Jason Hiner/ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
Samsung's Fold 7 has reached the point that it's now the same size as flagship phones when closed.
The software upgrades in One UI 8 and Android 16 finally take advantage of the productivity potential of foldables.
There are multiples modes in the Fold 7 that make it even better than just a phone that transforms into a tablet.
It didn't take long for Samsung's Z Fold 7 to change my mind about folding phones. After testing it for less than a week, I'm not only convinced that I could use this as my daily work phone but I've also realized that there are features I'd seriously miss if I went back to a normal phone.
That's a long way from the previous experiences with foldables, including extended time with the Z Fold 5 just two years ago. I've simply never loved folding phones and after testing them I've never felt tempted to turn one into my new work phone -- which has been a long string of various Android models since the Nexus One in 2010.
But the Fold 7 is different.
The hardware on the Fold 7 is light years ahead of last year's Galaxy Fold 6 -- it's 25% thinner, both when folded and unfolded. In fact, the Fold 7 is the most impressive piece of tech hardware that I've put my hands on all year. When you pick it up, it has an immediate wow factor, especially when you hold it next to other flagship phones.
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