Samsung Z Fold/Flip 7 Impressions: Major Upgrades!

Summary

In this video, the host reviews Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, highlighting key hardware upgrades. The Z Fold 7 is thinner, lighter, and more practical with its redesigned hinge and a flagship-level 200MP camera. Performance is boosted with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, but some features, like S Pen support, are removed. The Z Flip 7 sees a larger display and more usable cover screen but switches to an Exynos chip. The video also touches on other Samsung products and a special sale on Ridge gear, with a focus on the evolving foldable phone market.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 bring meaningful hardware updates, with the Fold 7 being thinner, lighter, and offering improved usability when closed.
• 😀 The Z Fold 7 features an ultra-thin design, with a thickness of only 8.9 mm when closed, and weighs 215 grams, lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
• 😀 The Z Fold 7's display unfolds into a massive 8-inch tablet-like screen, making it one of the largest foldable screens available.
• 😀 Samsung has upgraded the camera system on the Fold 7, including the 200 MP main camera from the S25 Ultra, improving its photography capabilities.
• 😀 The Z Fold 7 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, which is paired with up to 16 GB of RAM for smoother multitasking and performance.
• 😀 One downside of the Fold 7 is the removal of S Pen support, which some users may find disappointing as it was supported in the previous model.
• 😀 The price of the Z Fold 7 has increased by $100, making it more expensive at $1999 for the base model, which may be a concern for potential buyers.
• 😀 The Fold 7 has a 4,400 mAh battery, which feels appropriate given the form factor, but some competitors, like Honor's Magic V5, are using silicon carbon batteries for better performance.
• 😀 The Z Flip 7 received some notable updates, including a larger 6.9-inch display, a 4.1-inch edge-to-edge cover display, and a larger 4,300 mAh battery.
• 😀 A downside to the Z Flip 7 is the switch from Snapdragon to Exynos, with some concerns about its performance and power efficiency compared to Snapdragon chips.
• 😀 The Samsung Watch 8 introduces a new antioxidant index feature to measure toxins through the skin, offering insight into diet and health.

Q & A

What major hardware updates were made to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 compared to its predecessor?

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner, lighter, and more usable when closed. It now weighs 215 grams, which is lighter than the S25 Ultra. The phone is 8.9 mm thick when closed, and the internal components, including the hinge and chassis, have been simplified and strengthened to improve its overall design.

How does the Galaxy Z Fold 7's screen size and usability compare to previous models?

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is now thinner and more usable when closed, making it easier to hold. When unfolded, it features a large 8-inch display, offering a tablet-like experience that fits in your pocket. This makes the device more practical both when closed and when opened.

What improvements were made to the camera system on the Galaxy Z Fold 7?

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 now features the 200-megapixel camera from the S25 Ultra, offering flagship-level photography. It also includes a 12 MP ultrawide and 10 MP telephoto camera, though these are smaller than the typical flagship cameras. The front-facing selfie camera has been improved to a 10 MP wider angle as well.

What chipset is used in the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and how does it impact performance?

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, which is paired with 12 GB of RAM, ensuring excellent multitasking performance. The 1 TB version comes with 16 GB of RAM. The combination offers smooth operation for power users, and Samsung's AI tools have been improved to enhance performance over time.

Why was S Pen support removed from the Galaxy Z Fold 7?

S Pen support was removed because it was not widely used by most customers. Samsung decided to remove the digitizer and instead made the screen slightly thicker. Although this change may upset some users who liked the feature, it was not a significant draw for the broader market.

What is the price increase for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and is it justified?

The base price of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has increased by $100, now starting at $1999. While this is already an expensive phone, the price increase is due to improvements in design, camera quality, and overall usability. However, the relatively small battery size of 4,400 mAh may raise concerns for power users.

How does the battery capacity of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 compare to similar foldable devices?

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a 4,400 mAh battery, which is typical for a foldable device due to the hinge design. However, other foldables, like the Honor Magic V5, use silicon-carbon batteries, which are thinner and more efficient, offering larger capacities and better performance.

What changes were made to the Galaxy Z Flip 7 compared to the previous model?

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a larger 6.9-inch unfolded display, making it feel more like a standard flagship phone. The cover display has also been expanded to a full 4.1 inches, now with edge-to-edge display and 120Hz refresh rate, offering better usability when the phone is closed.

Why did Samsung switch from a Snapdragon to an Exynos chip in the Z Flip 7?

Samsung switched from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to the Exynos 2500 chip in the Z Flip 7. While the Exynos chip is not necessarily worse, it's expected that the Snapdragon 8 Elite would offer better performance and power efficiency. This shift could be a preview of Samsung’s future plans, with rumors suggesting that Exynos chips may be used across all Samsung devices in the future.

What new features were introduced in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 introduces a new feature to measure toxins in the body through an antioxidant index, which can be measured via the skin of the thumb. This feature helps track hydration and diet quality, offering users new insights into their health.