I’ve followed foldables since day one, and Korean channel Tech-it just shook my faith in Samsung’s 500,000-fold claim. Their manual 200,000-fold marathon exposed real-world failures that Samsung’s lab tests don’t show — and if you’re thinking of buying a Z Fold 7, read this quick warning.
What broke — fast
- 6K–10K folds: Random reboots began — far below Samsung’s advertised durability.
- 46K folds: The hinge started creaking — a clear mechanical warning sign.
- 75K folds: A mysterious black liquid leaked from the hinge area.
- 175K folds: All speakers failed, rendering audio unusable.
Tech-it folded the phone by hand to simulate actual usage (varying pressure, temperature, grip) — not a machine’s repeatable force. That difference matters. Real people don’t fold phones perfectly every time, and Tech-it’s results suggest Samsung’s 500K claim may be based on ideal lab conditions, not messy human use.
Warranty and wallet risks
I dug into warranty reports: owners frequently face denials for screen or crease issues, and out-of-warranty repairs (or repeated inner-screen protector swaps) can push total ownership costs well above the initial $2K price. That turns what looks like a premium buy into an expensive gamble.
What buyers should do right now
- Wait if you can. The tech is improving fast; creaseless prototypes and next-gen hinges are on the roadmap.
- If you must buy: Get Samsung Care+ immediately, budget for screen/hinge servicing, use a rugged case, and treat the Fold as fragile tech, not a standard flagship.
- Treat it like a 2–3 year lease, not a decade device.
The near future (why waiting helps)
Creaseless display tech and improved hinge materials are already in development and demoed at trade shows. Samsung and competitors may solve the core durability issues within one or two generations — so holding off could save you money and stress.
One more thing to consider: beyond repairs and resale, your everyday peace of mind matters — if you rely on your phone for work calls, navigation, or photos from family events, the risk of sudden hardware failures (like random reboots or speaker loss) is more than an annoyance — it’s a productivity hit. If you decide to buy, pair the Fold 7 with a clear contingency plan: daily backups to the cloud, a reliable secondary phone for emergencies, and a budget line-item for expedited repairs. That way, you treat the Fold as the exciting but fragile piece of tech it currently is, rather than your sole lifeline.
