Samsung has launched the Galaxy Fold 7 and while it brings some key improvements, it also comes with a few downgrades (one major one) and that is what we need to talk about. But, before we jump into what went wrong, let us look at what Samsung has done right this time.
Slimmer, lighter, more refined fold than ever
One big highlight of the Fold 7 is the redesigned body on which Samsung has been working for this long in years. And, no, we are not talking about the look or colors; we are talking about thinness and weight.
The Fold 7 is now one of the thinnest foldables available, and what is shocking is that even in its folded form, it is thinner than the Galaxy S25 Ultra and even the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max. That is a big change in terms of foldable design and portability from Samsung.
Display and Camera- Bigger and Better
The unfolded display is now larger than before, coming close to 8 inches, which makes multitasking, watching content, and reading documents much more immersive.
On the camera side, you get a 200MP main shooter, which is now a very huge sensor. There is also an ultra-wide lens of 13 MP, and the telephoto lens is 10 MP. While this may not compete with Samsung’s Ultra flagship cameras, the main camera setup is quite close to what you get in the Ultra and is enough for productivity-focused users wanting high-quality images while working on the go.
Performance- Flagship as expected
Under the hood, you get a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (for Galaxy), which is also known as the Snapdragon 8 Elite. You get RAM options of 12 GB and 16 GB, and internal storage can go all the way up to 1 TB, which is ideal for users who handle large files, edit media, or just want zero compromises on speed.
While we get a better fold, it does not mean that the phones come without any flaws.
The major downgrades in Galaxy Fold 7
Here is where the Fold 7 gets disappointing.
The biggest miss this year is the lack of S Pen support. Fold users often belong to the productivity segment; they edit documents, sign PDFs, sketch quick notes, or multitask regularly. Not having S Pen support means that a major utility tool is now gone. And, in a foldable this premium, that is a huge letdown.
Another odd move is that Samsung has removed the under-display camera. While many didn’t love it for selfies, it did offer you an immersive full-screen experience without punch holes or notches when using the inner display. Now without it, the display feels less futuristic or maybe it is clear that the inner display camera has not been a successful innovation.
Also, there is no vapor cooling chamber inside the Fold 7. It matters when you are running heavy apps, editing videos, or multitasking. The phone is bound to be used for heavy productive use like heavy apps, editing videos, and multitasking. Not having S Pen support means that a major utility tool is now gone. And, in a foldable this premium, that is a letdown.
Now without it, the display feels slightly less futuristic. Also, there is no vapor cooling chamber inside the Fold 7. That matters, especially when you are running heavy apps, editing videos, or multitasking—the phone is bound to heat up faster without proper thermal control.
Battery- no real upgrade here
The Fold 7 still uses the same 4400mAh battery as before. At a time when competitors like Honor are introducing larger batteries in their foldables using new battery tech, Samsung could have done better. Foldables naturally require more power and a battery upgrade would have made a real difference in long-term usage.
Pricing—expensive, but not justifiable?
Let us talk price. The 12 GB + 512 GB variant of the Fold 7 is priced at INR 175,000, which is almost INR 10,000 more than its predecessor.
At the price, you could literally buy a flagship phone and a high-end laptop together and still have money left. So, unless you are fully committed to the foldable experience, it is tough to justify this level of spending, especially when some key features are missing.
Final Thoughts- Worth it or not?
The Galaxy Fold 7 is no doubt a premium device. It is sleek, thin, lightweight, and powerful. It brings a larger display, better cameras, and flagship specs. But at the same time, it removes key features like S Pen support, under-display camera, and cooling systems, which were all part of the Fold’s identity.
If you are a die-hard foldable fan or upgrading from an older fold model like the Fold 3, this could still feel like a fresh upgrade. But for many users, especially the ones who value productivity, this phone might feel like style over substance.
