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Digital Trends
13 hours ago
- Digital Trends
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 proves foldables have reached peak design
Ask most average people why they weren't willing to buy one of the best folding phones, and the answer often includes the price, size, or weight. The new Galaxy Z Fold 7 addresses two out of these three issues and, in turn, resolves one of the key problems with folding phones. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner than any previous folding phone available in the US, measuring 4.2mm thick when unfolded, and is only second in thickness to the Honor Magic V5, which is 0.1mm thinner when unfolded. Yet, that phone has a much larger circular camera hump, so it feels similar, if not slightly thicker, in the hand. Recommended Videos The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is also considerably lighter, weighing 215 grams, compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which weighs 24 grams more. The Magic V5 is just two grams heavier than the Samsung; the Oppo Find N5 is a further 12 grams heavier, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the heaviest at 254 grams. Ultimately, the design of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 raises one key question: has folding phone design peaked? How the Galaxy Z Fold 7 gets the design so right When designing the new Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung began with a primary goal that has proven essential: can they build a folding phone that is indistinguishable from a regular phone when folded? The Galaxy Z Fold 7 mostly ticks this box, as although it's 0.7mm thicker than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it's three grams lighter. When we showed the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to 30 average users, more than a third commented on the thickness when they first felt the device, and almost another third commented on its weight. These in-hand improvements have made the Galaxy Z Fold 7 feel nearly identical to a regular phone, to the point where many of those same people were surprised when they unfolded it. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn't the first device to achieve this, but it's the first folding phone that feels distinctly normal in the hand. This makes it a stunning alternative for those who want the folding form factor, but don't want the added heft that has accompanied folding phones from Samsung, Google, and others. The epitome of the perfect foldable design The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is so enjoyable in the hand that it raises the question of what comes next, at least in terms of design. Samsung itself mentioned that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be around 0.2mm thinner without affecting the USB-C port, but no thinner, so just making it thinner wouldn't justify an upgrade. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a worthy upgrade over last year's Galaxy Z Fold 6 or any previous Samsung folding phone, but a Galaxy Z Fold 8 that's 0.2mm thinner wouldn't be as newsworthy. One area that could be improved further is the camera. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera features the same 200MP main camera as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and our testing has proven that the camera is just as capable. However, the camera bump is considerable — albeit less pronounced than the Magic V5 — and its position on the left side of the phone means it rocks noticeably when laid flat on a table. The Magic V5 and Oppo Find N5 both address this wobble with a circular camera design on the rear, ensuring it lies flat, but this design results in a thicker overall phone. Then there are the subtle, rounded corners, or lack thereof, on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Most of its rivals feature subtle rounded edges on the front display, which reduces the screen size but makes it easier to reach the far corners. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features squared edges to the display, and while it's uncomfortable for some, it nestles perfectly in the palm of my hand. All of these complaints ultimately nitpick a fundamentally excellent design, raising the question of whether the foldable design has now reached its peak. At least in terms of design, there's nothing I would change about the Galaxy Z Fold 7 design that I think would fundamentally change the design or form factor, so the answer seems to be yes. However, while the design is perfect, there are still areas Samsung can improve. The non-design parts that could be improved As I covered in our Galaxy Z Fold 7 review, Samsung's newest folding phone offers numerous improvements over the previous generation, but there is still room for improvement. First, there's the battery; the 4,400 mAh battery is smaller than the Honor Magic V5 (5,820mAh) and the Oppo Find N5 (5,600 mAh), yet both of those are almost as thick as the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Then there's the camera. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a 200MP main camera, but its 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto cameras are not as competitive as those of its rivals. However, each of these improvements shouldn't come at the expense of the design. It's the key reason I recommend the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Samsung would do well to ensure it doesn't stray from this design in the future. It's so good that I hope other phone makers follow suit. This Galaxy Z Fold 7 proves foldables have reached peak design
The Verge
5 days ago
- The Verge
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review: stunning, bendy, and spendy
I've been using the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a week, and I've run out of ways to say 'It's so nice.' It's not essential, or life-changing; it's nice. It's an understatement, though. Samsung joins the likes of Honor and Oppo in making a folding phone that's almost as thin as a regular phone, and it's a trend with real benefits. Compared to the previous six generations of Samsung folding phones, the Z Fold 7's inner screen feels like a bonus — one that doesn't require the sacrifice of carrying a bigger, bulkier device to get. It is thin. It is luxurious. Also: it is two thousand dollars. It's so nice. It's two thousand dollars. Somewhere in between those two statements, you'll know whether the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is for you. If the size and bulk of previous foldables deterred you, then this is the phone you've been waiting for. Provided you have, you know, a couple grand lying around. 8 Verge Score Writing a review of the Fold 7 feels like writing a review of two devices: the one you use with the phone closed, and the one that's available with the phone open. The former got a major upgrade this year: it uses a normal 21:9 aspect ratio. Previous versions of the outer screen were longer and skinnier than your average phone, and I never quite got used to typing on them. I sometimes forget I'm using a folding phone when the Z Fold 7 is closed. It works just like a regular slab-style phone outside of some extreme use cases. And for a folding phone? That's mission accomplished. Here's the Z Fold 7's dilemma: that outer screen is a 6.5-inch 1080p display that's not as sharp or as pleasant to use in bright light as the outstanding screen on the far cheaper Galaxy S25 Ultra. That's a point I kept revisiting as I used the Z Fold 7. As a total package there's almost nothing like it, but plenty of its individual features fall short of the best slab-style phones. Non-foldy phones offer better battery life, but the margin isn't as wide as I feared. How much you use the inner screen will dramatically affect battery life; I got through a day of moderate use and occasional inner screen use with around 50 percent left. With more time on the inner screen and about an hour of hotspot use, the battery was down to around 30 percent by bedtime. Nobody's buying a folding phone for its power efficiency, and I think these results are pretty good. As soon as I open the inner screen, the slight shortcomings are out of mind. I kept forgetting that the inner screen even existed, but I quickly got into the habit of opening it. Do you know how nice it is to use Chrome on your phone with normal-ass tabs at the top of the screen? Do you know how much less fiddly a game like Diablo Immortal is on a big screen? Do you know how useful it is to keep the Uber app open on one side of the display so you can keep track of your driver's arrival while you finish a sudoku on the other half? I do. Once you start using the inner screen, you keep finding new ways to use it. None of the above is new or exclusive to the Fold 7, but I can't emphasize this enough: this all feels like you're getting away with something, because the experience of using this phone while it's closed feels normal. No more chunky brick in the side pocket of my yoga pants. One nitpick: I don't love how stiff it feels when I'm opening the phone. The grip from a case would help here. Overall, a slimmer, lighter, well-proportioned foldable really is a whole new ballgame. There's some bad news. I'm not one to get worked up about the way any camera bump looks, but this one protrudes a lot. The phone sits crooked on surfaces and wobbles when you tap the screen, which encourages you to put it on a table screen-side-down. Fewer distractions from notifications? Good! The screen is slippery and the phone slides off the edge of the bathtub? Bad! There wasn't any water in the tub when that happened, but still. The wobble is annoying; I have to prop it up on a couple of drink coasters if I'm using it on the dining room table. Samsung's silicone grip case seems to mitigate it, but stand cases don't fix it. A case feels like a requirement here (and I say that as a case hater!), but they're thin enough they don't erase all the benefits of a slim foldable. The Fold 7 uses a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset tuned for Samsung, along with 12GB of RAM in the 256GB model I tested. It keeps up just fine, and I had no problems running Diablo Immortal at the highest display settings. The phone didn't even get very warm. The Z Fold 7 did get mighty toasty in a bit of a torture test: using it as a hotspot on a coffee shop patio on a high-80s afternoon. I put it in the direct sun, which you should not do, and sure enough, it started closing apps after about 10 minutes to try and cool itself down. Extreme, yes, but good to know if you live in a place with high temperatures. Another environmental consideration: dust resistance. The Z Fold 7 still doesn't have a formal dust resistance rating; its IP48 means it's fully water-resistant but only immune to very small particles, not specks of dust. Take extra care and consider adding Samsung's extended warranty plan to cover pricey inner screen repairs. The Z Fold 7's 200-megapixel camera is adapted from the S25 Ultra's, and it's a great camera here, just as it is in the Ultra. Low-light photos are detailed, provided your subject isn't moving too much, and Samsung's preference for vibrant reds and blues is on full display. There's also a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto and a 12-megapixel ultrawide — both solid performers if you don't ask too much from them. Digital zoom past 5x from the telephoto lens looks pretty watercolor-y. But Samsung's portrait mode with the 3x camera remains the best in the game, as it has been for years. Segmentation is so good it's uncanny — isolating a subject down to the eyelashes on my son's eyes. If you compare the Z Fold 7 to a top-tier slab phone like the S25 Ultra spec by spec, the folding phone often comes up short. It's less durable, battery life isn't quite as good, and the camera system isn't as versatile. But that misses the point of the Z Fold 7. This phone is a luxury and an engineering marvel. If you have the deep pockets and a mind open to the benefits of the big screen, then I think you'll agree with me: it's just so nice. Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It's impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit 'agree' to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don't read and definitely can't negotiate. To use the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, you must agree to: There are many optional agreements. If you use a carrier-specific version, there will be more of them. Here are just a few: There may be more. For example, Samsung's Weather app also has its own privacy policy that may include sharing information with Final tally: there are five mandatory agreements and at least 10 optional ones.
Digital Trends
5 days ago
- Digital Trends
I tested the Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera, it's almost as good as S25 Ultra
The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 represents a significant upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and previous generations. It's thinner and lighter with bigger displays and excellent performance. It's an incredible upgrade on many fronts, and as we found in our Galaxy Z Fold 7 review, it's the best folding phone for most people, despite its shortcomings. One of these is the camera, although it's a complicated situation. In designing the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung aimed to create a device that offers a similar experience to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but with a foldable design. On the design front, they've achieved that – it's just 0.7mm thicker, although it feels thinner due to its three grams of weight reduction. However, on the camera, it's a mixed bag. Recommended Videos Like the ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a 200MP main camera designed to provide an experience similar to that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Does it deliver? How does it compare to the iPhone 16 Pro, whose users Samsung would love to court? I tested the camera against both of these, and this is what happened. Setting the scene A few days after the Galaxy Z Fold 7 launch last week in New York, I visited the iconic Times Square both during the day and at night. It's an iconic place that we've all seen in many photographs, and is the type of test that a regular user may subject the camera to. I attempted to take the same photo on every phone; however, the orientation of selfies and the exact alignment of photos may vary. This test primarily compares the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 7, given that they share many similar characteristics. However, the iPhone 16 Pro has also been included in a few galleries below. For all the photos, we've compressed their size to make them suitable for web publishing, but no other edits were made. Here's a quick reminder of each phone's camera specifications. Galaxy Z Fold 7 Galaxy S25 Ultra iPhone 16 Pro Wide (main) 200MP, f/1.7, 24mm 0.6µm, PDAF, OIS 200MP, f/1.7, 24mm 0.6µm, PDAF, OIS 48MP, f/1.8, 24mm 1.22µm, PDAF, OIS Ultrawide 12MP, f/2.2, 120° 1.4µm, PDAF 50MP, f/1.9, 120° 0.7µm, PDAF 48MP, f/2.2, 13mm 0.7µm, PDAF Telephoto 1 10MP, f/2.4, 67mm 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 3x optical zoom 10MP, f/2.4, 67mm 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 3x optical zoom 12MP, f/2.8, 120mm 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS 5x optical zoom Telephoto 2 – 50MP, f/3.4, 111mm 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 5x optical zoom – Selfie Camera 10MP, f/2.2, 24mm 12MP, f/2.2, 26mm 12MP, f/1.9, 23mm Samsung also achieved its primary goal of replicating the Galaxy S25 Ultra camera experience in a foldable, as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 shares the same 200MP sensor and 3x telephoto lens as Samsung's camera flagship. The ultrawide is not as good, but it's the same one found in the Galaxy S25 Plus. For years, we've asked Samsung to improve the cameras in its folding phones, and on paper, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 appears to deliver. However, as has been proven time and time again, there's more to the camera than just the specs. Here's how the camera stacks up. 200MP battle: Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy S25 Ultra Out of the box, both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy S25 Ultra shoot at a 12MP resolution by default. This involves combining multiple pixels into a much larger one that allows more light to pass through and helps produce better photos, especially in low-light conditions. The 12MP mode also ensures that you need less storage. Across hundreds of photos taken on each phone, I've found that 200MP photos take about ten times as much space as the 12MP photos, and the latter takes better photos overall. That said, the 200MP resolution mode can be useful, so here's the same photo captured on both phones. It's worth noting that you need to keep the phone fairly stable when using the full resolution of the sensor. You can also shoot in a still-binned-but-far-less-so 50MP mode, which creates smaller pixels but produces a higher-resolution image. 200MP photo from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (left) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra (right) These two photos are virtually identical, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra focuses on the scene directly in front of the camera at the expense of the periphery, while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 does the opposite. This is likely due to differences in framing, so overall, these two images are essentially the same. Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Camera Test Now that we've got that out of the way, let's take a look at how the main camera performs in both daylight and low-light conditions across all three phones. This is after ensuring the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and S25 Ultra are set to the default 12MP capture mode, which restores the pixel-binning feature necessary for optimal low-light photos. The iPhone stayed in its default 12MP pixel-binned mode throughout the test. In this photo of the iconic Carlo's Bakery (albeit not the original), the Galaxy Z Fold 7 captures my favorite photo. It seems less bothered by the LED boards than the competition, despite the tap-to-focus point being almost identical. The iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra are a fairer comparison, with Samsung winning as it processes conflicting light sources better than Apple. The iPhone appears a little washed out here, and it's not related to the camera lens being dirty. I've noticed that the iPhone can suffer from lens flare in the presence of bright light, which appears to be the case here. The Galaxy S25 Ultra vs the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a much closer fight, and the S25 Ultra wins as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 suffers from more rolling shutter. This is when I first noticed a trend that would continue. There are differences in the board to the left of the sign, but this is nonetheless an interesting test that aims to demonstrate how each phone would handle a random photo you might take. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 handles the conflicting light fairly well, and while the Galaxy S25 Ultra appears to be the best thanks to the blue, it's completely missing the little hints of pink in the original scene. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 wins this one. Galaxy Z Fold 7 (left) vs Galaxy S25 Ultra (right) Here's the first scene without an iPhone 16 Pro sample (mainly as these phones were tested on four different occasions, and the iPhone wasn't always available). There's little difference between the two photos, and it's a scene that reaffirms my initial impression that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera is the same as the S25 Ultra. The latter has slightly richer colors in the Lion King sign, but we can chalk this up to the different billboard content. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a little blurry, as this was one of a few moments with a slight lag between pressing the camera shutter button and the phone capturing the photo. The iPhone's warmer photo is much more pleasing here, whereas aside from the motion blur, the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 7 capture similar photos. Galaxy Z Fold 7 (left) vs Galaxy S25 Ultra (right) It took four attempts to capture this photo, as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 photos usually had slight or severe rolling shutter. This is a problem that's fairly common on all phones, but is more pronounced on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 than the S25 Ultra. That said, the photos are otherwise fairly similar, and spotting the difference would be a case of splitting hairs. Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Zoom Test The Galaxy Z Fold 7's main camera lives up to its billing, as it performs as well as the Galaxy S25 Ultra in most of our tests. Both phones also share the same 3x telephoto lens, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra has the added benefit of a secondary telephoto lens that offers 5x optical zoom. What about the iPhone 16 Pro, which also offers 5x optical zoom and can zoom to 25x? This is a surprising test, as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 outperforms the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Details are sharper in the 1x and 2x camera samples, while both have the same challenge: a blown-out board when using the 3x telephoto lens. Both phones use the same processor — the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy — and the same Samsung ISOCELL HP2 200MP sensor. Therefore, the improved performance is likely due to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 utilizing a newer, smaller, and more fine-tuned version of the 200MP camera module. What about the iPhone? How does its zoom compare to the Galaxy Z Fold 7? First, the iPhone surprised me with its 10x quality, especially as Apple isn't renowned for its zoom performance beyond the optical zoom. Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 performs the worst at the 10x mark, and although it has the same color science as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the photos are considerably noisier. This is another test that demonstrates the Galaxy Z Fold 7's capability at up to 3x zoom, but reveals its limitations beyond this point. The photos at 10x and 30x aren't that noisy on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra's photos are considerably better. Galaxy Z Fold 7 (left) vs Galaxy S25 Ultra (right) at 30x zoom This image shows the difference at the 30x zoom, and it has me considering what a future folding phone could be like if it had the same four cameras as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 image is usable, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra photo is sharp and fantastic. The final test brings us back to all three phones, focusing on the detail and bokeh captured when zooming in on a statue in Times Square. All four phones perform admirably well, even at the 10x mark. There is a noticeable difference in the shade of the stone in photos captured on all three phones, with the iPhone 16 Pro the darkest, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 slightly blown out. At 10x, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is slightly blurry due to motion blur, while the iPhone 16 Pro captures a great photo, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra reigns supreme. Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro: The Verdict This camera test has confirmed my initial suspicions that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera is as good as the S25 Ultra, at least until you need to zoom beyond a 3x zoom focal length. Here's where the Galaxy Z Fold 7 struggles, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra's second telephoto lens with a higher resolution ensures the Galaxy S25 Ultra can capture great photos at much longer focal distances. That said, this comparison has shown me that the Galaxy Z Fold 7's camera is better than I even expected. Yes, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a better zoom, but otherwise, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 essentially has the same camera and a large secondary screen. Although some people may still be disappointed that the Zoom performance isn't better, overall, the camera is good enough to compete with many of the best phones in the most common real-world use cases. Coupled with the incredible design, hinge, and display improvements, this is an upgrade worth considering, even if you have last year's Galaxy Z Fold 6. It's the folding phone that many of us have been waiting for.
Digital Trends
5 days ago
- Digital Trends
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has me excited for Samsung's Galaxy G Fold tri-fold
After months of leaks built a lot of anticipation, Samsung finally unveiled its vastly improved Galaxy Z Fold 7 last week. I've spent eight days with it, and as I found in our Galaxy Z Fold 7 review, it's the best folding phone for most people despite its shortcomings. Samsung's new folding phone is its best yet, offering radical improvements in design, display, and hinge to create the first folding phone that feels no different from a regular smartphone when folded. Alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung announced the new Galaxy Z Flip 7, the Flip 7 FE, and the Galaxy Watch 8 range. Yet, the expectation was that Samsung would also provide a sneak peek, like it did with the Galaxy S25 Edge at the Galaxy S25 launch, of its first product in another category: a Tri-folding phone with dual hinges that is expected to be called the Galaxy G Fold. Recommended Videos After using the Galaxy Z Fold 7, I'm a lot more excited for Samsung's first tri-folding phone. Here's why. The key learnings from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 The Galaxy Z Fold 7 proves that Samsung can build an excellent thin phone, and this will be necessary to ensure the Galaxy G Fold remains pocketable and ergonomically friendly when folded to a regular smartphone-sized screen. At 4.2mm thick when unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is one of the thinnest folding phones you'll find. At 8.9mm thick when folded, it's virtually imperceptible from a regular smartphone. Yes, there's a camera bump that's necessary to house the 200MP camera, which is better than the same one on the Galaxy S25 Edge, but not as good as the same sensor in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. For Samsung to make its tri-folding phone appealing, it'll need the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to get even thinner. The only other tri-fold, the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate, measures just 3.9mm thick when unfolded, but the Galaxy Z Fold 7's improvements have convinced me that Samsung can also deliver here. Another area where the Galaxy G Fold is likely to excel is in software. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 suggests that we could see more experiences optimized for the big screen that have been built in partnership with Google. Android 16 introduces support for native multitasking and is optimized for the big screen, featuring several Gemini features designed specifically with the large screen format in mind. One key Galaxy Z Fold 7 feature makes the difference The larger screens on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 also demonstrate that Samsung can address another key issue: the crease. Simply put, it's the least perceptible crease I've used on a folding phone, and I've used almost all folding phones released globally. Yes, you can still notice it under specific light reflections, but you see it more than feel it when running your finger over the crease. By nature of their form factor, tri-folding phones have two creases in the display. The noticeable divot in past Samsung folding phones would make the tri-folding screen feel appalling, but the redesigned titanium hinge and the carbon fiber sheet have convinced me that it won't be a problem. As I exclusively discovered during an interview with Samsung's VP of smartphone development (embedded above), the company has a very nifty hinge design that is designed to improve how the crease ages over time. Expect there to be a lot of competition Samsung is widely credited with helping create the current folding phone market, and it is also widely expected to be a driving force behind trifolding smartphones. However, its rival companies have already proven that the tri-folding phone form factor has competition. Huawei launched the Mate XT Ultimate Design as the world's first trifold smartphone, building on Huawei's extensive history of making folding phones. The company is widely expected to launch a successor in the coming months, and it remains to be seen whether the Galaxy g-fold will simply match the Mate XT Ultimate or surpass it. Then there's the Tecno G Fold concept, which was recently launched by Tecno ahead of an expected unveiling at MWC 2026 in February. The Techno G fold is just a concept, and Tecno's previous Phantom Ultimate concept never graduated to a commercial product, but it shows that companies are taking the tri-folding form factor seriously. Much like Samsung built the current folding phone market, it is likely to play a starring role in making trifolding phones a reality. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 will need some improvements One area I hope Samsung will improve considerably is the battery. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a 4,400 mAh battery, while the Huawei Mate XT has a 5,600 mAh battery. The latter is a larger phone, so it's expected to have a larger battery, but it's similarly sized to Huawei's Galaxy Z Fold 7 competitor, the Mate 60. Samsung has proven steadfast in its desire to stick with the tried-and-tested Lithium-Ion battery technology, but I hope the Galaxy G Fold is when Samsung finally makes the switch to Silicon Carbon battery technology. This would allow the Galaxy G Fold to feature a more dense battery – up to 24% more capacity in the same physical volume – without compromising its thinness. Suppose the capacity remains the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 7. In that case, it will likely have worse battery life, even with phenomenal optimization, meaning it may not last a full day of usage. On the camera front, the Galaxy Z Fold 7's camera specifications surpass those of the Mate XT Ultimate on paper, although I haven't had the opportunity to compare them yet. The 200MP main camera has a higher resolution than the 50MP main, and the 12MP ultra-wide camera is nearly identical. The Fold 7 only offers a 3x telephoto zoom from its telephoto, so this is an area where the Galaxy G Fold will be closer to the 5.5x zoom offered by Huawei. There is one other decision that Samsung may want to reconsider: the lack of the S-Pen. The company removed the digitizer layer to make the Galaxy Z Fold 7 much thinner, but it means there's no S Pen support at all. Considering that Samsung's tablets all support an S Pen, it'll be interesting to see if the company can bring this feature back. I love the Galaxy Z Fold 7 despite its flaws, and it's easily the best folding phone for most people, especially as it's more widely available. Now I can't wait to see what Samsung can do in the tri-folding arena when the Galaxy G Fold launches later this year.
CNET
7 days ago
- CNET
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Specs vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: How Each Fold Phone Compares
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 debuted the biggest redesign the book-style folding phone line has seen thus far. The new phone has a body that's slim enough to feel like a standard phone when closed and unfolds to reveal an 8-inch display. This reimagining also comes at a higher $2,000 price, making it easily the priciest phone of its category compared with similar offerings like Google's $1,799 Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Watch this: Ultra Thin: First Look at the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 02:45 Google's folding phone was also notable for being a redesign over the prior Pixel Fold. This included a 6.3-inch external display that is similar in size to the standard Pixel 9 Pro and unfolds to provide access to its own 8-inch display. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold runs on the Tensor G4 processor, the same as the rest of the Pixel 9 line. However, the 9 Pro Fold does change up its camera setup from the standard 9 Pro, by featuring a 48-megapixel main lens, a 10.5-megapixel ultrawide, a 10.8-megapixel telephoto and 10-megapixel selfie cameras on both the cover and inner screen. Samsung's new Fold phone also runs on the same processor as the Galaxy S25 line, featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. It also borrows from the Galaxy S25 Ultra by including a 200-megapixel main camera alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel telephoto and two 10-megapixel selfie cameras across the cover and inner screen. Samsung's new Fold is about 0.5 inches (1.6 mm) slimmer than the Pixel when closed, and 0.03 inches slimmer when open. To further compare the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, check out the specs chart below.
