The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 foldable has been introduced with a slew of enhancements, however one main characteristic has been dropped completely.
Whereas we’re digging the Fold 7’s new slimline design and improved digital camera, these upgrades seem to have come at a price.
In what Samsung tells us is a space-saving measure, Samsung has dropped S Pen compatibility altogether.
Slim proposition
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures simply 8.9mm thick when closed. That’s an enormous enchancment on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 12.1mm.
We’re a greater than 26% discount in thickness by our estimation (OK, by a web based percentage-calculation device).
This brings Samsung again into competition with the Oppos and Honors of this world. The Honor Magic V5, specifically, has been introduced with an 8.8mm closed thickness, so the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is true on its tail.
Throw in a a lot improved digital camera system – the Galaxy Z Fold 7 provides the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely’s fabulous 200MP essential digital camera to the package deal – and Samsung was each drastically decreased inside area and a drastically elevated invoice of supplies.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
One thing’s gotta give
One thing needed to give, and that one thing seems to be S Pen assist.
In eliminating the digitiser layer essential to allow to Samsung’s stylus to function on the show, Samsung has saved area, to not point out cash. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 prices precisely the identical as its predecessor right here within the UK, which nearly appears like a value reduce in in the present day’s economic system.
To be honest, this transfer was considerably predictable. Late final 12 months, Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold SE in its native South Korea. This Particular Version was basically a thinned-out Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.
With a purpose to get that skinny new kind issue, Samsung needed to drop S Pen compatibility from the package deal. The writing was on the wall for the S Pen from that time.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Goodbye S Pen, you’ll be missed (sort of)
To a sure diploma, it’s disappointing to see S Pen compatibility stripped out. It’s by no means good to see options taken away reasonably than added, irrespective of how out of date they could have change into. Apple’s 3D Contact cull with the iPhone 11 nonetheless stings to at the present time.
There’s additionally a case to be made that Samsung’s S Pen makes extra sense on the Galaxy Z Fold vary than it does on the Galaxy S Extremely. It gives a a lot larger canvas, in spite of everything, and everyone knows that styluses and tablets are a match made in heaven.
However when it’s in service of fixing a elementary flaw with a product’s kind issue, it’s a lot simpler to swallow. For many individuals, Samsung’s foldables had been just too unwieldy to be usable day after day.
In addition to which, Samsung clearly has the information at hand, and S Pen compatibility clearly wasn’t a generally used characteristic on the Fold vary.
In fact, that will effectively have modified if the corporate had chosen to combine the S Pen correctly and bundled one in with each Fold, like with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely. But it surely appears now we’ll by no means know.
