There's something slightly ironic about the superslim Galaxy Z Fold 7. Because the generous 6.5-inch cover screen feels much more normal than those found on previous versions of Samsung's foldable, I've hardly bothered opening the phone to use the sprawling inside display -- despite that kind of being the whole point.
That's not a bad thing. Rather, it's a testament to how Samsung has managed to make both displays practical and useful. The cover screen no longer feels like an awkward compromise. Instead, it feels wonderfully ordinary.
That's largely due to how much Samsung slimmed down its latest book-style foldable. The Z Fold 7 is just 8.9mm thick when closed and 4.2mm thick when open. It also weighs a mere 215 grams, which is impressive for a book-style foldable. It joins the ranks of other skinny foldables like the Oppo Find N5, the Huawei Mate X6 and the Honor Magic V3 -- and outslims them by a hair.
The cover screen feels like just the right size this time around. Numi Prasarn/CNET
During my first day with the Z Fold 7, I've used the cover screen to do everything from navigating New York City to snapping photos and posting them to Instagram. I've opted for the internal screen when watching videos or multitasking, like checking my email while surfing the web or streaming music. I like that using the bigger screen now feels more like a choice than a necessity.
Watch this: Ultra Thin: First Look at the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 02:45
Scaling back on compromises
Just a month and a half ago, Samsung launched the S25 Edge, which also boasts a slim profile, albeit one that's slightly thicker than the Z Fold 7's, at 5.8mm. That phone essentially set the stage for the Z Fold 7, and I'm surprised how quickly I got used to both phones' feather-light form factors. It's hard to go back to anything else.
Like the S25 Edge, the Z Fold 7 has a sturdiness that keeps it from feeling like it's going to bend in my hand. It sports a Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 cover and a Victus 2 backing, which gives me some peace of mind, as I refuse to slap on a case and add any additional bulk. I trekked New York's concrete jungle and tossed the phone in my bag without worrying too much about durability. I hope that confidence is well-placed in the long run.
The Z Fold 7's thinness helps it feel wonderfully ordinary when closed. Numi Prasarn/CNET
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