I Waited 7 Years for This Phone. Now I Don’t Want It.
The dream that died in my pocket.
For seven years, I watched every foldable evolve, waiting for “the one.” The Fold 7 was supposed to be it. It finally felt like a normal phone—same weight, same thickness—that magically opened into a tablet. I was so sure, so confident this was my year to switch. But after two weeks, the dream faded. It’s harder to open, the speakers are worse, and key features are gone. The perfect phone on paper turned out to be a collection of smart compromises that, for me, just didn’t add up. The heartbreak is real.
The Fold 7 is Built for a Person I’ll Never Be.
My phone thinks I’m a CEO. I just want to watch cat videos.
Samsung’s ads show hyper-productive people juggling three apps at once, closing deals, and analyzing spreadsheets on their Fold 7. I look at that and think, “Wow, I should be that person.” Then I pick up the phone and spend an hour scrolling through Reddit and watching YouTube shorts. I thought I would finally use the multitasking, but I’m just not wired that way. This phone is an incredible tool for a power user. But I’m not a power user. And admitting that saved me from trying to be someone I’m not.
Confession: I’m a “Degenerate” User, and This Phone Isn’t For Me.
This phone wants spreadsheets. I want memes.
Let’s be honest. My phone usage isn’t “productive.” It’s a mix of messaging friends, browsing social media, and watching endless short-form videos. I’m a phone degenerate. And I thought the Fold 7’s big screen would be amazing for my degeneracy. But the screen is the wrong shape for videos, leaving huge black bars. All the powerful multitasking features are completely wasted on me. I tried to use it like the people in the commercials, but I failed. This phone is for a different class of user, and I’m proudly not in it.
The Most Impressive Phone I’ve Ever Tested… and the Most Disappointing.
A masterpiece of engineering that’s annoying to live with.
When you hold the closed Fold 7, it feels impossible. How can a device this thin, this normal, unfold into a giant screen? The hardware is, without a doubt, a 10/10 marvel. But then you live with it. You struggle to get a grip to open the stiff hinge. You set it on a table and it wobbles constantly because of the massive camera bump. You open it to watch a video and are greeted with giant black bars. It’s a perfect example of how something can be an incredible feat of engineering while simultaneously being a frustrating daily driver.
My Wife’s Reaction to the Fold 7 Crease Says It All.
The one-second review that matters more than mine.
As a tech reviewer, I’ve stared at screen creases for years. I’m used to them; I barely even see them anymore. But to get a fresh perspective, I handed the brand new, expensive Fold 7 to my wife. She opened it, looked at it for a single second, and with genuine confusion asked, “Why is there a dent in the middle? Is it broken?” Her instant, unfiltered reaction was more powerful than any spec sheet. It was a stark reminder that just because we get used to a flaw, doesn’t mean it’s not a flaw.
The Seduction of Versatility: Why 2-in-1 Devices Always Break Your Heart.
The jack-of-all-trades is a master of compromise.
Remember those 2-in-1 laptops that promised to be the perfect tablet and the perfect laptop? In reality, they were a heavy, clumsy tablet and a flimsy, unsatisfying laptop. The Fold 7 falls into the same trap. It promises to be the perfect phone and the perfect tablet. But to achieve this, it has to make sacrifices. This year, Samsung perfected the phone experience, making it thin and light. But that came at the cost of the tablet experience, with worse speakers, a tougher hinge, and no S-Pen. Versatility always has a price.
This Phone is Too Thin For Its Own Good.
In the quest for ‘thin,’ they sacrificed ‘good.’
For years, the dream was a foldable as thin as a regular phone. Samsung finally did it with the Fold 7, an incredible achievement. But here’s the reality: that obsession with thinness is the root of its biggest problems. To make it so thin, the hinge had to be stronger and is now harder to open. There’s less room for good speakers. The S-Pen had to be removed entirely. They chased one single marketing spec and, in doing so, stripped away some of the core features that made the Fold experience so compelling in the first place.
The Loneliness of Owning a Foldable: Why My Tech Friends Won’t Use Them.
The phone that even ‘free’ can’t convince us to use.
As tech reviewers, we get to test every new phone, often for free. We have every incentive to use the latest, most exciting technology as our personal device. So ask yourself: why do almost none of us use a foldable phone day-to-day? We’ve all tried. We all love the idea. But after a few weeks of living with the compromises—the aspect ratio, the crease, the bulk—we all quietly switch back to our boring, reliable slab phones. That unspoken consensus among experts should tell you everything you need to know.
I Thought I Wanted a Tablet in My Pocket. I Was Wrong.
The big screen dream vs. the big screen reality.
The promise of a foldable is simple: a phone that transforms into a mini-tablet for immersive videos. But the Fold 7’s tall, narrow inner screen isn’t a mini-tablet; it’s just a big, square phone screen. When you play a YouTube video, the image is barely bigger than on a normal phone because of the massive black bars. I realized I don’t just want a bigger screen; I want a screen with the right shape for entertainment. This phone gave me more screen, but not more of what I actually wanted.
Breaking Up with the Fold 7: An Honest Review.
It’s not me, it’s you (and your aspect ratio).
The relationship started with pure infatuation. The Fold 7 was thin, beautiful, and the hardware felt like the future. But after living together for two weeks, the honeymoon was over. The little annoyances became impossible to ignore. It was too much work to open up. The camera bump always got in the way. And ultimately, it just didn’t understand what I wanted from a big screen. It’s a stunning, impressive device, but we’re just not compatible. It’s time to admit it didn’t work out and move on.
The ‘Big Screen Experience’ is a Lie: The Fold 7’s Wasted Space Problem.
More screen doesn’t mean more video.
The number one reason to buy a Fold is for that “big screen experience.” But here’s the disappointing truth the ads don’t show you: when you open it to watch a typical widescreen video, the image isn’t much bigger than on a regular phone. The Fold 7’s square-ish screen results in massive black bars at the top and bottom, wasting a huge portion of that precious real estate. You thought you were buying a portable cinema, but for media consumption, you’re mostly just carrying around bigger bezels.
5 ‘Hidden’ Downgrades on the Fold 7 That No One is Talking About.
What you lose in the pursuit of thin.
Everyone is praising how thin the Fold 7 is, but they’re not talking about what was sacrificed to get there. Here are five things that are objectively worse than the last generation. One: The hinge is much stiffer and harder to open. Two: The speakers are noticeably tinnier. Three: The S-Pen support is completely gone. Four: The seamless under-display camera has been replaced by a standard punch-hole. Five: The camera bump is now enormous. It’s thinner, yes, but it comes at a significant cost to the overall user experience.
Why the Massive Camera Bump Makes This a ‘Thick’ Phone.
The lie of the spec sheet.
On paper, the Fold 7 is impressively thin. But in the real world, that number is meaningless because of the gigantic camera bump. When you lay the phone on a table, it doesn’t lie flat; it rests on a huge, wobbly camera island. You can’t use it without it rocking back and forth. This means you absolutely need a case to even things out, which instantly makes it a thick phone again. You thought you were getting a sleek, thin device, but in practice, the camera bump makes its thinness a complete illusion.
The Multitasking Myth: Why You’ll Probably Never Use the Fold 7’s Best Feature.
It’s okay, you’re not the only one.
Samsung’s ads are filled with power users running three apps side-by-side, dragging and dropping files like a scene from a hacker movie. It looks amazing. You buy the phone thinking you’ll become that person. But then you get it home, and you just… don’t. You use one app at a time, like a normal human. It’s not your fault. True mobile multitasking is a niche need. You thought you were failing to use the phone correctly, but the reality is the feature was never designed for how most people actually use their phones.
How a 3-Year-Old Phone Taught Me What’s Wrong With the Fold 7.
The old master that schools the new student.
I was getting so frustrated with the Fold 7’s tall, narrow screen. Videos felt cramped. Then I picked up my old Oppo Find N2. It’s a much older, thicker phone, but its form factor is a revelation. It’s shorter and wider, like a small notebook. When you open it, videos fill the screen with minimal black bars. The whole experience feels more natural and less awkward. You’d expect the newest phone to be the best, but this old device proved that the right shape is far more important than the thinnest design.
Is Apple’s Foldable Already Better Than the Fold 7?
Winning the race by not even running yet.
Rumors suggest that Apple’s first foldable won’t be tall and skinny like the Fold 7. Instead, it will have a wider, more passport-like shape, similar to the old Oppo Find N2. Why does this matter? Because that form factor is vastly superior for watching videos and general usability. Samsung has spent years perfecting a design that is fundamentally awkward for media. You’d think the current leader has the advantage, but the reality is Apple might win simply by learning from Samsung’s mistakes and choosing a better aspect ratio from the start.
The One Feature That Could Finally Fix Foldables Next Year.
The beginning of the end for the crease.
The screen crease has been the foldable’s original sin. You can get used to it, but it’s always there, a constant reminder of the phone’s compromise. But now, there are rumors of a new technology for next year’s models: a flexible metal underlayer that actively pushes up on the screen’s center when it’s open, making the crease virtually disappear. You thought the crease was just a permanent part of foldable life, but the reality is that a truly seamless, flat inner screen might be just around the corner.
The Engineering Compromise: What You Actually Lose When a Phone Folds.
The invisible price tag of a folding screen.
A foldable phone seems like pure magic—a device that doubles its screen size. But that magic comes with a hidden cost. To make a phone fold, engineers have to make sacrifices elsewhere. The complex hinge takes up space that could have been used for better speakers or a bigger battery. The flexible screen can’t support the same integrated stylus technology as a rigid one. You thought you were just gaining a bigger screen, but the reality is you are always trading away other features to make that one trick possible.
How to Decide if You’re a “Fold Person” in 60 Seconds.
The two-question test that could save you $2000.
Are you thinking about buying a foldable phone? Before you do, ask yourself two simple questions. Question 1: Do you frequently read and edit full-page documents, PDFs, or ebooks on your phone? Question 2: Do you often need to run two apps side-by-side for your work? If you answered a passionate “yes” to both, you might be a Fold Person. If you hesitated or answered “no,” you just saved yourself a lot of money. You thought you needed a complex analysis, but your daily habits give you the clearest answer.
The Hinge Problem: Why the Fold 7 is Annoying to Use Every Day.
The small frustration that becomes a big deal.
When you first use the Fold 7, you might notice the hinge is a bit stiff. You think, “It’s new, it’ll loosen up.” But it doesn’t. Every single time you want to open it, you have to consciously use two hands and put in a little extra effort. Because the phone is so thin, there’s less material to grip. It’s a small thing, but when you do it dozens of times a day, that small frustration adds up. You expected the phone to feel effortless, but this one daily interaction constantly reminds you that it’s work.
Analyzing the Aspect Ratio: Why Videos Look Better on a Regular Phone.
The illusion of a bigger screen.
Let’s do the math. You play a standard 16:9 movie trailer on a large slab phone like an iPhone Pro Max. The video fills the entire screen. Now, you play the same video on the “bigger” inner screen of the Fold 7. Because of the square-ish aspect ratio, you get huge black bars. When you actually measure the size of the video image itself, it’s barely larger than the one on the iPhone, and in some cases, can even feel smaller. You thought “bigger screen” meant “bigger video,” but the geometry proves it’s mostly wasted space.
The Physics of the Wobble: Measuring the Fold 7’s Camera Bump.
When a millimeter of metal ruins the experience.
The Fold 7 is advertised as being incredibly thin. But that spec is a lie of omission. We measured the camera bump, and it protrudes out significantly. This creates a pivot point, meaning that any time you try to type or tap on the phone while it’s on a desk, it wobbles and clacks against the surface. You thought you were getting a sleek, flat device, but the data shows it’s an unstable object that can’t even lie flat. That’s not a small quirk; it’s a fundamental design flaw.
A Sound Test Comparison: Fold 7 vs. Fold 6 Speakers.
The sound of a downgrade.
You expect a new phone model to be better in every way. We put that to the test. We played the same audio clip on last year’s Fold 6 and the new Fold 7. The difference was immediately clear. The Fold 6 had a surprisingly full and rich sound. The Fold 7, in its quest for thinness, has noticeably tinnier and less powerful speakers. You expected an upgrade or at least the same quality, but a direct comparison proves this is one area where the new phone is objectively worse than the old one.
We Timed It: The Effort Required to Open the Fold 7 vs. Older Models.
Quantifying a feeling of frustration.
It “feels” like the Fold 7 is harder to open, but is it just in our heads? We set up a test. We timed how long it took multiple users, with one hand, to open the Fold 7 versus the Fold 6. The results were consistent: it took significantly longer, with more fumbling, to open the new model. The combination of a stiffer hinge and a thinner frame to grip isn’t just a feeling; it’s a measurable increase in friction for the user. You thought it was subjective, but the data proves it’s an objective downgrade.
The S-Pen Index: Ranking Every Foldable by Stylus Support.
The Fold 7’s fall from grace.
For years, the Galaxy Fold was the undisputed champion for power users because of one key feature: S-Pen support on the inner screen. It was the ultimate digital notepad. This year, to make the phone thinner, Samsung removed that feature entirely. We created an index, ranking all available foldables by their stylus capabilities. You’d expect Samsung’s flagship to be at the top, but the data shows the Fold 7 has now fallen to the bottom of the list for this crucial feature, a shocking retreat for a device once defined by it.
The “Crease Test”: Comparing the Fold 7 to Every Competitor.
Not all dents are created equal.
Every foldable has a crease, but they are not the same. We put the Fold 7 under direct light, side-by-side with its main competitors. The result is surprising. While the Fold 7’s crease is still a deep and noticeable channel, some other brands have managed to make theirs shallower and less distracting. You might think Samsung, as the market leader, would have the best technology, but a simple visual comparison shows that in this specific area, they are no longer at the head of the pack.
Why the ‘Stout Book’ Form Factor is Mathematically Better for Media.
It’s not opinion, it’s geometry.
Why does watching a video feel better on a wider foldable like the Oppo Find N2? It’s simple math. A standard video has a 16:9 aspect ratio. A wider, “stout book” screen is closer to that ratio than the Fold 7’s tall, skinny screen. This means less of the screen area is wasted on black bars. You’re utilizing a higher percentage of the pixels you paid for. You thought your preference for a wider phone was subjective, but the reality is it’s a more geometrically efficient design for entertainment.
Ranking the Trade-Offs: Is Better Image Quality Worth a Worse Phone Experience?
The ultimate cost-benefit analysis.
The Fold 7 has an improved camera system. But to get it, Samsung made the speakers worse, removed the S-Pen, created a massive camera wobble, and made the hinge harder to use. Let’s rank these trade-offs. We put a value on each feature gained and lost. Is a slightly better photo worth a phone that’s more annoying to use every single day? For most people, the logical conclusion is a resounding no. You thought you were getting an upgrade, but the analysis shows you’re paying a very high price for it.
The Tech Reviewer Paradox: Why So Few Use Foldables as Daily Drivers (A Poll).
The data behind the anecdotes.
You hear us say that most tech reviewers don’t use foldables personally. But is that just a feeling, or is it a fact? We polled 50 of our peers in the industry with one question: “Is a foldable your primary, personal smartphone?” The results were staggering. Over 90% said no. You might think we’re just outliers, but this data provides powerful evidence that even among the most enthusiastic and privileged users, the compromises of current foldables outweigh the benefits for daily life.
Projecting the Future: How Next Year’s Tech Solves This Year’s Problems.
The cavalry is coming.
Feeling disappointed by the Fold 7’s crease and compromises? There’s good news on the horizon. Leaks for next year’s foldable tech point to two key solutions: a new hinge design that allows for a wider, more media-friendly aspect ratio, and a flexible metal underlayer that all but erases the screen crease. You might feel like the foldable dream is failing, but a logical look at upcoming technology shows that the biggest complaints about this year’s phones are precisely what the industry is working to solve next.
What Samsung’s Marketing For the Fold 7 Gets Wrong About You.
They’re selling a phone to a person who doesn’t exist.
Watch a Samsung ad for the Fold 7. You’ll see a stylish architect reviewing blueprints, a stock trader managing portfolios, a creative genius juggling three apps. They are selling a dream of ultimate productivity. Now look at how you use your phone. You’re scrolling TikTok, texting your friends, watching YouTube. Samsung is marketing a powerful work machine to an audience that primarily wants a fun entertainment device. You feel like you’re using the phone wrong, but the reality is Samsung is marketing it to the wrong user.
The Psychology of Wanting a Foldable: Chasing a Feeling, Not a Feature.
You don’t want a folding phone, you want to feel like you’re from the future.
Why are we so obsessed with foldables, even when they’re full of compromises? It’s not about multitasking. It’s not about reading PDFs. It’s about the feeling. The act of unfolding a glass screen feels futuristic and cool. It’s a status symbol and a conversation starter. We’re chasing the feeling of living in the future, the same way people wanted a flying car. You think you’re making a logical decision based on features, but the reality is you’re making an emotional purchase based on a powerful, sci-fi fantasy.
If I Could Redesign the Galaxy Fold 7, Here’s What I’d Change.
My blueprint for the perfect foldable.
The Fold 7 is an engineering marvel, but a user experience mess. Here’s my redesign. First, I’d make it wider, like a passport, for better video viewing. Second, I’d shrink the camera bump and use that space to bring back the good speakers and S-Pen. Third, I’d add a small lip or notch to make it easier to open. You thought you just had to accept the flaws, but seeing this redesigned concept makes you realize a much better phone is possible, and it’s frustrating that we don’t have it.
The Anti-Review: A Video For Everyone Who Isn’t a Power User.
Finally, a review for the rest of us.
Every review of the Fold 7 talks about its productivity and multitasking. This is not that review. This is for the people who use their phone for fun. For the scrollers, the watchers, the gamers, the messagers. We’re not going to test multi-app workflows. We’re going to see how annoying the black bars are on Netflix. We’re going to see if the wobbly camera bump makes it hard to type a text on a table. You thought you were the only one who didn’t care about productivity. Welcome. You’re in the right place.
A Foldable for Your Dad vs. a Foldable for You.
The generational divide of phone use.
The Fold 7 is the perfect phone for your dad. He’d love the big screen for reading his emails and looking at spreadsheets. He wouldn’t mind the bad speakers or the black bars on videos because he doesn’t watch them. But for you? You need a device that’s great for media. You need good speakers. You need a screen shape that makes videos immersive. You thought one phone could be perfect for everyone, but the reality is the Fold 7 is a fantastic “dad phone,” and a deeply flawed “fun phone.”
The Unboxing Experience vs. The Two-Week Experience.
The slow death of the “wow” factor.
Day one with the Fold 7 is pure magic. You unbox it, and the thinness is breathtaking. The first time you unfold it, it feels like you’re holding a device from the year 2050. The “wow” factor is off the charts. But by day fourteen, the magic is gone. The “wow” has been replaced by the daily annoyance of the stiff hinge, the wobbly table presence, and the cramped video screen. You thought that initial feeling would last, but this is a perfect lesson in how a stunning first impression can be eroded by a frustrating user experience.
Before You Buy the Fold 7, Watch This 3-Minute Video.
The three biggest reasons this phone might not be for you.
You’re excited about the Fold 7. It looks amazing. But hold on. Before you spend your money, here are three things you need to know. One: Videos have huge black bars, so the screen isn’t as big as you think. Two: It’s surprisingly difficult to open, which gets old fast. Three: It has no S-Pen support, a huge step back for power users. If any of those are deal-breakers for you, we just saved you a lot of time and money. The hype is real, but so are the compromises.
The Oppo Find N2 in 2025: Why An Old Phone is Still Better Than The New Fold.
The forgotten king that still wears the crown.
It sounds crazy. How can a phone from years ago be better than the latest flagship? But when you place the old Oppo Find N2 next to the new Galaxy Fold 7, the truth is obvious. The Find N2’s shorter, wider design is infinitely more comfortable to use and vastly superior for watching videos. It proves that a smart design is timeless. You assume that “newest” always means “best,” but this surprising comparison shows that Samsung has been perfecting the wrong shape all along.
My Search For The Perfect Foldable Continues.
This isn’t the end of the story. It’s just a disappointing chapter.
After weeks of testing, it’s clear the Fold 7 isn’t the one. But that doesn’t mean the dream of a perfect foldable is dead. It just means we’re not there yet. This review isn’t a final verdict on the entire category; it’s just a progress report. We know next year will bring new designs and better tech. You might feel disappointed now, but framing this as one step in an ongoing journey keeps the excitement alive. The perfect foldable is out there. We just have to keep searching.
The Foldable Phone Litmus Test: Do You Open Apps Side-by-Side?
The one question that determines if this phone is for you.
Forget the specs, the reviews, the marketing. It all comes down to this one simple question: in your daily life, do you have a genuine, frequent need to view two applications on your phone screen at the exact same time? If your answer is an immediate and confident “no,” then you can stop considering this phone. You’ve just filtered out the one killer feature that justifies all of its compromises. You thought the decision was complicated, but it’s actually that simple. And that clarity is a huge relief.