Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 7, featuring a sleeker design, enhanced hardware, and an emphasis on productivity with its expansive display. However, potential users will likely be curious about the device’s battery life and charging capabilities, areas where foldable phones have historically lagged behind traditional smartphones. Regarding battery life, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 comes equipped with an optimized battery that utilizes advanced Galaxy AI for background efficiency. This is a notable upgrade as the device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, promising improved performance per watt and enhanced power management through AI assistance.
This suggests that while raw battery capacity may not have significantly increased, efficiency has likely improved. In comparison to the Z Fold 6, which averaged around 5 hours and 33 minutes of mixed usage in testing, the Z Fold 7 could achieve closer to 6 hours of usage. Samsung claims the device can support up to 24 hours of video playback, a marginal improvement from the Z Fold 6’s 23 hours. The charging specifications for the Z Fold 7 remain largely unchanged from its predecessors.
It offers 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging (Fast Wireless Charging 2.0), and 4.5W reverse wireless charging (Wireless PowerShare). Full charging will take approximately 75 to 85 minutes, with the device reaching 50% in roughly 30 minutes. This charging speed lags behind some competing foldables that offer much faster options. The Z Fold 7 does include reverse wireless charging, allowing users to share power with other devices such as Galaxy Buds or smartwatches at a limited output of 4.5W.
However, this feature serves more as a convenient option rather than a daily solution for charging. Users will need to purchase a charger separately, as none is included in the box. The Z Fold 7 is compatible with USB Power Delivery PPS chargers rated at 25W or higher and recommends using a USB-C to USB-C cable rated for 3A. This offers the flexibility to use reputable third-party chargers, which is an advantage over some competing brands.