Samsung Fold 7 hands-on: 26% thinner for $2,000?

The Verge

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 is seriously slimmer and lighter than its predecessor — but it’s also more expensive. We’ve got a lot of testing to do, but at first glance it looks like a beautiful luxury.

Transcript

00:00Samsung actually did it.

00:02We got the folding phones we've been waiting for.

00:05The Z Fold 7 is way thinner than the Z Fold 6.

00:08And when it's closed, it feels almost like a normal phone.

00:11The Z Flip 7 has a cover screen that goes edge to edge.

00:15It's everything we've always wanted.

00:17But you don't get something for nothing.

00:20And in this case, that something is $2,000 for the Fold 7.

00:25That's like two phones.

00:27You can buy two phones and just do that.

00:32So let's back up a little bit.

00:34Samsung first launched the Fold in 2019

00:37and had this really long, narrow shape, kind of remote control-ish.

00:41And ever since then, every generation,

00:43they added a few millimeters here and kind of stretched it,

00:46made it wider.

00:47But it didn't feel meaningfully different until now.

00:52So the cover screen is actually wider.

00:55And when the phone is closed, it feels so much more

00:57like a regular slab-style phone.

01:00The inner screen is 8 inches now, which is up from 7.6.

01:04And the whole phone is way thinner.

01:06It's 8.9 millimeters when it's folded,

01:09which is about as thick as the S25 Ultra.

01:12And it is barely wider than the USB-C port when it's unfolded.

01:16Like, there is no room to make this thing any smaller.

01:21The difference is dramatic when you're holding it.

01:24It just feels like a normal phone.

01:26And that seems kind of obvious, but I'm just going to keep saying it.

01:30But the bad news?

01:31It's $19.99.

01:33This is actually $100 more than the Z Fold 6, which was $100 more than the Z Fold 5.

01:39So you can see where we're going here.

01:42This is definitely a luxury product.

01:45You do get a lot for your $2,000, though.

01:47You get a Snapdragon 8 Elite 4 Galaxy chipset.

01:52There's still a 4,400 milliamp hour battery.

01:55You get a 200 megapixel main camera.

01:58And Samsung finally gave up on the under-display inner camera,

02:02which wasn't very good.

02:03And they just went with a regular one.

02:05And that was the right idea.

02:07But this is still a $2,000 phone.

02:10Just going to repeat that in case you missed it.

02:16There's better news if you're a Flip fan.

02:18The Z Flip 7 still costs $10.99.

02:21And you actually get some really good upgrades this time.

02:23The cover screen finally goes edge to edge.

02:26The previous version used this file folder type of shape that went around the cameras.

02:32Now it's a proper 4.1-inch screen compared to 3.4 inches.

02:36So there's more room to scroll around on Google Maps or type out a text.

02:41And this is how Motorola's Flip phones have worked.

02:44And it's kind of what Samsung should have done all along, if you ask me.

02:48But they did it now.

02:50And there's more screen.

02:52So better late than never.

02:54The inner screen is a little wider, too.

02:56You get a bigger battery.

02:58It's a 4,300 milliamp versus 4,000.

03:01And this time around you can use Gemini on the cover screen.

03:04And there's even support for Samsung's DeX.

03:07So you can plug it into a monitor and use it like a little tiny computer.

03:11And I love that for the 20 people who use DeX.

03:14I love that for the 20 people who use DeX.

03:16On the downside, you do get a Samsung Exynos processor, which are not known for being as

03:22powerful as the Snapdragon chipsets.

03:24So there is one more flip phone this year.

03:29It's the Flip 7 FE, which stands for Fan Edition.

03:33It uses that older file folder screen shape and also has an Exynos chipset.

03:40So make of that what you will.

03:42But it costs less.

03:43It's $899.

03:44Motorola makes a flip phone at $699.

03:48I don't know.

03:48We'll see.

03:49I'll try it out.

03:50Can't say it's the most memorable phone.

03:52I kind of forgot about it when I was writing this script.

03:56So, but here it is and I'm going to test it out.

04:01Overall, I'm really into the changes that Samsung made this year.

04:05The Z Fold, $2,000, but it's always been kind of a luxury item.

04:10And now it feels like it's really nice to use.

04:14I had a hard time putting it down.

04:16And the Flip finally has a big cover screen.

04:19I love running full apps on the cover screen.

04:22It's totally chaotic.

04:24I think it's beautiful.

04:25And I'm so excited I can do that on Samsung's phone now.

04:29The weird thing is that Samsung teased these phones as Ultra.

04:33And didn't end up calling either of them an Ultra.

04:36They're just sort of imbued with the spirit of an Ultra phone.

04:41And sure, Samsung.

04:43I honestly think that more than Ultra, they just seem right.

04:48Like, these just feel like the phones they were supposed to be from the beginning.

04:52So, I'm really looking forward to testing them both.

04:55And you should definitely stay tuned for more.

04:57It said testing them both.

04:59Testing them both?

05:01No, I just think it's funny that I think you forgot the FE.

05:05Oh my god, I forgot it again.

05:07God damn it.

05:09Testing them all.

05:11All three.

05:12All three.

05:13OK?

05:13There you go.

05:13I got to see them both.

05:14There you go.

05:15There you go.

Category

Transcript

Recommended