Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is the Galaxy Z Flip 6 with Exynos horsepower, which makes for a solid enough match day-to-day. Unfortunately, the $899 price tag seriously drags things down, while Samsung's cover screen software still lags behind rivals.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Flip way back in 2020, and it’s lingered around the $1,000 mark ever since. We got our first hint of more affordable flip phones when Motorola started to launch cheaper Razr entries, followed by offerings from brands like nubia and TECNO on the global market. But our prayers for a more affordable Galaxy Z Flip phone went unanswered.
Now, Samsung has finally launched the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE alongside the more expensive Galaxy Z Flip 7. However, after testing the Flip 7 FE for a week or so, I’m sad to say my prayers for a more affordable Z Flip that I can fully enjoy using haven’t been answered yet.
You’ve seen this phone before, for the most part
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
I only had to get my hands on the phone for a few seconds during the initial press briefing to realize that the Flip 7 FE is effectively the Galaxy Z Flip 6 in terms of design. In fact, a Samsung representative told me at the time that it was using the Z Flip 6 “chassis.” That’s not a lie, as the dimensions are identical to last year’s Flip phone. It even has the same 187-gram weight as the Z Flip 6.
This also means the phone has the same folder-shaped cover screen and a near-identical 6.7-inch folding OLED panel as the Z Flip 6. The 22:9 aspect ratio means the main screen still feels a little too tall and narrow for my liking, even compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and vivo X Fold 5. The cover screen might be smaller than the Z Flip 7’s outer display, but it’s large enough for my liking. You’ll sometimes need to type on this screen, and while it’s an unsurprisingly cramped experience, it also wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
The Flip 7 FE is effectively the Galaxy Z Flip 6 in terms of design.
The shared design extends to durability as well. Expect an Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on the cover screen, and an IP48 rating. Samsung says the Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 have 50% thicker ultra-thin glass as well for improved foldable screen protection. But I’m guessing the FE model didn’t get this upgrade. Then again, there’s no hiding the fact that folding screens can be damaged by a firm press of your fingernail.
In any event, I’m not really upset to see Samsung recycling the same design as last year’s phone or the Z Flip 5. This is supposed to be a cheaper Flip phone anyway.
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