Samsung’s annual foldable refresh features a trio of gadgets this yr. Whereas the Z Fold 7 comes with a top-tier processor and cameras, the Z Flip 7 carries over many technical particulars from its predecessor. In reality, probably the most vital improve this yr is a extra expansive entrance show, or Flex Window, as the corporate prefers to name it.
Samsung has additionally, in some way, added an excellent larger battery to a slimmer foldable, which is technically spectacular. Nevertheless, the corporate made minimal software program additions and modest enhancements in locations. The upgrades are good, however are there sufficient of them?
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Samsung has caught as much as certainly one of its few foldable rivals by considerably growing the entrance show from 3.4 inches to 4.1 inches. The 2 digital camera cutouts are the one issues interrupting this vibrant, vivid show.
Regardless of larger screens (and battery), the Flip 7 can also be thinner than final yr’s mannequin. It measures 6.4mm (0.25 inches) thick, down from 6.9mm (0.27 inches). That's equal to the Galaxy S25 edge, the place the main promoting level is its thinness. I shouldn’t should say this, however that thickness doubles while you fold it away: Samsung says it’s 13.7mm (0.54 inches) when closed. Nevertheless you measure it, that is the thinnest Flip but.
The Flex Window now has a 120Hz refresh price, can attain peak brightness ranges of two,600 nits (matching the S25 Extremely) and options the thinnest bezel but (1.25mm) of any Samsung smartphone show. The brightness improve is a vital improve on a display screen that’s used primarily to look at your system from throughout a desk or outdoors in daylight. Samsung stated it was in a position to additional prolong the show to the sides by making use of a water-resistant coating on parts beneath the AMOLED show. This meant much less bezel is required across the display screen’s perimeter.
Samsung additionally expanded the foldable’s major display screen to six.9 inches — a notable step up from the earlier mannequin’s 6.4 inches. The corporate additionally correctly shifted nearer to a extra typical smartphone show ratio of 21:9. Whereas it’s not fairly the identical as, say, the Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16, video content material now matches higher.
Earlier Z Flips had extra elongated screens, making it laborious to succeed in the higher corners when utilizing one hand. Whereas the Z Flip 7 has a greater facet ratio, it’s additionally larger, which sadly means it has the identical problem. If Samsung had modified the facet ratio whereas holding the display screen measurement, it may need struck the ergonomic candy spot.
Not for the primary time, Samsung says it’s additional strengthened the Flip's hinge mechanism. Whereas I can't attest to its longevity, the Flip 7 does shut with a beefier 'thunk' than its predecessors.
I like that it takes just a little bit extra energy to open as a result of it makes the entire system really feel extra stable. In the event you’re hoping that is the yr the place the show crease disappears, I’m afraid that isn’t taking place. For individuals who have by no means owned a foldable although, the Flip 7’s crease is basically unnoticeable.
The cameras
The story of this yr's Flip's cameras? Extra of the identical. The Flip 7 has the identical 50-megapixel f/1.8 main setup with optical picture stabilization (OIS) and a 12MP ultra-wide lens with a 123-degree discipline of view. There’s a 10MP digital camera on the within, too, however with the Flip’s improved entrance display screen, you actually needs to be utilizing the first digital camera duo.
The perfect photos come from well-lit scenes. Samsung’s Evening Mode is just a little aggressive, but it surely’s nonetheless nice for nighttime pictures, even when it leaves an over-processed look on pores and skin tones and faces. The Flip 7 defaults to 12.5-megapixel photos, however you possibly can change to 50MP stills if you’d like all of the element — and you’ve got a gentle hand. There’s no devoted telephoto digital camera, which suggests the zoom is proscribed to a 2x crop, hindering the Z Flip 7’s versatility. As soon as once more: if you’d like a foldable with the perfect cameras, you’ll should go along with the Fold collection.
In regard to video seize, the Flip 7 can file video in 10-bit HDR, up from 8-bit, for extra shade accuracy and element. And you may nonetheless maintain the Z Flip 7 like a retro camcorder, which stays much more pleasurable than it needs to be.
Software program
Regardless of the larger display screen, Samsung hasn’t actually advanced its Flex Window's software program this yr. There are a couple of enhancements, although. When utilizing the entrance show to take selfies and movies, interface icons and mode buttons will float across the show to get out of the best way of what it detects you’re making an attempt to take photographs of. In the event you’re wanting to make use of a particular filter in your pictures, the Z Flip 7 can present a reside preview of every filter earlier than you apply them.
Two different software program additions to the Flip collection are the Now Bar and Now Temporary, launched on this yr’s S25 collection. The Now Bar is Samsung’s spin on the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, displaying pertinent ongoing or time-sensitive info that isn’t fairly a notification, however one thing you would possibly wish to find out about. This contains health metrics, climate or reside updates from ride-share apps like Uber.
You may faucet into the Now Bar with out opening the cellphone, and also you received't should unfold it in case you’re seeking to work together with Google’s Gemini Reside both. It’s one other Android characteristic that appears well-suited to foldables, as you possibly can discuss to Gemini with minimal bodily interplay on the Z Flip 7.
To make use of most different apps, you’ll nonetheless want to put in the Multistar launcher (which is made by Samsung) with a purpose to view and use fundamental software program like Gmail and Chrome. That is the workaround for now, as Samsung hasn’t expanded the authorized record of six apps which are allowed to run on the Z Flip 7’s Flex Window — a brief record which bafflingly contains Netflix.
Battery life and efficiency
Regardless of being even slimmer than final yr’s mannequin, the Flip 7 has a 4,300mAh battery that’s 300mAh bigger than its predecessor’s. That, together with a brand new processor (its home made 3nm Exynos 2500), has led to a leap in longevity.
In our normal battery rundown exams, the Flip 7 performed steady video for 18 and a half hours. That’s a giant soar from the 13-hour rundown I received from the Flip 6. I used to be so stunned I ran the check two extra occasions to substantiate and received comparable outcomes.
The brand new chip by no means felt notably sluggish, both, whether or not I used to be gaming, utilizing Galaxy AI options or finishing different taxing actions. That stated, the cellphone would get heat, each in my hand and in my pocket, throughout digital camera testing and location-based duties, like utilizing Google Maps and CityMapper.
In my day-to-day use, with heavy testing, I’d get via a stable day and a half earlier than I had to consider recharging. Sadly, the Galaxy Z Flip 7's wired charging speeds nonetheless high out at 25W, which Samsung has the gall to name Tremendous Quick Charging. It’s the identical pace because the Z Flip 6 (and the bottom S25), however when different telephones are utilizing 45W cost speeds (or increased), it’s just a little underwhelming, particularly on a premium system like this.
Wrap-up
By refreshing the design and additional slimming down the Z Flip, Samsung has made its smaller foldable simpler to deal with. On the identical time, it’s achieved an engineering marvel by squeezing in bigger screens and a extra substantial battery. Nevertheless, sure points of the Flip 7 are missing, most notably the cameras, which haven’t been modified since final yr.
Samsung additionally must put extra work into its Flex Window. Whereas the flexibility to make use of most apps on the smaller entrance show is right here, it’s nonetheless a fussy implementation and most of them aren’t tailor-made for the tinier display screen. There’s untapped potential right here and the Z Flip 7 doesn’t push its class of foldables ahead by a lot.
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