Most of us find a certain comfort in routine, its human nature. We build our work, our leisure and even our sense of productivity around the familiar. And for a long time for me, that has been Apple. My iPhone for the day-to-day, my iPad for media consumption and light creative projects and my MacBook for everything else. Together, they have formed a system that “just works”.
See, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 was never supposed to disrupt that. It was meant to be a review unit for a couple of weeks, an interesting side quest before returning to my usual setup. But two weeks later, my iPad has not left my desk. And that is not because the Fold 7 is a new flashy toy or gets everything right. It is because it has been quietly and consistently better for how I actually work.
First Impressions: When a Foldable Stops Feeling Like a Prototype
Foldables have always been the “look at me” devices of the smartphone world. They are futuristic, but often impractical. The Fold 7 changes that.
It is slimmer and lighter than any of its predecessors. At 8.9 mm when closed, 4.2 mm when open and just 215 g, it feels balanced in the hand and pocket. The re-engineered hinge makes it 26% thinner than the Fold 6 when folded, and that changes the entire experience. This no longer feels like carrying a pocket-sized experiment. It now feels like a phone you could comfortably use every day.
The 6.5-inch cover screen now has a 21:9 aspect ratio, which makes typing or scrolling feel natural instead of cramped. Flip it open and the 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display comes to life with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits that holds up even under the harshest South African midday sun. For the first time, a foldable does not make me feel like I am making any compromises.
The Shift
The first warning sign was a quiet one. I was on the couch, editing some photos, which is usually the kind of job save for the iPad. But on the Fold’s expansive screen, with split-view multitasking and Generative Edit ready to go, I cropped, removed distractions and fine-tuned colours without missing a beat. It was not that I chose the Fold over the iPad, it’s just that I simply never felt the need to switch.
The second sign came during a meeting recording. I tested Transcript Assist, expecting another “AI-lite” feature that sounds good in theory. Instead, it delivered a near-instant, neatly formatted transcript with no rewinds and no frantic note-taking. That is when I realised this was not just a new device in my rotation. It was starting to replace actual roles in my workflow.
Galaxy AI: The First Time AI Has Felt Like a Real Upgrade
In 2024, “AI” has been glued onto almost every tech product as a marketing trend. Too often, it has been hype over substance. But Galaxy AI on the Fold 7 feels different. It does not demand your attention as a novelty, but rather earns it through utility.
Transcript Assist has become my invisible assistant. Whether it is a meeting, an interview or a spontaneous brainstorm, it turns spoken words into clean, usable text. You do not think about how it is doing it. You just get the result you need.
Live Translate feels almost sci-fi in its simplicity. I had a call with a Chinese friend, and decided to put it to the test. Instead of my usual fumbling and awkward pauses when I pretend I can speak Chinese (Mandarin), I spoke in English and they saw their translation instantly. The conversation flowed for about a minute, with only a few minor errors due to background noise, but overall it did a stellar job.
Then there is Interpreter mode for face-to-face exchanges. Half-fold the device and each of you sees your own screen. As you speak, your words appear in the other person’s language. Offline packs make it just as handy when travelling or working in patchy signal zones.
And when you want to get hands-on, Generative Edit and Circle to Search are there. Remove or move objects in a photo and the AI fills in the gaps naturally, or circle anything on your screen to pull up instant results. It is the kind of functionality that becomes muscle memory.
Yes features like circle to search, AI photo editing and gemini are avaiable on other Android devices too, but it is Samsung’s implementation of it and the deep integration into OneUI that sets it apart. It gives a sense that these are not “party tricks” but actual features that remove friction. And once you experience it for yourself, going back feels like stepping down.
Day-to-Day Reality: Power, Cameras, Battery
Inside, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy with up to 16 GB RAM handles anything I throw at it. Gaming, multiple apps running side by side are all effortless. The Fold does not just keep up with the iPhone 16 Pro Max in raw performance, it surpasses it in multitasking flexibility.
The camera system includes a 200 MP main lens, 12 MP ultra-wide and 10 MP telephoto with 3× optical zoom. It captures detailed, vibrant shots, and low-light performance is impressively clean. It is not the zoom king like the S25 Ultra, but for everyday photography it is more than capable.
Battery life is strong but not marathon-grade. The 4,400 mAh cell will get you through a day comfortably, though prolonged multitasking and AI features can bring the finish line closer. Wired charging at 25 W hits 50% in about half an hour, with 15 W wireless and reverse charging for accessories. This is one area I would say Samsung should be doing better.
The Conclusion I Did Not See Coming
When the Fold 7 arrived, I expected to test it, write about it and put it back in the box. Instead, it has quietly taken over. My iPad is idle. My phone usage has shifted. The way I think about mobile productivity has changed.
It is not flawless and at close to 50k, It is expensive. Zoom is not Ultra-level and battery life and charging speeds could stretch further. But none of that changes the fact that this is the first foldable, that has made me stop thinking about it as just a “Foldable” and seriously think about it as my device of choice. Yes, the Honor Magic V5 will be making it’s South African debut in just over a month and I will be eager to see if it can dethrone the Galaxy Z Fold 7. But as it stands, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is Geekhub’s undisputed King of foldables.
Geekhub Score: 9.0/10
Pros: Slim, light and pocketable for a foldable. AI that adds genuine value. Unmatched multitasking. Gorgeous, bright displays. Flagship camera quality.
Cons: Pricey. Modest zoom compared to Ultra. Battery life is good but not the best in class.
