How the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 made me a believer in thin foldable phones

When foldables first hit the market, I was skeptical—especially about their bulk, fragility, and practicality in everyday life. Phones like the original Galaxy Fold felt more like prototypes than polished products. But fast-forward to 2025, and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 has completely flipped my expectations.

The Thinness Factor: The Game-Changer

The Fold 7 isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a revelation. The first thing I noticed when unboxing it was how much thinner and lighter it felt compared to previous generations. At just around 11mm when folded (and impressively slim when open), it finally crossed that psychological threshold: no longer did it feel like I was carrying a mini-brick in my pocket.

Samsung’s new hinge design—more compact and less intrusive—makes the Fold 7 a sleek device that folds flat without that annoying wedge shape. It’s a small physical change that makes a massive difference in comfort and portability.

Pocket-Friendly, Finally

With the Fold 7, I no longer had to make a choice between screen real estate and convenience. I could slide it into jeans or a blazer pocket without a second thought. It’s the first time a foldable has felt as practical as a standard flagship phone—without compromising on screen size or power.

Refined Displays & Everyday Use

The 6.3″ outer screen now has a more traditional aspect ratio, making it far more usable than past Fold models. It no longer feels like a tall remote control in your hand. And the 7.9″ inner display, while massive, feels natural and smooth thanks to the improved adaptive refresh rate and better crease management. Yes, the crease is still there—but it’s subtle, and easy to ignore after a day or two.

Watching videos, editing documents, and multitasking with up to three apps at once felt intuitive and fluid—Samsung has nailed the software experience with One UI Fold Edition.

Battery Life That Keeps Up

Previous foldables struggled with endurance, but the Z Fold 7’s larger, optimized dual-cell battery finally brings respectable stamina. I was regularly getting a full day’s use with a mix of social media, browsing, video streaming, and productivity tasks—all without feeling range anxiety.

It’s Not Just a Tech Demo Anymore

What sold me on the Fold 7 wasn’t just its design—it was how it fit into my life. I used it to take Zoom calls in tabletop mode, read eBooks without scrolling every few seconds, edit photos in Lightroom with surprising accuracy, and even draft long documents on the go with a split keyboard.

It didn’t feel like a luxury toy or a compromise—it felt like the future of phones, now fully functional.

Final Thoughts

Samsung didn’t just iterate with the Galaxy Z Fold 7—they perfected. The combination of thinness, performance, battery life, and real-world usability finally transformed the foldable concept into a daily essential. If you’ve been on the fence about foldables, this might be the one that makes you a believer too.