Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
Has Samsung finally done it? As a foldable phone enthusiast, I've been asking myself that question throughout the month leading up to Unpacked, where the company today pitched its newest shape-shifting handset, the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Within a second of the phone's unveiling, the answer was a resounding yes. But I didn't need the roar of the crowd to tell me that.
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Samsung's latest foldable looks and feels like what we all hoped for when the form factor was introduced six years ago. Even the difference between this year's model and last year's is noticeably dramatic.
Ahead of the Wednesday keynote, I spent an intimate morning testing the Galaxy Z Fold 7. At $2,000 -- a $100 price bump from the previous model -- the Z Fold 7 remains a niche product for a very dedicated user base. But for those who have longed for a more competitive foldable by Samsung, one that's fitted to compete with Asia's best, that time has finally arrived.
The biggest change with the new Z Fold 7 is its dimensions. Compared to its predecessor, we're looking at a thickness that's 3.2mm less, a weight that's 24 grams lighter, and a pair of displays that are both wider and larger. While those may just be numbers on a spec sheet, they equate to a hardware experience that's noticeably improved compared to last year's Z Fold 6.
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The sides of the Z Fold 7 fit the contours of my palm more naturally, the 6.5-inch cover screen is much easier to type on, and when unfolded, the 8-inch canvas feels like a playground for multi-app usage and multimedia consumption. Having tested the Oppo Find N5 and Honor Magic V5 ahead of Unpacked, it's safe to say that Samsung finally has a foldable phone design that can hang with the market's best.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (left) and the Z Fold 6 (right). Kerry Wan/ZDNET
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