Vivo X Fold 5 goes through productivity tasks and holds its own in gaming, making it a reliable powerhouse for both work and play. Camera The Vivo X Fold 5 boasts a triple 50 MP rear camera setup co-engineered with Zeiss. The primary shooter is a 50 MP Sony IMX921 sensor with OIS. This is the same sensor used in Vivo's X200, and it shows. Daylight photos are excellent, rich in detail, with a wide dynamic range and natural colours. In most scenarios, the main camera delivered images that could rival slab flagships. The images retain a more realistic look without overdoing things. Low light performance is particularly impressive. The combination of OIS and a large sensor means the X Fold 5 can afford longer exposures in Night Mode without blur. In near-dark scenes, it pulled in a surprising amount of light, street lamps and neon signs were well-controlled with minimal flare due to Zeiss T* lens coatings. It's on par with the likes of Vivo X200 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra. There's a 50 MP ultrawide lens that captures a 114° field of view. During daytime, ultrawide shots exhibit the same general colour tuning as the main camera, which is great, no jarring shifts in colour or exposure. The 50 MP periscope telephoto camera does its job perfectly. Vivo has fitted the X Fold 5 with a 3x optical zoom lens using a Sony IMX882 sensor with OIS. This lens is fantastic for portraits and distant subjects alike. The 3x zoom shots come out sharp. The telephoto rendered facial details and textures brilliantly with a pleasing natural bokeh separating the subject. The high resolution also means you can push beyond 3x. I got surprisingly good results in 5x and even 10x shots in daylight. At 10x, quality starts to dip with a bit of noise and some blown highlights in challenging lighting, but it's definitely usable for casual sharing. For context, Samsung's Fold 7 sticks with a 10 MP 3x telephoto. All rear cameras benefit from Zeiss colour tuning. There's even a Zeiss mode in the viewfinder for more colour accurate and natural shots. Skin tones especially looked excellent with Zeiss mode, making the X Fold 5 a capable device for portrait photography. Upfront, the X Fold 5 actually has two 20 MP selfie cameras, one on the outer display and one embedded under the inner display. The cover screen's 20 MP selfie camera performs well. Selfies came out sharp and well-exposed, with a fairly wide field of view fitting in groups easily. Portrait selfie mode does a decent job with edge detection. The under-display camera on main screen is also 20 MP, but don't let the number fool you. Its quality is more limited and fragile. For selfies, I recommend using the rear cameras with the cover screen as a preview. Battery The Vivo X Fold 5 holds a massive 6,000 mAh battery, the largest ever in any foldable phone. It translates into fantastic battery life because foldables have historically struggled to last a full day due to their power-hungry big screens, but the X Fold 5 flips the script. In my time with the device, I consistently ended days with around 30-35% charge remaining with heavy usage, including 5-6 hours of screen-on time mixed between the outer and inner displays. This phone's battery life goes unchallenged in the foldable arena. Complimenting it, Vivo's 80 W wired charging support fills the X Fold 5 from 0 to 50% in just around 30 minutes, and a full 0-100% charge took an hour. For added convenience, the X Fold 5 also supports 40 W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging, which is an added advantage. Verdict Vivo has crafted a foldable that doesn't have compromises and it just stands out. The design is brilliantly executed with an ultra thin, lightweight build that is comfortable to use. The displays are gorgeous and spacious, the battery life is amazing for a foldable, and the cameras truly shine among foldables and bar phones, alike. The core experience of using the Vivo X Fold 5 is nothing short of delightful. From binge watching, to shooting emails, to capturing stunning photos, this device handles it all with aplomb. Vivo has emphatically delivered on making the foldable a matured product rather than a novelty. In conclusion, those willing to invest in the Vivo X Fold 5 will find it rewarding. Surely, it's not perfect. The X Fold 5 sticks with last year's processor and launches on Android 15 instead of 16 out of the box. Starting at ₹1,49,999, the Vivo X Fold 5 sits firmly in ultra premium territory yet it manages to feel like a value proposition against its primary rival, the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
