I'm using Fold7 differently than I expected! Samsung made a brilliant move with the front display

I’m a fan of classic smartphones and have always approached foldables with skepticism. That changed a bit when I had the chance to use last year’s Fold6, but I was still happy to return to a classic phone. When my colleague Vašek, who reviewed it, handed me the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 a week ago, I didn’t expect it to convince me of the advantages of flexible displays, even though I was, of course, aware of its significant improvements.

The bigger surprise came when I realized how often I actually use it. After almost a week of testing, I offer you a look at what it’s like to live with a foldable phone in 2025 – without technical tables and marketing promises.

The phone that changed my habits

The first thing that surprised me was the fact that I use the Galaxy Z Fold7 folded in about 80% of cases. Why? Because Samsung finally made the front display wide enough (6.5″) with a more pleasant 21:9 aspect ratio. For writing messages, browsing social media, or quick searches, the outer screen is perfectly sufficient. Unlike older models, where the front panel was as narrow as a remote control, this time I don’t feel that the front display is compromised in any way.

The phone is surprisingly comfortable to hold when closed. Weighing 215 grams, it’s even lighter than the Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max. Samsung has truly perfected its lauded design – the phone is so thin that I often forget I’m holding a foldable. This is another step forward compared to previous generations, which felt more like a small book in your pocket.

However, extreme thinness also has its pitfalls. Unfolding the phone requires a certain degree of dexterity – I have to use my fingernail to open the device at all. And if you have thicker fingers, you might run into problems.

So when is it actually worth unfolding?

If I need to reply to a message, make a call, quickly browse social media, or capture a snapshot, I don’t unfold the phone, as I described above. However, during the time I’ve been testing foldable phones, I’ve gotten used to several scenarios where it pays off to work on the large screen.

In my case, this primarily involves working with emails and documents. Editing spreadsheets or writing longer emails is much more comfortable on the large display. The keyboard only takes up half of the screen, so you can still see what you’re typing and it’s easier to hit the keys.

Of course, YouTube, Netflix, Oneplay, and other streaming services also look great on the 8″ display, although it must be added in the same breath that the 6:5 aspect ratio causes empty spaces to remain on the sides when playing content. However, when placing the phone in “tent mode,” you don’t need to hold the device in your hands, which is another great feature that a normal phone without a special case won’t allow. When I’m having lunch and there’s no one opposite me, I place the phone on the table like this and play a video. I don’t have to awkwardly prop up the phone and waste time or nerves if it were to fall.

During group calls, I also appreciate the larger display, where more participants can be seen at once. Plus, again – you can put the phone down and don’t have to hold it, similar to a laptop.

The Fold7 is absolutely ideal for reading books or articles. As I described above, while the nearly square aspect ratio isn’t entirely ideal for video consumption, it’s phenomenal for reading and general text work. I myself used a Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 with a 3:2 aspect ratio for several years, and the difference between it and standard 16:10 laptops was vast. The same applies to the Fold when compared to a normal phone. On the large display, you see a much larger portion of an article, so you don’t have to constantly scroll, and it works similarly for supported social networks.

The problem is that some of them (like X) are not optimized for a larger display and simply stretch. With the growing foldable market, I hope developers will take notice and fix these – seemingly minor – issues soon.

I’ll also mention AI tools for editing photos or videos. Using them on a large display is more comfortable than on a standard phone. You naturally have a larger preview available, but also practically laid out controls.

The last scenario in which I use the Fold unfolded is navigation. If (like me) you don’t have the latest car with Android Auto, you’ll appreciate the Fold placed in your car’s holder. Navigation provides a wider area, but also a larger (and customized!) interface, making it easier to read and control.

One UI 8: a system that adapts

The new version of One UI 8 builds on its predecessor’s foundations but adds a number of improvements that you’ll appreciate in daily use. The system feels smoother, animations are more fluid, and the overall response is instantaneous, which I attribute to a combination of the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and optimizations in Android 16.

A small detail that pleased me is the ability to adjust screen splitting up to a 90:10 ratio – ideal when you need to monitor just one detail in one application (such as a sports match score) and work fully in the other.

Switching between the inner and outer displays is seamless. Apps quickly adapt to screen size changes and remember where you left off. It’s the smoothest implementation I’ve seen on foldable devices.

Is the Z Fold7 worth 53 thousand crowns?

That’s a million-dollar question – or in this case, a 53-thousand-crown question. I must admit that the Galaxy Z Fold7 convinced me of the advantages of foldable phones more than any previous model.

Personally, I see the greatest potential for professionals who are often on the go and need a productive device in a compact package. For them, the Z Fold7 can truly replace a phone and tablet combination. For average users, the Z Fold7 remains a luxury that, while pleasant, is hard to justify.

In any case, Samsung has shown that the direction it has taken makes sense. With each generation, foldable phones are becoming more practical and useful. If this trend continues, perhaps in a few years, we will perceive foldables as a standard format, not an alternative.

Do you use a foldable phone or are you considering one?