I showed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 to a Z Fold 4 owner, and he was blown away

A few weeks before to the release of the genuinely fantastic Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, I happened to go across an old buddy who, for some reason, possessed a Galaxy Z Fold 4. Outside of South Korea, where they are common, I had hardly ever seen a Samsung folding phone in the wild, much less someone I knew carrying one, in all the years I had been monitoring the company’s efforts.

I had never known my friend to be an early adopter in the forty-three years we had known one another, yet there he was, unfolding a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, checking work emails, checking stocks, and essentially using it as his main device. I examined it and saw that the flexible screen’s protective covering was bubbled in places, including along the crease.

This Z Fold 4 has experienced equal parts love and torture. I anticipated seeing the rumored Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Ultra at the Samsung Unpacked event, which was only a few days away. After we laughed about how terrible his folding phone was, my friend began to ask me what he should get next. At the very least, I suggested that he wait to see what this “Fold Ultra” is all about.

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After a few weeks, I was eager to show him the Galaxy Z Fold 7 that I had been carrying. But because we were all congregating on the beach, the tech introduction would have to wait. As you may remember, the Z Fold 7, like the majority of the other latest Folds, is rated IP48 for resistance to fresh water, but it basically has no ability to handle dust or sand.

Beach fumble

When my friend got to the beach, I saw him pull out his Z Fold 4, then gasp as it fell out of his hands and onto the sand.

I informed him, “Buddy, that’s not sand-resistant,”

He began shaking and blowing it excitedly as he gingerly picked it up, saying, “I know!” He also mentioned that, aside from today, he never visits the beach and that he typically packs it in a Ziplock bag (I’ve done the same with the Z Fold 6).

at a severe case of “things you do not need to hear in the moment,” I explained to him how sand might totally ruin the hinge mechanism while he examined the hinge and ports.

I eagerly informed him that I had something to show him—the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7—in an attempt to cover up my gaffe.

He gave me a sharp look and reprimanded me, saying, “Hey, you told me to wait for the Ultra.”

“I know,” I shrugged, “This is basically that phone, they added ‘Ultra’ features like the 200MP sensor, but it’s not called that.”

I could tell that he was confused by the change in nomenclature.

Cozying to the Fold 7

I retrieved the Z Fold 7 and presented it to him later, when we were far from the shore. His gaze expanded. I then gave him the phone.

“Wow,” he exclaimed, flipping the dual-purpose gadget in his palms. After marveling at its weight and thinness (4.2mm), he had some difficulty opening it. In my opinion, the Z Fold 7’s magnets—which keep the foldable phone closed—are far more powerful than those on his Z Fold 4.

Taking his Z Fold 4 out, he opened it and examined its puckered screen. We briefly discussed the protective coating and how the Z Fold 7 has it, however I’m hoping it performs better over time.

He asked me, “Are the screens the same size?” before setting his Z Fold 4 over my Z Fold 7. He could see the size difference even as I said, “No, the Z Fold 7 is an 8-inch flexible display.”

Although I’m not sure if it was a S Pen, I noted that his relatively thick case had an empty slot for a stylus. However, I remembered that he had previously claimed to have a case that didn’t even fit his pen. I relayed the bad news that the Z Fold 7 lost the digitizing label and no longer supports the S Pen, but he could use a dumb capacitive stylus. I wasn’t sure how much my friend used a stylus, though, because the two times I saw him with the Z Fold 4, he was without one. He nodded knowingly but said nothing.

In order to demonstrate to him how much data the sensor can gather, I took a picture with the 200MM camera and then enlarged it. We also briefly discussed the cameras.

My friend grinned when I informed him that the Z Fold 7 weighs 215 grams less than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. He was holding the phone as if it were a scale.

He answered, “Yeah, but I have to pay $2,300, right?” while still holding the Z Fold 7. I told him it was “$2,000.” Though I could tell he was already certain that the Z Fold 7 would be his next phone, he gave this some thought.

I let other old buddies answer the phone all night long. The weight and size shocked each and every one of them. Even with the premium tag and the absence of S Pen compatibility, there might not be a better upgrade for a dedicated Z Fold user. I’m not sure if they, like my friend, would part with their iPhones for it.