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Galaxy Z Fold7/Flip7

@ OP: Kudos on your well written experience and viewpoints.

Similarly with multiple lines and a requirement to carry two phones daily, I'm using iPhone 16 Pro Max, Galaxy Fold 7 and S25 Ultra. Prior to the Fold my favorite was the S25 Ultra.

Now 11 days into the Fold 7 experience I am impressed with its build quality, speed and overall usefulness. As far as productivity, it’s handling my heavy usage well but it’s still too early for me to take a stance. Being my first folding phone I'm still acclimating.

Downsides? Surprisingly none of consequence.

Overall I have a more favorable opinion now that I own this phone. The big question is will the Fold 7 become my primary phone of choice. Time will tell.
 
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M5RahuL said:
I’ve been running the Fold 7 alongside the S25 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max (each dedicated to different use cases: work, personal, and business). After nearly two weeks of heavy use, here’s my honest take, if anyone cares lol


What It Does Well
  • For entertainment and light productivity, the Fold 7 is excellent like YouTube, browsing, WhatsApp, and even drafting basic Outlook emails feel natural.
  • The large inner display remains unmatched for content consumption, multitasking, and sheer “wow factor.”
Where It Struggles
  • When it comes to serious productivity, the Fold 7 falls short. Editing Excel sheets with substantial data (let alone advanced functions like XLOOKUPs, Index-match et al) or Power BI, Dynatrace is frustrating enough that I usually revert to my laptop.
  • Despite owning multiple generations (since the Fold 3), I still can’t fully buy into Samsung’s “do real work on a foldable” pitch. For me, it’s an entertainment-first device, not a primary productivity tool.
Limitations (and Why I Can’t Switch Yet)
  • Battery life: Good, but not great for power users. Needs an upgrade.
  • Stylus support: A siloed S Pen is long overdue.
  • RAM: 16GB should be standard at this point. I noticed a tangible performance difference between the 12GB and 16GB variants, which is why I exchanged the 512GB model for the 1TB.

Other Considerations

Being in the U.S., we don’t have easy access to Chinese foldables ...and personally, I wouldn’t use them for sensitive apps anyway, given security concerns.


Bottom Line

The Fold 7 is a fantastic secondary device: great for media, multitasking, and casual productivity. But is it worth its premium price tag as a true laptop replacement or even a slab replacement? Not yet, at least for heavy work users like me.

Just my 2¢ as someone running a ton of work-related apps across multiple devices.
Click to expand...
I see you note Excel as a stumbling point for you but this would equally be true of the most powerful IPad let alone an IPHONE or the Fold 7 and others

Only a Windows tablet is capable of running the full version of Excel, else you need a laptop or desktop.

So I think your expectations are a little high

Where the Folds come in to play is not viewing the world through a letterbox

Being able to have preview pages or docs side by side or even reading or commenting on tech documentation, drawings and presentations or even research closer to how they would be viewed on a laptop is invaluable.

Having a richer and more complete entertainment and gaming experience is just a bonus.
 
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SteveJUAE said:
Only a Windows tablet is capable of running the full version of Excel, else you need a laptop or desktop.
So I think your expectations are a little high...
Click to expand...
A little high? ;)

It's as capable as any under10 inch tablet, including iPad Mini, and any 6 inch phone. Perhaps an experienced DeX user might say it's more capable... :)

Tom
 
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NeonNights said:
Congrats! Which color/config did you select? Case plans? Let us know how well the stylus works.
Click to expand...

i got blue....it's just the colour for this year

remember it is my first foldable experience so i have to be recognisable by the signature colour

no case for me, a sleeve at most maybe. i do not intend to baby it at all. i have waited for too long. i just want to enjoy it

will update on the stylus but i saw a video post on this thread that recommended this specific type with a disc
 
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Bkdodger said:
I'm so happy to see this right here, I hope you get to enjoy your long journey with it. What color did you get? Also that pen looks like the one that I bought from Amazon which I've used a little bit just more for testing and stuff like that but it's been good for my usage and all around UI
Click to expand...

thank you

i got the stylus from AliExpress

light and short
 
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Tulani said:
i got blue....it's just the colour for this year

remember it is my first foldable experience so i have to be recognisable by the signature colour

no case for me, a sleeve at most maybe. i do not intend to baby it at all. i have waited for too long. i just want to enjoy it

will update on the stylus but i saw a video post on this thread that recommended this specific type with a disc
Click to expand...

I would advise at least getting a slim back grip case. Adds almost no bulk to the device and makes it easier to unfold using the grip.
 
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LIVEFRMNYC said:
I would advise at least getting a slim back grip case. Adds almost no bulk to the device and makes it easier to unfold using the grip.
Click to expand...
Yep or like a bulky one like Supcase or Torras knowing that you'd only use it on hikes or at the beach, etc
 
I've been using the Spigen tough armor pro case for a week and yesterday received the Air Fit pro. Greatly prefer the tough armor and am returning the air fit. They are almost identical size wise aside from a thicker hinge bump on the tough armor.

Tough armor is one piece but the beauty of it is that you can take it apart as you wish. The hinge cover is removable and when you have it installed it doesn't move or flip open like so many other cases with hinge protection, including the Air fit. You can remove the front cover as well. All the pieces re-attach together very easily. It's very impressive and practical, tbh.

The Air fit case feels a little cheaper due to the two piece design and moving hinge cover. The tough armor case is hands down the better option, imo.

On a side note, WTH is with all these cases costing $60+? That's some BS. I ordered a $13 magsafe all-around protection case on Ali Express today, we'll see. I opted for the "D color" solid blue.

a.aliexpress.com

$27.87 | Luxury Carbon Fiber Texture MagSafe Phone Case For Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 5G Fold7 Magnetic Wireless Charging Shockproof Cover

$27.87 | Luxury Carbon Fiber Texture MagSafe Phone Case For Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 5G Fold7 Magnetic Wireless Charging Shockproof Cover
a.aliexpress.com
 
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Harthag said:
I've been using the Spigen tough armor pro case for a week and yesterday received the Air Fit pro. Greatly prefer the tough armor and am returning the air fit. They are almost identical size wise aside from a thicker hinge bump on the tough armor.

Tough armor is one piece but the beauty of it is that you can take it apart as you wish. The hinge cover is removable and when you have it installed it doesn't move or flip open like so many other cases with hinge protection, including the Air fit. You can remove the front cover as well. All the pieces re-attach together very easily. It's very impressive and practical, tbh.

The Air fit case feels a little cheaper due to the two piece design and moving hinge cover. The tough armor case is hands down the better option, imo.

On a side note, WTH is with all these cases costing $60+? That's some BS. I ordered a $13 magsafe all-around protection case on Ali Express today, we'll see. I opted for the "D color" solid blue.

a.aliexpress.com

$27.87 | Luxury Carbon Fiber Texture MagSafe Phone Case For Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 5G Fold7 Magnetic Wireless Charging Shockproof Cover

$27.87 | Luxury Carbon Fiber Texture MagSafe Phone Case For Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 5G Fold7 Magnetic Wireless Charging Shockproof Cover
a.aliexpress.com
Click to expand...
Thanks for the details. I was thinking of one of those expensive cases, but have been intrigued by the Tough Armor. Curious, how's the grip on the case? Is it slippery?

I ask because I had other Spigen cases in the past that were too slippery.
 
Harthag said:
I've been using the Spigen tough armor pro case for a week and yesterday received the Air Fit pro. Greatly prefer the tough armor and am returning the air fit. They are almost identical size wise aside from a thicker hinge bump on the tough armor.

Tough armor is one piece but the beauty of it is that you can take it apart as you wish. The hinge cover is removable and when you have it installed it doesn't move or flip open like so many other cases with hinge protection, including the Air fit. You can remove the front cover as well. All the pieces re-attach together very easily. It's very impressive and practical, tbh.

The Air fit case feels a little cheaper due to the two piece design and moving hinge cover. The tough armor case is hands down the better option, imo.

On a side note, WTH is with all these cases costing $60+? That's some BS. I ordered a $13 magsafe all-around protection case on Ali Express today, we'll see. I opted for the "D color" solid blue.

a.aliexpress.com

$27.87 | Luxury Carbon Fiber Texture MagSafe Phone Case For Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 5G Fold7 Magnetic Wireless Charging Shockproof Cover

$27.87 | Luxury Carbon Fiber Texture MagSafe Phone Case For Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 5G Fold7 Magnetic Wireless Charging Shockproof Cover
a.aliexpress.com
Click to expand...
No need to buy those expensive accessories unless one is really that patriotic.

The stylus cost me 82 cents.
 
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mjschabow said:
Thanks for the details. I was thinking of one of those expensive cases, but have been intrigued by the Tough Armor. Curious, how's the grip on the case? Is it slippery?

I ask because I had other Spigen cases in the past that were too slippery.
Click to expand...
It is a really nice matte finish and not too slippery. Not the slippery plastic feel like so many other cases. I really like it.

Pulling for you, hope your phone arrives quickly and you can enjoy finally!
Tulani said:
No need to buy those expensive accessories unless one is really that patriotic.

The stylus cost me 82 cents.
Click to expand...
I know, it's ridiculous. I wanted a quality case though considering it's a $2000 device, and this Spigen one is probably the highest quality case I've used in quite some time. If the Ali Express special ends up just as good then that's the route I'll take from now on.
 
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I am surprised nothing has really dropped for Labor Day. The previous promo just ended this morning, meaning "regular pricing" will probably hold for the week. I guess we will see if Samsung does anything special this weekend but I thought deals have been starting/ending on Mondays. I realize Labor Day is next Monday but kind of odd to have the sale start then and, what, go on the rest of next week  after the holiday?
 
TPadden said:
At the risk of being repetitive; Best Buy does trade-in. As long as the numbers are OK (comparable), I've found the process is both simpler and quicker than Samsung. ;)

Tom
Click to expand...
I was in a BestBuy last week and inquired about trade-in. Fold 7 listed for $1699 but my Fold 6 trade-in value was pegged at only $250. Pass.
 
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I ordered the Benks case the day I bought the phone. It has been I think a month since I owned this phone, not even a notification that 'something is happening.'

At least I managed to find a nifty charging tray from Amazon. No idea why they didn't include feet though, luckily I have a ton from my cabinets.

IMG_5585.jpeg
 
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Tulani said:
i got the stylus from AliExpress
Click to expand...

I hate to be "that guy", but I have to in this case. That stylus is not going to get you too far... Samsung removed all support for touch screen S-Pen input on the Fold7.

Here is what Google has to say about it:
1000154130.jpg

I am going to guess, and I hope I am wrong, that the Samsung Notes app provided with the Fold7 has probably been similarly "lobotomized" from a pen input perspective.

All I can say is "good luck" on the stylus front. However, the Fold family are great devices. I had a Fold4 and now have a Fold6, and both were/are great device of and by themselves. I am sure that you will love your Fold7; it just won't do quite as much as it's predecessors, but it will do everything that it does do even faster and better than a Fold6.

Frankly, I believe that the industry as a whole has become unaturally obsessed with "lighter and thinner". I would far prefer a slightly thicker, heavier phone that does more than one that does less but is thinner or lighter.
 
While the Fold7 isn't compatible with previous S Pens, I am fairly confident you can use passive capacitive type stylus, like the disc one shown a few posts earlier. I tried out an old rubber tipped capacitive stylus and it works on all phone screens, even the front display of my Fold6 (where the S Pen doesn't work). You lose some precision, pressure sensitivity, and palm rejection but overall it's fine for jotting notes and better than your stubby finger.
 
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mac57mac57 said:
I hate to be "that guy", but I have to in this case. That stylus is not going to get you too far... Samsung removed all support for touch screen S-Pen input on the Fold7.

Here is what Google has to say about it:
View attachment 2540907
I am going to guess, and I hope I am wrong, that the Samsung Notes app provided with the Fold7 has probably been similarly "lobotomized" from a pen input perspective.

All I can say is "good luck" on the stylus front. However, the Fold family are great devices. I had a Fold4 and now have a Fold6, and both were/are great device of and by themselves. I am sure that you will love your Fold7; it just won't do quite as much as it's predecessors, but it will do everything that it does do even faster and better than a Fold6.

Frankly, I believe that the industry as a whole has become unaturally obsessed with "lighter and thinner". I would far prefer a slightly thicker, heavier phone that does more than one that does less but is thinner or lighter.
Click to expand...

i am not sure if you are aware about the backstory as to why i bought that pen specifically and the discussion behind it on this thread?
 
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