I Switched From iPhone to Galaxy Z Fold 7 for 2 Weeks – Here’s What Happened
▼ Summary
– The Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers a thin, lightweight design with a 6.5-inch cover display and an 8-inch folding screen, making it highly portable and convenient for switching between phone and tablet modes.
– It excels at multitasking and productivity, allowing multiple apps to run simultaneously on both the cover and inner screens, outperforming the iPhone in this regard.
– The device feels delicate and fragile due to its thinness and nearly all-screen design, requiring a protective case to enhance durability and user confidence.
– While it matches the iPhone 16 Pro in camera quality for most shots, it lacks the optical zoom range and performs poorly in low-light conditions, though it excels with selfies using the rear cameras.
– Despite its capabilities, the Fold 7 cannot fully replace an iPad Mini due to its squarish aspect ratio, limited multitasking efficiency for heavy tasks, and suboptimal media viewing experience with black bars.
Making the leap from an iPhone to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for two weeks revealed a device that blurs the line between smartphone and tablet, offering a glimpse into the future of mobile versatility. This experiment wasn’t just about swapping phones, it was about testing whether a single device could replace both my iPhone 16 Pro and my iPad Mini 7. The results were surprising, enlightening, and at times, frustrating.
From the moment I unboxed the Galaxy Z Fold 7, its design stood out. Gone are the days of bulky, awkward foldables. This model feels impressively thin and light, almost deceptively so. Holding it closed, it’s barely thicker than my iPhone, yet it unfolds into a spacious 8-inch display. The cover screen is now wide enough for comfortable typing, a huge improvement over earlier models that felt cramped and impractical. Carrying it daily, I often forgot I had a foldable in my pocket, something I couldn’t say about previous iterations.
But that sleek design comes with trade-offs. The squared-off edges, while modern-looking, can dig into your palm during extended use. More concerning is the persistent feeling of fragility. Despite Samsung’s advancements, I never shook the sense that I was handling something delicate. Adding a case like the Spigen Slim Armor Pro helped immensely, making it feel sturdier and more secure.
Where the Z Fold 7 truly shines is in multitasking and productivity. Even without unfolding it, the tall outer display allows two apps to run vertically, a feature I sorely missed when returning to my iPhone. Open it up, and the experience transforms. Running Chrome alongside Google Maps or drafting emails while referencing links felt natural and efficient. It’s like having a miniature workstation in your pocket.
Compared to the iPad Mini, however, the Fold 7 doesn’t always come out on top. The Mini’s slightly larger 8.3-inch screen and more spacious aspect ratio make it better for text-heavy tasks and media consumption. And while the Fold 7 supports multiple apps simultaneously, its squarish aspect ratio can make things feel cramped. The loss of S Pen support this year was also disappointing, especially for someone who uses a stylus for photo editing and note-taking.
For reading and gaming, the Z Fold 7 delivers a mixed bag. It’s excellent for comics and eBooks, offering a Kindle-like experience with the bonus of color and versatility. Gaming on the large screen is immersive for casual titles, and emulators like FullRoid bring retro games to life beautifully. But for more complex games like Civilization VI, the smaller, boxier screen felt limiting next to the iPad Mini’s broader canvas.
Media consumption proved unexpectedly underwhelming. The square aspect ratio means most videos play with significant black bars, negating much of the screen’s real estate. I often found myself watching content on the outer display instead, which defeated the purpose of unfolding it.
Camera performance is another area where the Z Fold 7 impresses. The triple-camera setup, 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto, produces images that rival the iPhone 16 Pro in good light. Low-light performance, however, still lags, with noticeable AI artifacts in challenging conditions. Where it truly excels is in selfies, thanks to the ability to use the rear cameras with the cover screen as a viewfinder.
Samsung’s AI integration sets the Z Fold 7 apart from the competition. Gemini is seamlessly woven into the user experience, allowing for intuitive screen sharing, contextual assistance, and even conversational help within messaging apps. It’s a level of AI utility that Siri simply can’t match today.
So, would I make the switch? If price were no object, the Z Fold 7 could easily replace my iPhone. It’s more versatile, more innovative, and often more fun to use. But as a complete replacement for both my iPhone and iPad Mini, it falls just short. The iPad still holds advantages in screen comfort, aspect ratio, and certain productivity tasks. For now, the dream of a single device that does it all remains just out of reach, but the Z Fold 7 brings us closer than ever before.
(Source: Tom’s Guide)
