[Galaxy Unpacked 2025] The Galaxy Fold 7, Ultra?

[JimmyA]

New York - USA

(This is a Subjective Personal Experience Review/Thoughts)

Hello Members, having used the Galaxy Fold 7 for 2 days, here’s my initial thoughts. Please note that i am an S25 Ultra owner and user for the past years, and i did not switch to the folds series for several reasons(Link at the end) but i got to use the phone and put it to the test, not just browse around in a showroom.

Form Factor:

Let’s start with the obvious, the form factor. The phone is Ultra Thin, when it’s unfolded, as thin as 4 credit cards! When it’s folded, it’s about the same thickness as the S25 Ultra, but a little bit narrower. It’s very usable now as a folded phone, you will not face any issues typing, nor be bothered anymore by the older narrow sized outer screen.

But that’s the only “Ultra” thing about it unfortunately, yes it ends here.

Many will argue that other brands have thinner foldables, that’s right, by 0.1mm, something you will never notice with your eyes or your hands, unless you are using a measuring tool. They even managed to make it 3 grams lighter than the S25 Ultra, another thing you will never notice, as the weight difference is very minimal, but on paper or on a scale, yes it wins that race.

When I used it, I forgot I held a foldable, it’s mind blowing, I maybe had to remind myself to open it, which is great in terms of what they were able to achieve.

Battery And Charging:

Having such a thin phone limited Samsung with the battery size, the current technology of Lithium batteries does not allow them to have a larger battery in such a thin phone, which is at least kind of good, since they did not have to have a smaller battery.

But that came at a cost, both screens are larger now, although the Snapdragon 8 Elite is supposed to be efficient, and knowing that the phones we had during the event were still in the Learning Patterns phase, the battery life was disappointing, compared to the S25 Ultra, which is normal as it's smaller.

Many factors contributed to this, one of them is the screens, they do not have the coating the S25 Ultra has, that removes the reflections, when you are outside, in the sun, and specially in countries like in the GCC, you will have to cramp up the brightness to be able to see, which will lead to more battery consumption.

While we did not get any clear answer on why Samsung is not yet adopting the Silicon Carbon batteries, that allow more power in smaller sizes, remember that neither is Apple or Google, the other 2 tech giants. Reports are suggesting that the technology is still new, and the risks are not yet clear, which is something Samsung needs to clear out of the way, after the issue they had with the Notes 7, so better be safe than sorry in that matter.

Another reason for the Silicon Carbon is the resourcing of it, where Chinese manufacturers are dominating the demand for it, so it’s not as available as you’d think, as well as another very important factor, which nobody talks about a lot, the life cycle of those batteries, which has been reported to be much less than Lithium ones. Honestly this convinced me a lot, and I would be accepting the fact that it’s not used by Samsung, as they are waiting for it to be Safe, Available and durable.

Charging is still limited at a disappointing 25W, and again no clear reason for that was offered.

Cameras:

The camera was finally upgraded to the 200MP Main sensor that the S25 Ultra has, but the whole setup is far from Ultra, as it has a 12MP Ultra wide, 10MP 3x Telephoto sensor, and 2 x 10MP selfie camera, where the under display one was finally upgraded, but became a punch hole instead.

The camera made the phone wobble in ways you cannot imagine, it’s so annoying to use when it’s placed on the back where the camera is, it has to be always placed on the screen, where you have to have a good screen protector, or a thick cover that will even out the back. It’s definitely better than the fold 6, but still not as good as the S25 Ultra, same as the battery department and screens coating. If you want the best cameras, the S25 Ultra is the one to use, it has the Laser Auto Focus and better zooming.

Screens:

They are good, both internal and external one have 120Hz, but no reflection coating. And the inner screen contributed to the thin form factor, as it lost the Digitizer, which is responsible for the S-Pen compatibility. That’s an additional layer lost, but the S-Pen support also got lost with it. There are reports that Samsung is working on an S-Pen that works like the Apple Pen where it does not need a digitizer. It felt for years that one day we will be able to have the Pen integrated, as it looks now, none of that is true.

The crease is still there, maybe less visible, but still visible when the screen is off. The 1st couple of hours, we can kind of see it, but barely feel it when swiping right to left or left to right in the middle, but as the day went, and we opened and closed the phone, the crease was being felt and seen more and more, I guess the more you open and close it, the more it will increase.

OS:

Android 16 right out of the box, with an amazing OneUI 8 that makes the experience pleasant, for those who multitask using it. But this is all coming to the other models, so for the time being, it will only have an edge for a short period of time until it’s released to the other devices.

Should you upgrade?

Folds 1 to 6, no brainer, the phone is improved in all categories, especially in size and experience. But if you’re an S-Pen user, and I met so many members that are, it’s a deal breaker for them.

If you’re an S25 Ultra user, the only benefit you will get is that it unfolds to become a tablet, everything else for you will be a downgrade, some areas minor, other areas huge. The S25 Ultra retains the Power House Title.

I love the device, not gonna lie, it's beautiful, sleek, elegant, eye catcher, but I needed a certain amount of changes to 100% convince me to switch, and I still did not make up my mind.

Keep in mind, it’s now more expensive, and the 1TB 16GB model will cost you 8724 AED(WAS 9350AED), and still comes without a charger :D.

Here’s what I posted about what’s going to make me switch:

https://r2.community.samsung.com/t5/Galaxy-Fold/The-Upcoming-Galaxy-Fold-7-What-Would-It-Take-For-Yo...

I will post a couple of videos to showcase how you can hid the camera cut out, the wobble and the hinge, which for some weird reason, fully opens at the very end of unfolding.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Umarshaiq]

Dear Jimmy, Welcome back. Thank you for such a detailed and well-articulated review! It’s always great to hear real-world impressions from someone who’s hands-on and passionate about tech like you.

I completely agree — the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a powerhouse in its own right and continues to set the standard in its segment. That said, I believe the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is truly a marvel of innovation, representing years of refinement, R&D, and user feedback. To me, it's not just a foldable — it's a pocket-sized productivity hub that feels like a glimpse into the future.

Just to add some clarity — the 1TB model with 16GB RAM is actually priced around AED 8300 to 8400, not AED 10,000.

Each of these devices — the S25 Ultra and Fold 7 — shine in their own league. It's not really about one being better than the other but rather which experience fits your needs and workflow better. Personally, I’ve found Fold 7 an absolute joy for media consumption, multitasking, more of corporate machine also adding new camera adds value. I have S25 Ultra and pre-ordered Zfold 7 512GB. Thank you for the no-brainer part. I did listen to you, hehe

I loved your honest insights on the S Pen situation — and like you mentioned, it’ll be interesting to see how Samsung addresses this in future iterations.

I am looking forward to seeing your follow-up videos — and always happy to exchange thoughts with fellow enthusiasts like you!

[JimmyA]

Hey Umar, sorry i was busy fighting covid, compiling the photos, and copying the thoughts from Microsoft Word to the posts. For a fold user like you, that's a huge leap, you won't need me and my unpopular thoughts to make up your mind 😂 I'm pretty sure you'll make the best out of it. We all have something/a device that 'rocks our boat', my duty is to lay it out there as is, for people to make up their mind and decide, just like the hundreds of mixed reviews available online with millions of views.
The s-pen and silicon carbon insights are not much talked about, but I personally changed my opinion about the battery once i understood the real intention and story behind it. In 2016, Sony was the reason behind the batteries debacle, we don't need another ones happening as safety comes first. As always, and mutually the same, pleasure geeking out with you, and looking forward to meeting up once I'm covid free 🙈

[Umarshaiq]

God bless you sorry to hear about covid. I hope you heal soon. Let me know if you need any kind of support. Hope to see you soon look after yourself 🙏🙏🙏

[Umarshaiq]

Agree with you lets hope the future Unfolds a better sustainable approach towards battery's

[JimmyA]

Thank you bro, so far managing, been there before, but i didn't expect it still exists in 2025!

[Umarshaiq]

I hope ur fight through be strong 💪

[JimmyA]

Hi Umar, the intial price was 9350 aed when i added it to my cart during the pre-order and at the time of writing the initial thoughts, they have updated the price list as it seems, thanks for clearing this out.

[Umarshaiq]

Most welcome 😊❤

[smokin]

Hello Jimmy! As a true Samsung enthusiast and a proud member of the Galaxy community, I just had to jump in and share my excitement for the Galaxy Z Fold 7! While I appreciate the detailed insights from an S25 Ultra user, I feel it's crucial to highlight the incredible advancements and the unique appeal that makes the Fold 7 a truly revolutionary device, especially when compared to a traditional slab phone.
Form Factor: A Paradigm Shift in Design!
Let's be absolutely clear: the Form Factor of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is not just "Ultra Thin," it's a monumental achievement in smartphone engineering. At 4.2mm unfolded, it's remarkably slim – even thinner than some regular smartphones, and significantly thinner than the previous Z Fold 6 (which was 5.6mm unfolded). The comparison to "4 credit cards" isn't just hyperbole; it truly is that incredibly svelte. When folded, it's just 8.9mm thick, making it almost on par with the S25 Ultra's 8.2mm, yet it still hides a massive tablet display within!
The fact that it's 3 grams lighter than the S25 Ultra (215g vs 218g) is not a "minimal difference" to dismiss; it's a testament to how Samsung has managed to pack so much cutting-edge technology into an unbelievably lightweight chassis. This isn't just about numbers; it's about the feel in your hand. When you pick up the Fold 7, you feel the refinement. The narrow outer screen of previous generations is now a distant memory, with the wider cover display making it genuinely usable for all daily tasks without needing to unfold. It’s no wonder you "forgot you held a foldable" – that's the ultimate success of its design!

Battery and Charging: Smart Optimization for a Sleek Future

While the battery capacity remains at 4,400mAh, it's important to understand the trade-offs involved in achieving such an astonishingly thin design. Samsung made a conscious decision to prioritize the svelte form factor and larger screens, which were highly requested by users. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is explicitly designed for efficiency, with Qualcomm claiming up to 44% higher power efficiency compared to its predecessor. This means that even with the same battery size, you can expect improved real-world battery performance due to the advanced chipset and Samsung's software optimizations. SamMobile's battery test actually showed the Fold 7 outperforming the Fold 6 with 5 hours, 36 minutes, and 31 seconds of screen-on time during intensive tasks.