[Hands-on Review] "The Friendly Large-Screen Galaxy Z Fold7: Impressive, But AI Still Not 100% Reliable"

Thinner and Lighter Than Its Predecessor... Enhanced Portability
Solve Everyday Questions and Problems with Gemini
Erase and Generate Desired Subjects in Photos

Original photo taken with Galaxy Z Fold7 (left) and a photo containing sculptures generated by artificial intelligence (AI) using the sketch conversion feature.

To summarize my impressions after using Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold7, which will be officially released on July 25, in daily life: the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and the large display has significantly enhanced its functionality. The device is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, effectively serving as a tablet PC that fits comfortably in your pocket.

By pressing and holding the button on the right side, I launched Google's AI, Gemini. You can ask questions or make requests using voice or text, and you can also select a photo or file to ask questions about it. As a test, I asked, "Can you guess where this is?" and uploaded a photo. The AI was able to deduce the neighborhood by reading small signs or placards in the picture. When I showed it a photo of the entrance to a restaurant in Japan that I visited on a business trip in 2019, the AI used Google search to accurately provide the name and address of the establishment.

In the Gemini application, clicking the "Research" button and requesting an answer yielded a detailed, report-style response. When I asked for a 3-day, 2-night travel itinerary, it created a detailed schedule suggesting which places to visit at specific times. It was impressive to see that the content was compiled based on as many as 78 domestic and international websites. The AI also offered various alternatives based on preferences or themes such as gourmet food, history, and entertainment, and even provided tips on currency exchange and transportation information.

I was also very satisfied with the ability to freely edit photos. Not only could I use an eraser tool to seamlessly remove unwanted objects, but I could also create new ones. By drawing shapes like stars or snowmen with my finger in empty spaces in a photo, impressive sculptures were generated. However, while the Fold7 promotional video showed that you could use AI to change the color of a chair in a photo to your liking, when I tried this feature on the actual Fold7, a message appeared stating, "Image editing is not available in your region yet."

Although it has improved significantly compared to before, hallucinations still occurred. For example, when I opened the Musinsa website and displayed a window with several ball cap products, then instructed Gemini Live to "recommend a standout ball cap," it suggested a pink women's ball cap. Unfortunately, however, the price it provided did not match the actual price.

In terms of usability, perhaps because I am accustomed to bar-type smartphones, I still found the process of opening and closing the phone with force somewhat cumbersome. However, I was satisfied when using the large display to take photos, read e-books, or watch videos. The 4.2mm thickness and 215g weight when unfolded are also major improvements over the previous model. Although the battery capacity (4400mAh) is the same as its predecessor, I did not experience any inconvenience during use.