Galaxy Z Fold 7 Goes Ultra-Thin – But at the Cost of the S Pen
Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, but it’s the Fold 7 that’s turning heads – not just for its sleek design, but for what it leaves behind. The Fold 7 is Samsung’s slimmest and lightest foldable ever, measuring just 8.9mm when closed and 4.2mm when open. It weighs only 215g, making it lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
However, there’s a catch: no S Pen support. Samsung has dropped the stylus this year in favor of going thinner, and it’s a move that’s stirred up mixed reactions. According to MinSeok Kang, Samsung’s Head of Smartphone Product Planning, cutting the S Pen was a necessary compromise to achieve the slimmer build. Still, he hinted that the S Pen might return once technology allows for a thinner, more integrated solution.
Despite the stylus snub, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 does come with some major improvements. It now boasts the same 200MP main camera sensor as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, complete with 2X lossless crop zoom, marking a serious upgrade in photography. The cover display’s aspect ratio has also been adjusted for easier one-handed use, and the central crease is less prominent than before.
Samsung seems determined to match – and surpass – its Chinese competitors. The Fold 7 now rivals devices like the Honor Magic V5 and Oppo Find N5 in the race for the thinnest foldable. But thin doesn’t mean basic. First impressions reveal a more refined design, better usability when folded, and that flagship-tier camera system sets it apart.
One downside? The battery hasn’t changed. It’s still 4,400mAh, which might disappoint power users hoping for more juice.
While the S Pen’s absence may be a dealbreaker for some – especially those who saw the Fold as a true productivity device – Samsung is playing the long game. If future models can squeeze in a stylus without bulking up, we might see it return with the Fold 8.
For now, the Fold 7 is a powerhouse wrapped in a super-slim shell. But if you’re the kind of user who wants a tablet replacement, the missing S Pen might push you toward a traditional phone-tablet combo instead of Samsung’s futuristic foldable.