Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7: 25W Fast Charging Remains a Major Drawback, but Thickness Significantly Improved

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7: 25W Fast Charging Remains a Major Drawback, but Thickness Significantly ImprovedSamsung's next-generation foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold7 (SM-F9660) and Galaxy Z Flip7 (SM-F7660), have received 3C certification, entering the final stages before market launch. Surprisingly, these highly anticipated flagship models continue Samsung's traditionally conservative approach to charging technology, offering only 25W fast charging with the EP-TA800 charger

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7: 25W Fast Charging Remains a Major Drawback, but Thickness Significantly Improved

Samsung's next-generation foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold7 (SM-F9660) and Galaxy Z Flip7 (SM-F7660), have received 3C certification, entering the final stages before market launch. Surprisingly, these highly anticipated flagship models continue Samsung's traditionally conservative approach to charging technology, offering only 25W fast charging with the EP-TA800 charger. This charging speed is not only an upgrade from previous models but is also on par with budget phones, severely mismatched with their flagship positioning and becoming one of their biggest drawbacks.

Recall Samsung's Galaxy S25 series launched earlier this year; its three models offered 25W, 45W, and 45W fast charging, respectively again failing to significantly improve fast-charging capabilities. This conservative fast-charging strategy across multiple Samsung product lines raises questions about the company's investment and R&D efforts in this area. In an increasingly competitive mobile phone market, especially with other manufacturers introducing 100W or even higher-powered fast charging, Samsung's 25W offering appears significantly outdated and struggles to meet users' demands for rapid charging, negatively impacting the user experience.

Beyond the disappointing fast charging, these foldable phones also lack satellite communication capabilities. The 3C certification information lists both the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 as "5G digital mobile phones," indicating the absence of satellite connectivity. It's worth noting that Samsung does possess satellite communication technology; the Galaxy S25 Ultra has successfully implemented this feature in collaboration with China Telecom. Therefore, the omission in the Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 isn't a technological limitation but rather a strategic decision by Samsung, disappointing users who anticipated this feature. With satellite communication becoming a standard feature in high-end flagship phones, Samsung's choice puts it at a competitive disadvantage.

Despite shortcomings in fast charging and satellite communication, the Galaxy Z Fold7 shows significant improvements in design and craftsmanship. Its closed thickness is approximately 9.5mm, reducing to a mere 4.5mm when unfolded. Importantly, this includes the camera bump; excluding it, the actual thickness is very close to 9mm. Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is noticeably thinner, offering a lighter and more portable feel.

The unfolded dimensions are 158.4 x 143.1mm, slightly larger than its predecessor a slight increase in length and a 1cm increase in width. While the inner screen's visual impact may be minimal, the significantly wider outer screen boasts a ratio closer to that of a standard smartphone, potentially offering a different user experience for those who frequently use the outer display. Noteworthy is that despite the significant reduction in thickness, the Galaxy Z Fold7 reportedly maintains a 4400mAh battery. Without faster charging, maintaining this capacity suggests Samsung prioritized battery size even with a thinner design. Therefore, while 25W charging is concerning, the 4400mAh battery partially compensates, ensuring reasonable battery life. However, this doesn't change the fact that 25W charging is lagging behind in flagship devices.

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 achieve impressive thinness but underperform in crucial features like fast charging and satellite communication, falling behind competitors. The 25W fast charging is the biggest drawback, reflecting Samsung's conservative strategy. While balancing thickness and battery capacity, the lack of fast-charging upgrades and satellite communication will impact market competitiveness. Whether these phones gain consumer acceptance remains to be seen. Samsung needs to reconsider how to balance thin designs with consumer demands for fast charging and satellite communication in future products to maintain its leading position. Continuing its conservative approach will only widen the gap with competitors. Especially in the fiercely competitive foldable phone market, Samsung must embrace new technologies to meet evolving consumer needs and maintain its standing in the high-end smartphone market. Otherwise, its foldable phone market share might suffer further. Samsung's future product strategy will determine whether it can retain its leadership in the foldable phone market; this impacts not only market share but also its brand image and future development in the high-end smartphone sector.