My Honest Review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 After a Week — Is It Worth $2,000?

I'll be honest: I didn't think I'd ever spend $2,000 on a phone. But when Samsung dropped the Galaxy Z Fold 7 on June 9, I figured I'd give it a fair shot. A week later, I've got some strong opinions — and a few surprises I didn't see coming.

The hype around foldables has been building for years, but this is the first time I've felt like a folding phone might actually be practical for everyday use. The Z Fold 7 has a 7.6-inch main display that folds flat — no more of that annoying gap from last year. But does that justify the price tag? Let's break it down.

The Display: Big, Bright, and Surprisingly Durable

First thing I noticed: the crease is still there. Samsung's been talking about reducing it for three generations now, and while it's less noticeable than on the Z Fold 5, it's not gone. In bright sunlight, you'll still see it. But here's the thing — after about two days, I stopped caring. The inner screen is so immersive for watching YouTube or reading articles that the crease fades into the background.

The outer screen is now 6.3 inches, up from 6.2 on the Fold 6. It's still narrow, but I could type on it without making constant typos — something I couldn't do on the Fold 4. Samsung finally listened.

Battery Life: The Real Test

I'm a heavy user — probably 6+ hours of screen time daily, between Slack, podcasts, and doomscrolling Reddit. The Z Fold 7's 4,500 mAh battery got me through a full day with about 15% left. That's decent, but not great. The iPhone 16 Pro Max (which I also tested) gives me closer to 20% left at bedtime.

Worse? Charging speed. Samsung's still stuck at 45W wired charging in 2026. That's fine for most people, but when the OnePlus 13 charges fully in 22 minutes, paying double for a phone that takes 55 minutes feels like a compromise.

The Cameras: Good Enough, but Not Flagship-Level

Here's where Samsung made a frustrating choice. The Z Fold 7 uses a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. That's basically the same setup as the Fold 5, which launched in 2023. In low light, my friend's Pixel 10 Pro took noticeably better photos. If camera is your top priority, get a Pixel or an iPhone. But for everyday snaps, the Fold 7 does the job.

One thing I genuinely loved: the selfie camera under the display. It's still not as sharp as a regular camera, but for video calls, it's way less distracting than a punch-hole.

Software: Samsung's Finally Got It Right

One UI 7, based on Android 16, is the best version of Samsung's software I've ever used. The multitasking is fluid — I can run three apps side by side without lag. The taskbar at the bottom makes switching between apps feel like using a mini laptop.

But the real winner? DeX mode. I plugged the Fold 7 into my monitor using a USB-C hub, and it ran a desktop interface that worked flawlessly. I wrote this article using Google Docs on a 27-inch screen, with the phone acting as a trackpad. That's wild for a device that fits in my pocket.

The Durability Question

Samsung says the Fold 7 is IP68 waterproof — same as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. I tested it by dunking it in a bowl of water for 10 minutes. It survived. But I'm still nervous about dropping it. The hinge feels solid, but it's not as tough as a regular slab phone. I'd definitely get a case.

Is It Worth $2,000?

Here's my honest take: if you're a tech enthusiast or someone who uses their phone as a productivity tool, the Z Fold 7 is the most innovative phone you can buy right now. But for most people, a $1,000 flagship like the Galaxy S25 Ultra or the iPhone 17 Pro will give you 90% of the experience for half the price.

I'm keeping mine because I love the big screen for reading and writing. But I don't blame anyone who waits for the price to drop to $1,500 — which, knowing Samsung, will happen by Black Friday.

Bottom line: the Z Fold 7 is impressive, but not revolutionary. It's the best foldable yet, but foldables still aren't for everyone.