Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 – big step forward (review)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 represents a big step forward from the Fold6, addressing many of the issues that the public has been calling for, but alas, losing the S-Pen.

The main issue with Folds was thickness and weight. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 has slimmed down to 4.2mm (plus the camera bump) when open and 8.9mm folded, x 215g. By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (S25U) is 8.2mm thick (plus camera bump) and 218g.

Now you get an 8” (diagonal) internal screen and a 6.5” external screen – ‘screenestate’ as we like to call it.

Upfront, let’s just say its only competition is the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold – know when to fold’em, know when to hold’em and well, it’s good, but old school. However, in August, there will be a new Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and if rumours are correct, it will have a larger battery, better camera, and IP68 (which is hard for a Fold). I doubt that Samsung users will care – they are a pretty loyal lot.

CyberShack can recommend the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 to anyone who needs screenestate. It’s damned near perfect for that use scenario.

• The latest Qualcomm SD8 Elite for Galaxy offers the best raw processing power, graphics and AI.
• The inner screen has increased to 8” without increasing body size.
• The camera may not win best in class, but it is very good.
• Gen 2 AI for those who can use it.
• 2+7+7 warranty/OS upgrades/security patches.
• Superb build quality.
• Samsung is the world’s largest Android smartphone maker.
• Retains more trade-in and second-hand value.

‘Speeds and Feeds’ Negatives

We found, however, some long-standing ‘Samsung’ design issues that may or may not be deal breakers. If you plan to spend $2,899 to $3,349, you need to know.

• It still uses an 8-bit, 16.07 million colour AMOLED with headache-inducing 120/240Hz deep Pulse Width Modulation, so it’s not for those who are even moderately PWM-sensitive. Google Pixel Fold 9 (and 10) use the same screen.
• The 8-bit screen suffers from colour banding when playing 1080p movies.
• The 8-bit screen is not colour accurate for video or still image preview.
• It does not decode/support Dolby Vision, and the internal screen has large ‘letterbox’ black lines in 16:9 video playback.
• The internal screen has a Mohs hardness of 1, meaning that a fingernail (with a hardness of 2.5) can scratch it. There is a pre-fitted protector that can only be replaced by Samsung.
• While the SoC (System on a Chip) is easily the most powerful of 2025, it throttles terribly under load. Add the soft screen, and it is not for gamers.
• It has 12GB of RAM and no virtual RAM expansion, so it will be limited for future AI. Google states that 3rd generation AI will require at least 16GB, and we are already seeing 24GB AI phones.
• It has USB-C 3.2 that supports USB-C to HDMI cabled screen mirror (Alt DP), but does not support external mountable SSD storage, so it is not for power users, Vloggers, videographers, etc.
• It is nice to see IP48. The ‘4’ is designed to prevent most wires, slender screws, large ants, etc., from entering the hinge, but it is insufficient to stop dust and pocket lint. The ‘8’ means immersion in 1m of water for 30 minutes, but that does not include the hinge.
• The new thinness has had an impact on phone antenna signal strength (like it has on the S25 Edge) and is now only suitable for city and suburbs reception, where there is decent 4G Band 3 and 28.
• No charger is supplied. You need at least a 25W to get 9V/2A/18W charging
• Android 16 interfered with some of our test apps, not allowing the correct permissions or ‘gaming’ the results, making it very hard to measure speeds and feeds accurately. This is becoming a problem with AI phones and potentially Android 16.
• Samsung requires you to use your Samsung account to access most features. Some Samsung apps substitute for Google, making Google’s backup and restore or moving to another brand more difficult (that sounds like an Apple trick).
• Repairs are expensive. An inner screen replacement costs $ 1,249, the front screen is $316, the battery is $246, and the rear glass panel is $205. These are significantly more costly than the Fold6. (Source: Samsung AU). It may be worth investigating Samsung Care packages.

Item	1-year Sub	2-year Sub	Swap Fee	Refresh fee
Z Fold7	$229	$399	$299	$99

Australian Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, 12/256GB, Dual SIM or one SIM and eSIM

Brand	Samsung
Model	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
Model Number	SMF966BD/DS
RAM/Storage Base	12/256 $2899 12/512GB $3099 16GB/1TB $3549
Price base	RRP prices exclude presale and promotional discounts.
Warranty months	24
Teir	Fold
Website	Product page
Manual	Manual
From	Samsung Online and approved retailers
Country of Origin	Korea
Company	Samsung is a South Korean multinational manufacturing conglomerate headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea. Samsung Electronics (the world’s largest information technology company, consumer electronics maker and chipmaker.
More	Samsung publishes few meaningful specifications. Most of these come from testing and analytical software. E&OE.
Test date	14-23 July
Ambient temp	7-20°
Release	July 2025
Other models not for Australia (Don’t buy)	SM-F966U, SM-F966U1 DS = Dual SIM, otherwise SIM and eSIM

Ratings

We use the following ratings for many of the items below. CyberShack regards 70/100 as a pass mark. You can click on most images to enlarge them.

• Fail (below expectations), and we will let you know if this affects its use.
• Pass(able) rating that is not as good as it should be.
• Pass (meets expectations).
• Pass ‘+’ rating to show it is good, but does not quite make it to Exceed
• Exceed (surpasses expectations or is the class leader).

How to make the best use of this deep dive review

We tested over 70 different aspects and uncovered nearly 300 key data points about the device. Overall reviews can reach a few thousand words. So, if you are keen, this is the world’s most comprehensive review!

If you want to see our impressions only, they are listed at the beginning of each table. At the end, you will find CyberShack’s view, competitor analysis, and ratings. Ratings are based on the price bracket and expectations, so a $200 phone may score as well as a $2000 phone—we compare like with like.

First Impression – Weight Watchers works!

I had eschewed Folds (any brand) because they were thick and heavy. Not so anymore. My first impression is thin and light. My second impression, as I was about to drop the open device, was s&^t. You see, the 4.2mm thinness requires extra care when handling it – there are no meaty sides to grasp. I caught the device (never knew I could move that fast), and all was well.

I also found myself pressing on the open screen more than I should, just to hold it – but maybe that is just me. Before you buy, visit a store and handle one!

The screen fold is slightly less noticeable, and the camera bump stands out like a sore thumb, making it 11mm thick (obviously different from the surrounding area) and wobbly on a table.

When using apps, I noticed that some did not fit the taller and thinner external screen in a 22:9 format (most phones have a 16:9 up to 20:9 aspect ratio), but apart from that, it was great.

I noticed that the almost 1:1 internal screen had a few app sizing issues (no deal breaker). When playing 16:9 movies, there were more significant top and bottom black letterbox lines than I was used to – yes, playing a rectangular movie in a square screen does that. Again, no deal breaker.

I also noticed that many of my tried-and-trusted test apps were either not running or returning unrealistic results compared to what I expected, having reviewed every Galaxy Z Fold since 2019. That was a little more disturbing as we test ‘speeds and feeds’ because that is what our readers want. Part of the problem turned out to be Android 16 and its refusal to allow permissions that some test apps required.

But the major issue was that results were, for want of a better word, ‘gamed’. For example, PC Mark Battery test gave a result of over 37 hours when the Fold6 with the same battery was 17 hours. Similarly, the 1080p video loop, 50% brightness and sound and aircraft mode gave over 25 hours when we expected 13 to 15 hours. We have recently observed this behaviour in a few AI phones because AI deduces what the app is doing. In the case of video or battery tests, it shuts down the rest of the phone, effectively making it a media player.

Anyway, back to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7. It’s the first Fold that I think I could use and enjoy, and that is saying something.

 Screen – Pass

Typical users will love the bright and colourful screen. It has an 8” diagonal internal foldable screen and a 6.5” fixed external screen – ‘screenestate’. I make the point because it is the sole reason for buying this over the excellent and less-compromising Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – its best glass slab yet.

I have already mentioned PWM, image preview colour difference, screen softness, and screen replacement costs, so let’s leave it at that.

Screen	Internal/External cover display
Size	8″/6.5″ The actual screen size is 136 mm wide x 15.1mm tall. Diagonal is 203.2mm or 8″
Type	AMOLED/same
Flat, Curve, 2D, 3D	Flat
Resolution	2184 x 1968/2520 x 1080
PPI	368/422
Ratio	Internal 10:9 External: 21:9
Screen to Body%	90%/Not disclosed
Colours bits	8-bit/16.7m
Refresh Hz, adaptive	120 Hz Max 10, 24, 30, 48, 60, 80, 120 Hz stepped Adaptive or Standard up to 60 Hz. We were unable to find any app that utilises frequencies below 24 Hz. Cover: 60 Hz
Response 120Hz	Not disclosed
Nits typical, test	Not disclosed Test:700/680 typical Test: 1400/1350 Max auto brightness Most of the time, it sits at 300-400 nits on Adaptive Brightness.
Nits max, test	Internal claim Peak: 2600 Test 2335 This is for HDR10+ content in 2% to 10% of the screen and is not a practical measurement.
Contrast	Not disclosed – should be infinite.
sRGB	Not disclosed Test: Natural 99.7/97.5%
DCI-P3	Not disclosed Test: 98% Vivid of 16.7M colours (not 1.07B colours)
Rec 2020 or other	RGB and temperature adjustment
Delta E (<4 is excellent)	2.2/2.8
HDR Level	HDR10+ (No Dolby Vision)
SDR Upscale	No
Blue Light control	Yes
PWM if known	120/240/480Hz cycle. PWM sufferers should avoid this as it can cause nausea and discomfort. Read PWM – Is your phone making you sick?
Daylight readable	Yes
Always on Display	Yes
Edge display	Yes
Accessibility	Full suite of enhancements
DRM	Internal screen 1080p SDR (some HDR streaming services) Cover screen SDR
Gaming	Game mode, but the screen is too soft for games. A fingernail can scratch it.
Screen protection	Internal: Plastic and replaceable screen protector (can only be fitted by Samsung) External: Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Comment	Despite the fold-flat hinge, the internal screen still has a noticeable vertical crease, which is exacerbated by the constant swiping left/right/up/down. Samsung persists in using an 8-bit/16.7M colour screen while others use 10-bit/1.07 billion colours.

Processor – Exceed

This is the same SoC as the S25U – the fastest Android processor on the planet. Our only comments are that it’s a hot chip inside a slender body, and something has to give. You will see from our tests that it’s throttled or governed to keep heat in check.

Type	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy SM8750-AB See Qualcomm SD8 Elite for Galaxy versus SD 8 Elite SM8750 AC for others
nm	3nm TSMC N3E fab
Cores	Qualcomm Oryon 2 x 4.47GHz & 6 x 3.53Ghz, 2 x 12MB L2 cache and 8MB SLC L3 cache Claimed 45% single and multi-core performance increase
GPU	Adreno 830 1.3 GHz
Modem	X80 5G and Fast Connect 7900 6nm chip – DSDA

AI tests: Pass

We won’t be covering the AI features. You will find a good overview What is Samsung Galaxy S25 AI all about? and Gemini – Google Assistant’s split personality. We have re-tested the S25U to ensure that all results are the same, and you will see them in brackets.

We make the point that 12GB of RAM is the minimum for Gen 2 AI, and future AI appears to require 16GB or more. While that does not affect AI done in the cloud, it may limit AI on-device.

AI TOPS OR Multi-thread Integer Operations Per Second (INOPS) GINOPS = billion	On charge Geekbench AI (S25 Ultra, last number in brackets) CPU: 2717/2651/4425 (4968) GPU: 2734/4251/3618 (2392 – the Adreno is lower clocked) NNAPI: 653/632/1394 (1549) QNN: 497/26997/59986 (61049) AiTuTu: 67293 (67,171) AI Benchmark 6: 12118 (12807) GFLOPS: 22.77 GINOPS: 37.97
AnTuTu	1,999,965 (2,143,922)
Geekbench 6 Single-core	3084 (3155)
Geekbench 6 multi-core	9522 (9772)
Like	At least 50% faster than SD8 Gen3. But the device has been artificially throttled to minimise heat. It’s like buying a V8 car to find it running as a V6. Benchmarks
GPU Test
Open CL	17108
Like	Fastest available.
Vulcan	23759

RAM and Storage tests

RAM and storage are the fastest available. However, the inability to mount fast external SSDs means vloggers and videographers cannot use it.

RAM, type	12GB LPDDR5X
Storage, free, type	256GB (192GB free) UFS 4.0
micro-SD	N/A
CPDT internal seq. Read MBps sustained/peak	2930 Max 3860
CPDT internal seq. Write MBps sustained/peak	1330 Max 1740
CPDT microSD read, write MBps	N/A
CPDT external (mountable?) MBps	Won’t test – seen as external OTG cut and paste storage, but cannot be mounted as internal storage.
Comment	UFS 4.0 is the fastest storage available. However, without mountable storage, which is often seen as internal storage, videographers and vloggers will soon run out of space.

Throttle: Fail

Compared to the S25U, the SoC has been throttled by between 10-15% to make it appear as though it’s not throttling as much (S25U: 42/51% throttle).

Throttle test	Cold Boot, and then after 20 minutes, idle
Max GIPS	320,772/367,791
Average GIPS	257,259/242,742
Minimum GIPS	222,615/220,674
% Throttle	29%/37%
CPU Temp	99°/99
Comment	There is massive throttling. The SoC reaches 99°. The external temperature is between 42-45°, so the vapour cooling chamber helps. Stress tests also saw GFLOPs and GINOPs drop by over 50%. This is not for power users. Typical users will not see this.

Comms: Pass+

This is a straight Qualcomm set – you can’t go wrong. It features the proper Wi-Fi 7 implementation, which should enable it to achieve speeds of up to 5700Mbps (6 GHz). Again, we suspect that the antenna size limits this slightly (See 4/5G next)

Wi-Fi Type, model	Wi-Fi 7 2.4/5/6GHz 320Mhz Samsung does not reveal connection speeds, which makes it difficult for users to decide whether to use 5GHz, 6GHz, or MLO on later routers.
Test 2m -dBm, Rx/Tx Mbps	-35/3170 to 4644/2914 to 5060
Test 5m	-49/3586 to 4008/1537 to 4804
Test 10m	-52/2017 to 3843/2017 to 3395
BT Type	5.4
GPS single, dual	GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS 3m accuracy Dual frequency (L1/L5)
USB type	USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 5Mbps ALT DP only
ALT DP, DeX, Ready For	Supports Alt DP 1.2 over USB-C to HDMI cable for 1080p screen mirror and DeX by cable. No longer supports DeX to PC; use Microsoft Link to Windows instead.
NFC	Yes
Ultra-wideband	Yes
Sensors
Accelerometer	Yes – combo with Gyro
Gyro	Yes – combo with Gyro
e-Compass	Yes
Barometer	Yes
Gravity
Pedometer
Ambient light	Yes
Hall sensor	Yes
Proximity	Yes
Other	Fingerprint sensor on the power button – very inconvenient.
Comment	Wi-Fi 7 has been properly implemented and utilises MLO to achieve speeds close to its maximum potential. USB-C 3.2 only supports Alt DP – not a mountable external SSD.

4/5G – Pass for city and suburbs

Regrettably, this lacks the signal strength of the S25U, and it is strictly a city and suburbs phone. We had similar results with S25 Edge, and the only explanation is the thinner aerials.

The results vary considerably, whether the phone is used closed (with the external screen) or open (with the internal screen) – they are significantly weaker when open.

We also noticed that while the SoC modem supports DSDA, the phone is only enabled for DSDS. It may only be a switch setting, but for what you are paying and especially when travelling overseas, it is non-negotiable.

SIM	Single SIM and eSIM. Some Dual SIM and eSIM may be sold here.
Active	SoC supports DSDA (Dual SIM, Dual active), but tests only show DSDS (Dual SIM, Dual Standby). We were unable to find a setting to activate DSDA.
Ringtone	Single
VoLTE	Yes
Wi-Fi calling	Yes
4G Bands	B1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
Comment	All Australian and most world bands
5G sub-6 GHz	N1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20,25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78
Comment	All sub-6 GHz and 5G low bands
mmWave	No
Test Boost Mobile, Telstra	Using the external screen. (Open screen results in brackets).
DL/UL, ms	4G: 41/27/37ms (34/25/43ms) 5G: no usable signal
Tower 1 -dBm, fW or pW	4G Band 3: -77 to -90/1 pW to 20 pW (-86 to -19/1 to 2.5 pW) 5G: no usable signal
Tower 2	4G Band 3: -88 to -95/1.6 pW to 158.5 fW (-91 to -109/794.4 to 12.6) 5G: No usable signal
Tower 3	4G: No usable signal 5G: No usable signal
Tower 4	No
Inside home	12 to 45 fW for Band 3 – barely usable.
Comment	This is a city and suburbs phone. The tests above used the cover screen. They deteriorated when opened. We had similar results with S25 Edge, and the only explanation is the thinner aerials.

Battery – Pass

We don’t penalise for not providing a charger, although we should. For the money paid, a 25W charger is peanuts.

It utilises almost the same two-part 4400mAh battery as the Fold 3, 4, 5, and 6, so we know what battery life to expect, taking into account the larger screens and more advanced processors.

The problem, as identified earlier, is that many of the results are ‘gamed,’ and we must rely on traditional charge and discharge tests to provide a reasonable usage estimate.

mAh	4400 mAh 2 batteries in serial Battery 1: 8.96Wh/2310mAh (test 9.23Wh/2380mAh) Battery 2: 7.6Wh/1960mAh (test 7.83Wh/2020mAh) Rated maximum charge 9V/2.77A/24.93W Samsung 5-year (1000 recharge cycles each)
Charger, type, supplied	Not supplied: 25W capable Tested with 140W Anker GaN Charger and 5W cable.
PD, QC level	While the SoC is 45W capable, the Fold7 is limited to a maximum of 25W. It typically charges at 9V/2A/18W, occasionally getting to 21W.
Qi, wattage	Qi 1.0 15W. Tends to charge at 10W.
Reverse Qi or cable	4.5W reverse wireless charge
Test (60Hz or adaptive screen)	Adaptive
Charge % 30mins	40%
Charge 0-100%	1 hour 23 minutes
Qi, Belkin Boost Charge 15W fast wireless charge	4 hours
Charge 5V, 2A	Approx 5 hours
Video loop 50%, aeroplane mode	Claim: 24 hours.. Test: 25 hours 16 minutes. Note, this is no longer an accurate measurement of screen-on time, as AI puts the rest of the phone to sleep, making it a pure media player.
PC Mark 3 battery	37 hours 14 minutes. This is Samsung gaming a battery test benchmark, and cannot be regarded as a typical use scenario. Accubattery: 17 hours 49 minutes.
GFX Bench Manhattan battery	Out of memory error
GFX Bench T-Rex	441 minutes (7.35 hours) 6718 frames
Drain 100-0% full load screen on	5 hours 12 minutes Accubattery: 4 hours 57 minutes
mA Full load screen on	100% screen 4500 to 4600 mAh  700-750 but dims the screen to 30%
mA Watt idle Screen on	100% screen 450 to 500 mAh  225-275mA but dims the screen to 30%
Estimate loss at max refresh	20%
Estimate typical use	Typical users may get 18-24 hours, but power users will get closer to 8 to 10 hours.
Comment	Carry a charger (shame Samsung does not provide one).

Sound hardware – Pass

It uses a similar setup to the S25U except that the micro-speakers are even smaller and have lost more bass and treble. As usual, Samsung won’t pay for Qualcomm Aqstic sound and aptX codecs, so it has a minimal range. LDAC is 16-bit/44.1kHz, not high-res.

It supports Alt DP over USB-C but requires an external DAC if you want to use cabled earphones. It has also lost UHQ upscale. It is not what we could class as a flagship grade.

Speakers	Matching left and right speakers. One acts as the top earpiece. The best sound is in landscape mode.
Tuning	Not specified – probably AKG
AMP	2 x TAS25XX D-Class mono Amps 2W each
Dolby Atmos decode	Yes, down mix to two speakers.
Hi-Res	No
3.5mm	No
BT Codecs	SBC, AAC, free aptX, LDAC and SSC (Samsung scalable codec) 16-bit/44000Hz
Multipoint	Yes
Dolby Atmos (DA)	Yes – auto, movie, music, voice and games mode
EQ	Balanced, Bass Boost, Smooth, Dynamic, Clear, Treble boost and custom.
Mics	It looks like four – two top and two bottom. Allows for stereo recording.
Test dB – all on EQ flat, DA off
Volume max	84.5 (loud)
Media (music)	82.4
Ring	79.9
Alarm	79
Notifications	79
Earpiece	55
Hands-free	Quite good with noise cancellation
BT headphones	Excellent left-right separation.

Sound Quality – Passable at best

It lacks low/mid/high bass, has an unusual mid-range, and exhibits highly distorted and harsh treble at maximum volume. In short, it is not pleasant for music, but fine for a clear voice.

Deep Bass 20-40Hz	No
Middle Bass 40-100Hz	No
High Bass 100-200Hz	Building linearly from 100-400Hz
Low Mid 200-400Hz	Building linearly from 100-400Hz
Mid 400-1000Hz	Flat to 900Hz, then a sudden jump to 1kHz
High-Mid 1-2kHz	Flat to 9kHz
Low Treble 2-4kHz	Flat to 9kHz
Mid Treble 4-6kHz	Flat to 9kHz
High Treble 6-10kHz	Flat to 9kHz
Dog Whistle 10-20kHz	Sudden dip and lots of distortion to 20kHz
Sound Signature type	It has a Mid sound signature: (bass recessed, mid boosted, treble recessed) – for clear voice but not for music. * No low/mid/high bass * Poor low mid * Choppy mid mid * 1-4 kHz good for clear voice * 4 kHz to 9 kHz low/mid treble but quite harsh * 9-20kHz – choppy and no feeling of air or vitality
Soundstage	2D is about as wide as the phone, with no obvious bias to one speaker. DA gives it a slightly wider 10cm soundstage but no 3D height.
Comment	Disappointing for a premium handset. It is hard to get bass, but you expect it to have at least some 100-200Hz. It is easy to achieve a decent mid-high treble that conveys a sense of air and directionality, but instead, we often get an odd treble that makes music harsh and lifeless.

Build – Exceed

Samsung engineers have largely met the challenge of thin and light. Build quality is excellent.

Size (H X W x D)	Flat: 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.2mm plus camera bump Folded: 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9 plus camera bump
Weight grams	215g
Front glass	Internal: None – Mohs 1 – very soft Ultra-thin Glass and grade 4 titanium lattice. External: Gorilla Glass Ceramic Mohs 6
Rear material	Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Frame	Armor Aluminium
IP rating	IP48 1.5m for 30 minutes. Water damage is not covered by warranty.
Colours	Blue Shadow Silver Shadow Jet Black Mint (Samsung online only)
Pen, Stylus support	No – it has been removed to accommodate new thinness.
Teardown	Search for Jerry Rig on YouTube. Looks reasonably repairable.
In the box
Charger	No.
USB cable	3W cable
Buds	No.
Bumper cover	No.
Comment	We disapprove of not providing a charger and selling it for $50 more.

Amateur teardown

OS – Pass

There are two components – Android 16 and its seven years of OS upgrades and security patches, and Samsung One UI 8.0, which will be updated at least annually.

As a long-time Samsung user since the Galaxy S5 (I abandoned Apple with its notoriously buggy iPhone 6), I have seen the company’s philosophy change and become more Apple-esque. Sure, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

But ever so slowly, since the S20 (2020), I have seen Samsung’s relatively straightforward privacy policies and terms of use balloon into over 40,000 words and 8-10 interlocking nested policies that only a lawyer would understand, let alone NOT sign. PS—Google/OPPO/Motorola, do it in a few thousand words!

I am not inferring that Samsung is doing anything wrong, especially when Apple has been getting away with this for far longer. Samsung would do well to return to its roots as the premium Android smartphone maker and make its policies privacy-friendly. Privacy is the greatest threat to humanity.

Excellent OS and security patch policy

We all applaud Samsung for matching the Google Pixel’s commitment to seven years of OS updates and seven years of security updates. This does a few things:

• Helps retain second-hand and trade-in value for longer
• Stops the proliferation of Android versions on its phones.
• Make sure the latest security patches are applied
• Makes it easier to sell and retain value.

One UI

Two issues:

First, One UI is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate, with some features buried several levels deep under parent headings. It has been feeling ‘tacked-on’ for a few iterations where other user interfaces are far cleaner and more intuitive. Samsung users won’t notice, but we do as we swap from phone to phone.

Second, Samsung apps often duplicate Google Apps, such as Calendar, Contacts, Browser, Files, Mail, Pay, etc. That is fine if you stay in Samsung’s walled garden and upgrade to new Samsung devices, which also require a Samsung Account.

As a phone reviewer, I need to use them for a few weeks, and my advice is to use Google Android apps and Google Backup to make changes easy.

Android	16
Security patch date	1 June 2025 current
UI	One UI 8.0
OS upgrade policy	7
Security patch policy	7 to 2032
Bloatware	Samsung’s alternative to Google Suite. Microsoft suite and OneDrive (requires subscription)
Other	Selection of Galaxy Apps. Including Gallery, My Files, Internet, Health, Calculator, Calendar, Wallet, the powerful Notes app, and Bixby assistant. Consumer Advice: If you intend to use other Android brands in the future, use Google Apps rather than lock into the Samsung ecosystem.
Comment	Excellent upgrade policy and One UI is easy to use. Google Gemini AI features.
Security
Fingerprint sensor location, type	Power key (and it is quite small, leading to lots of fails)
Face ID	2D
Other	Knox and Secure folder
Comment	One of the more secure Android devices

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 rear camera – Pass+

It uses the same primary Samsung S5HP2 sensor as the S25U and S25 Edge. It’s a good 1/1.3” sensor designed for a low-profile device, and it’s capable of 8K@30fps. We like the sensor, but it is a little prone to noise in low-light conditions. In any case, all photography is 200MP binned to 12.5MP (or you can shoot RAW in 50 and 200MP).

The Ultra-wide/macro is a Sony IMX564, now with autofocus (new sensor, no information), and the telephoto (not periscope like the S25U) is a Samsung S5K3K1.

There is also a 10MP rear cover selfie and internal under-glass, both using the Sony IMX825 sensor. There is no technical information available on this new sensor, except that it will be in the Galaxy S25 FE. This differs from the international models of Fold7, which uses the Sony IMX374.

Samsung still suffers from colour preview inaccuracy for stills or videos.

It features a suite of Samsung AI and Google AI-powered photo editing tools. It has the processing power to do this well.

Test Photos

Camera Specs

Rear Primary	Wide
MP	200MP bins to 50 and 12.5MP (default)
Sensor	Samsung S5KHP2
Focus	Multi-directional quad pixel PDAF
f-stop	1.7
um	.6 bins to 1.2 and 2.4
FOV° (stated, actual)	76.1 to 88.8
Stabilisation	OIS and EIS
Zoom	2X
Rear 2	Ultra-wide
MP	12MP but produces 8.6MP
Sensor	Sony IMX 564
Focus	Dual pixel autofocus
f-stop	2.2
um	1.4
FOV (stated, actual)	123° (103.7 to 115.7)
Stabilisation	No
Zoom	Up to 8K@30
Rear 3	Telephoto
MP	10MP
Sensor	Samsung S5K3K1
Focus	PDAF
f-stop	2.4
um	1
FOV (stated, actual)	Not stated (28.2 to 36.1)
Stabilisation	OIS
Zoom	Optical Zoom 3x Hybrid Zoom 2x (Enabled by Adaptive Pixel sensor) Digital Zoom up to 30x
Rear 4	Under Display selfie
MP	10MP
Sensor	Sony IMX825
Focus	Fixed
f-stop	2.2
um	1.12
FOV (stated, actual)	18mm focal length, wider angle than cover selfie 99.2 to 101.9
Stabilisation	No
Zoom	O-hole
Video max	Primary sensor 8K@30fps 4K@30fps with OIS
Flash	1
Auto-HDR	10-bit HDR for video
QR code reader	Yes
Night mode	Yes
DXO Mark	No

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 cover selfie (another inside – see rear 4)

We don’t publish selfie photos due to ID Theft reasons. As far as we are concerned, the skin tones, brightness, dynamic range, and details are great. Unfortunately, it’s a fixed-focus lens, so you need to be a little more careful with your shot composition.

MP	External Cover screen: 10MP but seems to shoot at 5.8MP
Sensor	Sony IMX825
Focus	Fixed
f-stop	2.2
um	1.12
FOV (stated, actual)	23mm focal length 75 to 86.5
Stabilisation	No
Flash	Screen fill
Zoom	No
Video max	4K@60

CyberShack’s view: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is thin, light and has masses of screenestate.

We won’t repeat the caveats at the beginning of the review, as they are inherent to the foldable territory. What I can say is that it is a substantial upgrade over the Fold6, getting things more right.

If you want a Fold, then this is it – end of story.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 ratings

We have been more stringent in rating Folds because it’s a lot of money to spend, and unless you need the screenestate, a glass slab offers far better value. Given that this is the first time we would consider using it, we have been somewhat more lenient. Just look closely at the caveats.

Ratings	New rating system: Fold5 was 85 and Fold6 was 80 and Fold7 is 85
Features	85
	Definite improvement over Fold6, which seemed to be a backward step from Fold5. It is the Flagship Fold largely because there is no other option, as the Google Pixel 9 Fold is not yet available (Pixel 10p Fold is coming in August). OPPO, Huawei and others don’t bring Folds to AU.
Value	80
	Folds are all about screen real estate and, as such, occupy a unique niche where you pay what you pay. The ‘glass slab’ Samsung S25 Ultra offers better specs at a lower price.
Performance	85
	You expect 100/100, but it lags behind with excessive throttling, subpar phone reception, slow AI, an 8-bit screen, image preview mismatch, no mountable SSD, and more. There is no doubt that it is the fastest processor currently available, but even that is wasted as you can’t risk gameplay on the internal screen.
Ease of Use	85
	The folding screen is easy enough to use, but how often do you open a spreadsheet on your phone? Even in DeX mode, it is relegated to a touchpad. It is very much a two-handed use device. Excellent 2+7+7 warranty, OS upgrades, and security patches. We expect some will be concerned about the mandatory Samsung account privacy policies. Use Google Apps if you want maximum upgradability if you leave Samsung’s ecosystem.
Design	90
	Samsung has done well, reducing the thickness and weight. For those who need the screenestate, there is no better.
Rating out of 10	85
Final comment	After all the attempts since 2019, Samsung has nearly got it right. It is too much to ask them to fix the screen and USB-C issues, so it’s a deal-breaker for me.