According to Android Authority owners of the Z Fold 7 have taken to Reddit to post pictures of the damage, which looks suspiciously like the same issue that plagued the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

The problem doesn’t seem tied to a specific colour, nor are these users with dodgy third-party kit. One of them claims they’ve only ever used a 25W official Samsung charger, which should rule out any sketchy aftermarket accessories.

Samsung already has a support page for the Z Fold 6 admitting that a “poorly grounded third-party charger” can corrode the anodised aluminium finish thanks to electrical leakage. This is not exactly comforting, especially given that the latest phone seems to be doing the same thing with a supposedly approved charger.

That points to the possibility that the issue lies in the anodisation process itself, which is clearly not holding up to everyday use. Never mind the premium price tag.

The company’s advice, predictably, is to use only official Samsung chargers but when their own gear doesn’t stop the flaking it’s hard not to see this as a bigger design problem.

Given the Z Fold 7 launched only in July and is already drawing paint complaints, it’s not a great look for Samsung’s flagship foldable line. Particularly when the same flaw showed up in last year’s model and still hasn’t been sorted.

For a phone costing nearly $2,000 in 2025, punters probably expect the paint job to outlast a packet of crisps.