Z Fold 7 Review: Is It FINALLY Time to DITCH iPhone?

Summary

The Samsung ZFold 7 is the most refined foldable yet, offering a seamless 6.5-inch phone and 8-inch tablet experience without bulk. Tested across professional film sets, cafes, and travel, it excels in multitasking with up to 17 windows, Dex mode, and AR glasses support. The upgraded 200MP camera, improved ultrawide autofocus, and log video shooting make photography and vlogging enjoyable. Battery life is solid, though charging speed and S Pen support are limited. Despite its high price, the ZFold 7 impresses with design, performance, and productivity, making it the first foldable capable of genuinely converting even devoted iPhone users.

Takeaways

• 📱 The Samsung ZFold 7 is a versatile device that combines a 6.5-inch phone and an 8-inch tablet without feeling bulky.
• 🎬 The device performs well in professional film and photography settings, making it suitable as a primary camera.
• 🔋 Battery life is solid, offering around 6 hours on cellular and 8 hours on Wi-Fi, though users may wish for a larger capacity like 6,000 mAh.
• 💻 Multitasking is seamless with features like Dex mode, 17 window multitasking, and easy split-screen app management.
• 📸 The upgraded HP2 200-megapixel sensor and ultrawide autofocus make photography enjoyable, improving low-light performance and clarity.
• ✏️ The absence of S Pen support on the larger inner screen is a downside for productivity-focused users.
• 💡 Samsung continues to test silicon carbon battery technology to balance thin design with battery longevity.
• 🔊 Despite minor table wobble and punch-hole placement concerns, overall build quality and usability are highly praised.
• 💰 Price remains a significant barrier, with the ZFold 7 being expensive, but justified by its high-end features and improvements over previous models.
• 👩‍💻 User experience feedback, including from iPhone users and the creator's wife, shows strong appeal for multitasking, display quality, and overall device versatility.
• 🎥 Log video recording and anti-reflective screen features enhance content creation and viewing experiences on the foldable display.
• 📈 The ZFold 7 is seen as the culmination of iterative improvements over 7 years of Samsung foldables, offering a near 'no-compromise' foldable device.

Q & A

What makes the Samsung ZFold 7 stand out compared to previous Fold models?

The ZFold 7 is thinner, lighter, and more natural as a phone/tablet combo than previous Fold models. It features significant camera upgrades, improved multitasking, and an 8-inch inner display that reduces the need for a separate tablet.

How does the ZFold 7 perform in real-world battery tests?

In real-world usage, the ZFold 7 provides about 6 hours of screen-on time on cellular and around 8 hours on Wi-Fi. A full day of heavy usage resulted in roughly 5 hours of screen-on time with 10% battery remaining by 10:00 p.m.

What were the main scenarios tested for the ZFold 7 in the video?

The phone was tested on professional film sets, in cafes as a tablet, during business trips, for entertainment and social media, as the main camera for family moments, and through heavy multitasking, including using Dex Mode and AR glasses.

How did iPhone users respond to the ZFold 7?

Hardcore iPhone users were impressed by the ZFold 7. Even those who normally only upgrade when necessary were amazed by its foldable design, large display, and multitasking capabilities.

What are the main camera improvements on the ZFold 7?

The ZFold 7 features an HP2 200MP main sensor with a 1/1.3-inch size and improved ultrawide autofocus. This allows better low-light performance and more enjoyable photography compared to previous Folds.

What are the main criticisms or drawbacks of the ZFold 7?

Criticisms include the high price (around AU$3,000), lack of S Pen support for the large inner display, punch-hole placement of the front camera, table wobble, and relatively slower charging compared to its battery capacity.

Why doesn’t the ZFold 7 support the S Pen on the inner screen?

Samsung likely removed S Pen support to make the device thinner, citing low historical usage. However, competitors like Honor Magic V5 and Oppo offer a digitizer on foldable screens, suggesting it is technically feasible.

How does the ZFold 7 handle multitasking and productivity?

The ZFold 7 supports up to 17 windows, easy split-screen via gestures, and full Dex Mode functionality. Users can pull apps from the dock or edge panel, resize windows, and maximize productivity without using a traditional tablet.

What improvements does the ZFold 7 offer for video recording and vlogging?

The larger sensor enables full-frame 4K 60 log recording, improved depth, and better framing. The device allows locking the back screen while filming, making handheld vlogging easier and providing a more professional result without external cameras.

How did the reviewer compare the ZFold 7 to their wife’s iPhone 16 Pro?

After using the ZFold 7 for two weeks and temporarily swapping it with their wife’s iPhone 16 Pro, the reviewer found the Fold 7 superior in multitasking, display size, camera, and overall usability, making it the most convincing foldable to potentially replace an iPhone.

What are Samsung’s future plans regarding battery technology?

Samsung is actively testing silicon-carbon batteries for future devices to increase capacity while maintaining longevity. Current limitations involve battery lifespan trade-offs, and these may appear in future Fold or S series phones.

Why does the reviewer consider the price the only major drawback?

Everything else about the ZFold 7 is well-optimized, from display to camera to multitasking. The high price is the main obstacle for adoption, but if cost were lower, the reviewer believes it would be the ultimate foldable device for daily use.