Samsung's latest clamshell phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 7, impresses with significant upgrades and a stunning design, though it stumbles slightly in one key area.
Key Improvements Over Its Predecessor
Right away, the Z Flip 7 shows its evolution from last year's Z Flip 6. It boasts a visibly smaller crease, a larger cover screen, a thinner overall design, and a bigger battery. These refinements make the new model feel like a substantial step forward.
The Star of the Show: The Immersive Inner Display
The most captivating feature is the massive 6.9-inch inner foldable screen. As the largest display on any Samsung phone besides the Galaxy Z Fold 7, it makes content feel incredibly immersive with lovely, vivid colors. It's perfect for:
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Endless social media sessions on TikTok and Instagram.
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Watching widescreen films.
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Multitasking with One UI 8's 90:10 split-screen tool.
The magic lies in how this large, bold screen unfurls from a device the size of a makeup compact. It’s a truly modern and impressive piece of engineering, far removed from the flip phones of the past.
The Versatile Cover Screen and New Hinge
When closed, the 4.1-inch cover screen is fantastic in its own right. It features new, clever animations for recording video, charging, or taking selfies, making efficient use of the extra space. However, its software functionality remains similar to the previous model's smaller screen.
A key hardware upgrade is the new hinge, which is nearly 30% smaller than before. This allows the phone to be flex-posed at nearly any angle, adding to its versatility for photos and videos.
The One Drawback: Battery Life
Despite the larger battery, the Z Flip 7's battery life is its lone disappointment. It consistently gets through a full day on a single charge, often ending with 15-20% left, but occasionally requires an early evening top-up. It didn't last noticeably longer than the Flip 6 in daily use. Furthermore, the phone can get warm easily during intensive tasks like filming video, gaming, or using Samsung DeX.
Pricing and Value
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at $1,100 with 256GB of storage—the same price as the Flip 6 but with double the storage. For those wanting to save, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE at $900 offers a less refined alternative (essentially a repackaged Flip 6). Various deals from Samsung and carriers also help soften the price tag.
Verdict
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the most fully realized version of Samsung's flip phone vision since the original. It’s a thin, cutting-edge device that folds a brilliant, large screen into a tiny package. It impressed in nearly every way, from its design and display to its new hinge, leaving battery life as the only area that didn't quite meet hopes for a bigger improvement.
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