GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
I’ve gone back to the Galaxy Z Flip 7 several times over the last year, and I’ve never fallen in love with the phone. It’s mind-numbing, as Samsung should be able to run laps around Motorola on paper. The company has excellent hardware, fantastic software support, and an aggressive presence in carrier stores — everything it needs to beat Moto’s Razr lineup.
Still, the results paint a different picture, and the Motorola Razr series remains a sales hit — and the phone I want more often in my pocket.
It’s why, even though I don’t usually give much credit to rumors on Twitter, I’m more apt to believe the rumblings that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will be Samsung’s last clamshell foldable phone. I’ve had the Galaxy Z Flip 7 for almost a year, and there are clear reasons why Samsung might hang it up.
Are you planning to buy the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8? 30 votes Yep, I love Samsung foldables. 37 % No, Samsung doesn't do enough with the Flip. 63 %
I want to be hooked on a feeling
Stephen Radochia / Android Authority
Clamshell foldables are as much about vibes as they are about specs. There’s never going to be a world where an Exynos 2500 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and a 4,300mAh battery can justify an $1,100 price tag, so it’s the user experience that has to cover that gap. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 never did that for me.
I don’t want any confusion — the Galaxy Z Flip 7 has been a solid smartphone. I’ve had zero complaints about the Exynos 2500 chipset, and One UI 8.5 has been excellent on my device. Samsung’s support is top-notch, and the hinge and hardware are sturdy — I have little doubt the Galaxy Z Flip 7 would last through years of folds. It feels exactly like Samsung’s other flagship offerings, but that’s the problem.
Few people actually need a clamshell foldable. They don’t have the best cameras. They compromise on battery life, and there are still durability concerns with the inner screen. So any foldable needs to be more than the sum of its parts to compel us to buy. Samsung has never understood what that secret formula is, and it’s why the Galaxy Z Flip 7 never landed with me.
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