Should I thank or blame Apple for how the Galaxy Z Fold 7 turned out? The latest foldable from Samsung is an exciting step forward, but it also has some unexpected trade-offs. 
Let’s dive in.
Samsung has just launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7, a foldable that’s lighter, thinner, and more capable than its predecessors. The improvements are impressive-especially the larger, multitasking-friendly screens and a massive 200MP main camera. But, in a surprising move, the new foldable comes without stylus support, which might be a dealbreaker for some. The price tag is hefty too, starting at $2,000. So, what’s going on?
First off, Samsung has definitely upped its game. The Fold 7 is thinner and feels much lighter in your hands, making it more comfortable to use. The external display now closely resembles that of a traditional phone, meaning you won’t feel cramped when using it while folded. And with the new 200MP camera, it’s clear that Samsung is taking its foldable phone seriously.
However, it’s hard to ignore that some of these improvements were likely driven by competition-specifically Apple. Samsung has been falling behind in the foldable space, and it’s clear that the pressure of Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone is looming large. Apple is reportedly working hard to deliver a foldable that’s sleek, with no major compromises on things like crease lines and thickness, which have been issues for early foldable devices.
But what about the price? At $2,000, the Fold 7 is pushing the upper limits of what consumers are willing to pay. Samsung’s move to price it similarly to the expected cost of Apple’s foldable iPhone seems intentional-if Apple is going to charge top dollar, Samsung wants to ensure its product is seen as just as premium.
There’s another issue that many are glossing over-the removal of S Pen functionality. This has been a staple of Samsung’s premium phones for years, especially the Note series. Samsung argues that removing the feature allowed them to make the phone slimmer, but it still feels like a significant loss. After all, it’s hard to deny that this decision may have been influenced by Apple’s design philosophy.
Despite these shortcomings, the Fold 7 does more things right than wrong. And, given Apple’s looming foldable, it’s clear that the future of foldable phones is getting brighter. Whether or not the Fold 7 justifies its steep price tag, it’s clear that this category is only going to grow-and Apple’s inevitable foldable could be the one to truly push it into the mainstream.