The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 just dropped, and honestly, it feels like Samsung finally listened to what people have been asking for. After years of flip phones that looked cool but left you wanting more, this latest version might actually be the one that convinces you to make the switch.
If you’ve been on the fence about foldable phones, this could be your moment. Samsung packed some serious upgrades into both the regular Z Flip 7 and the more affordable FE version, and the changes go way beyond just making things look prettier.
What You’re Actually Paying For
Pricing That Makes Sense (Mostly)
Here’s some good news: Samsung kept the Galaxy Z Flip 7 at the same $1,099 price point as last year. That’s refreshing when everything else seems to be getting more expensive. You get 256GB of storage right out of the gate, and you can pick from four colors that actually look distinct – Blue Shadow, Coralred, Jetblack, and Mint.
The Z Flip 7 FE comes in at $899, which sounds great until you realize it only gives you 128GB of storage and just two color options (black or white). The $200 difference between the two models feels a bit tight when you consider what you’re giving up with the FE version.
Both phones are available for pre-order now, with general availability starting July 25th.
The Design Changes You’ll Actually Notice
That Outer Screen is a Game Changer
The most obvious upgrade is the outer display, which Samsung calls the Flex Window. It jumped from 3.4 inches to 4.1 inches, and the difference is immediately noticeable. The screen now wraps around the camera area and stretches almost to the edges, making it feel more like a proper mini-phone rather than just a notification screen.
This isn’t just about bragging rights – that extra screen real estate makes the phone genuinely more useful when it’s closed. You can actually get stuff done without having to flip it open every time.
Build Quality and Durability
Samsung claims their new Amor FlexHinge is more durable than before. The snap action definitely feels more solid and responsive, though you can still see the crease where the main screen folds. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s worth knowing it’s still there.
The phone itself is slightly wider than the Z Flip 6, with corners that are a bit less rounded. These changes are subtle – you probably wouldn’t notice unless you had both phones side by side.
Display Quality That Doesn’t Disappoint
Inner Screen Performance
The main 6.9-inch display delivers exactly what you’d expect from a premium Samsung phone. Colors pop, viewing angles are excellent, and everything looks sharp. When you’re watching videos in landscape mode, you’ll get black bars on the sides due to the phone’s narrower design, but you can pinch to expand the content to fill the screen.
The crease is still visible at certain angles, but it’s not nearly as distracting as you might think, especially compared to book-style foldables.
Making the Most of the Outer Display
While the larger Flex Window is great, there’s still one frustrating limitation – it doesn’t run full Android apps natively like some competitors do. You can work around this by downloading Samsung’s Good Lock app, but it’s an extra step that feels unnecessary in 2025.
That said, the widget customization options are extensive, and many Android 16 apps are better optimized for different screen sizes now.
Camera Capabilities for Real-World Use
Same Hardware, Better Results
On paper, the camera setup looks identical to last year – a 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide. But Samsung updated their ProVisual Engine and added 10-bit HDR video support, which should translate to better real-world performance.
The standout feature is how the flip design makes this phone perfect for content creators. You can use the superior rear cameras for selfies by using the outer screen as a viewfinder. This gives you much better image quality than typical front-facing cameras.
New Camera Tricks Worth Trying
Auto Zoom with Flex Cam is genuinely useful – the phone automatically switches between cameras and adjusts framing to keep everyone in the shot. It’s perfect for group photos or when you’re recording yourself and moving around.
The camera also offers extensive manual controls and shooting modes, including portrait video and pro video options that give you more creative control.
Performance and Battery Life Reality Check
The Exynos Question Mark
Here’s where things get interesting. Samsung ditched Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips for their own Exynos processors – the 2500 in the regular Z Flip 7 and the 2400 in the FE version. This is a significant change that could impact performance compared to competitors using the latest Snapdragon chips.
Initial impressions suggest the phone runs smoothly, but real-world testing will determine if Samsung’s chips can match the performance standards people expect.
Battery Life Gets a Boost
The battery capacity jumped from 4,000mAh to 4,300mAh in the Z Flip 7. That might not sound like much, but every bit helps with flip phones, which have historically struggled with all-day battery life.
Charging speeds remain the same at 25W wired charging, which feels slow compared to some competitors but should still get you topped up reasonably quickly.
Software Features That Actually Matter
AI Integration Done Right
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 includes Samsung’s latest Galaxy AI features, but the most impressive is the multimodal AI functionality. You can use Gemini Live with the camera, essentially creating an AI assistant that can see and interact with the world around you.
This feels especially natural on a flip phone – it’s like having a smart assistant in your pocket that you can easily pull out and show things to.
Finally Getting Samsung DeX
After years of requests, Samsung DeX support finally arrives with the Z Flip 7. This opens up productivity possibilities that weren’t available before, letting you connect to external displays and use the phone more like a desktop computer.
The Z Flip 7 FE misses out on Samsung DeX, which might be a deciding factor for some users.
Should You Make the Flip?
Who This Phone Is Really For
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 feels like Samsung finally figured out what people want from a flip phone. The larger outer screen, improved cameras, better battery life, and Samsung DeX support address most of the major complaints from previous generations.
Content creators will love the camera flexibility, and the AI features add genuine utility rather than just gimmicky extras. The flip form factor remains perfect for people who want something more compact than traditional smartphones.
The FE Dilemma
The Z Flip 7 FE is harder to recommend. While $200 less expensive, it feels too similar to last year’s Z Flip 6 and lacks some key features like Samsung DeX. The limited storage and color options don’t help its case either.
Bottom Line
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 represents the biggest leap forward for the flip phone series in years. While questions remain about the Exynos processor performance, the overall package feels much more complete than previous generations.
If you’ve been waiting for flip phones to mature beyond the novelty phase, this might be the moment to jump in. The improvements feel substantial rather than incremental, and the price staying the same makes it easier to justify.