Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has already listed its name as the world’s thinnest foldable phone; however, it seems to be a disadvantage since its ultra-slim design makes the device difficult to open.
Last month, Samsung launched its seventh-generation foldable phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7, at the Unpacked event. The device features a super-slim design with measurements, a smarter camera, more advanced AI tools, and many more features that a flagship-level phone should have to deliver an ultra-like experience.
Thinner, But Not Better? Galaxy Z Fold 7’s Repairability Takes a Hit
Recently, a study confirmed that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the world’s thinnest foldable phone, with a measurement of 8.82 mm; it seems a victory for the company but a disadvantage for users. The folks at iFixit took a closer look inside the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and unfortunately, things are not looking great for users to fix the phone on their own.
The ultra-slim design of the device makes things tough for users to repair the phone on their own, even for tiny damage, as opening it up is a real pain. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 teardown video shows there are two batteries inside, one on each half, and to remove them, one has to remove tons of tiny screws, cables, and even the charging port assembly.
Coming to the display, removing the outer display could be worse, as it usually causes the back panel to come off by mistake, whereas the inner display is the most fragile and expensive part of the phone, which is even harder to work with. Removing the displays needs a lot of heat and suction, and the bezel around the display is glued on so tightly that it easily tears.
Noticeably, the iFixit team destroyed the bezel while trying to remove it, and they advised attempting this only if the screen is already broken. The teardown video concludes that the repairability of the phone is quite poor, and on a scale of 10, it only gets 3 points.
