Samsung's latest foldable flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, is finally here. It brings some serious upgrades over the previous generation—but not without controversy. If you're wondering why the S Pen is missing, why there’s no major battery or charging improvement, or how Samsung made the Fold 7 thinner than ever, we’ve got all the answers in simple terms anyone can understand.
Let’s break it down step by step.
📱 What’s New in the Galaxy Z Fold 7?
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 show Samsung’s progress in foldable tech. According to Kang Min-seok, Managing Director of Samsung MX, the company focused on making the Fold 7 thinner and lighter. And they succeeded — it now has an 8.9mm thin body, the slimmest in the Z Fold series so far.
Key changes include:
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New Armor Flex hinge: 27% thinner and 43% lighter than Fold 6’s hinge
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Foldable screen: 39% thinner, also 43% lighter than the previous model
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Titanium bottom frame: Adds durability without extra weight
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Camera sensor: 200MP sensor is 18% smaller, helping reduce thickness
So clearly, every part of this phone was redesigned to make it feel less bulky in your hand.
✍️ Why Did Samsung Remove the S Pen?
One of the most surprising decisions is the removal of S Pen support. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 supported the S Pen (with a special case), but this time it’s gone. Why?
Samsung says this was part of a necessary “trade-off.”
“Consumers want a thin and light product,” said Kang Min-seok in an interview with ET News.
“Think of it as a trade-off — if you choose one feature, you might lose another.”
In simple words, to make the phone super slim, Samsung had to remove some features — and that includes the S Pen digitizer (the internal part that makes S Pen work).
But don’t worry. Samsung isn’t done with the S Pen forever. Kang also said the company is researching thinner technologies so that one day the S Pen can return — maybe in the Fold 8 or Fold 9 when technology catches up.
🔋 What About the Battery and Charging?
Another area where some fans feel disappointed is battery and charging.
There’s no major battery upgrade in the Fold 7, and charging speeds remain the same. But this is also tied to the slim design. There’s simply less space inside the phone.
Samsung did manage to increase battery capacity slightly in the Galaxy Z Flip 7, thanks to high-density circuit boards that create more room for battery cells. It now has 300mAh more than before.
📸 How’s the Camera?
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 still includes a 200MP main camera, but the camera sensor is 18% smaller than before. That helps reduce the overall size of the phone and makes the camera bump slightly smaller — although it still causes a bit of wobble on flat surfaces.
Samsung didn’t make huge camera changes, but they optimized the hardware to match the thin profile. If you're into photography, you'll still get a premium experience — even if there are no mind-blowing new features.
🌀 Is the Fold 7 Still Worth It?
Samsung calls both the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 the most "perfected" versions of their foldables so far. While perfection is subjective, here’s a quick summary of what’s great and what’s missing:
✅ Pros:
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Thinner and lighter design than ever
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Durable hinge and titanium body
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High-end foldable screen and cameras
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Pre-order deals with trade-in and free upgrades
❌ Cons:
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No S Pen support
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No major battery or charging upgrade
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Still pricey, even with discounts
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Camera bump causes slight wobble
💰 Pre-Order Offers and Availability
Samsung is offering big discounts for early buyers.
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Up to $1,000 trade-in value
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Free storage upgrade
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Extra $50 credit when ordering via 9to5Google links
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Ships starting July 25, 2025
You can pre-order now directly from Samsung.com, and the Fold 7 is launching alongside the Z Flip 7, Z Flip 7 FE, and Galaxy Watch 8 lineup.
🔮 What’s Next for Samsung Foldables?
Samsung is already planning ahead. Kang Min-seok confirmed that the company is working on "thinner and innovative technologies" for future foldables — including ways to bring back the S Pen without making the device thicker.
This means the Fold 8 or Fold 9 could finally strike the perfect balance between slim design and full functionality, including S Pen support.
Until then, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is still a big step forward — even if it means making a few trade-offs.