When Samsung launches new foldable phones, most people who read sites like Android Authority are only really interested in the Fold model — the ultra-expensive one that opens like a book. However, the foldable that sells the most is the Flip model — the smaller, cheaper design that opens like a clamshell. This year is no different, as the eyes of the internet seem to be exclusively on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which got its first significant design refresh in years and is positioned to be competitive against Chinese-made foldables, finally.
Don’t let the Fold steal all the thunder, though. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 also launched today, and it similarly received a significant design refresh. It looks better than ever. Once again, this one will likely sell in numbers three times higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, so it’s a very important phone for Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Hot or Not? 31 votes Hot 61 % Not: 39 %
I had the opportunity to use the Galaxy Z Flip 7 for a bit during Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in Brooklyn. While it was immediately obvious that this phone is the best-designed Flip that Samsung has ever made, some of the company’s decisions surrounding it made me uneasy. Is Samsung taking this line in the right direction, or is it veering off the rails?
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Largest ever Flex Window • 6.9-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X folding screen • 7 years of updates MSRP: $1,099.00 Melds Galaxy AI with the new edge-to-edge FlexWindow With a 6.9-inch main display and a 4.1-inch FlexWindow outer display, the Samsung Galaxy Flip 7 focuses on putting AI smarts in your pocket. Measuring just 13.74mm thick when folded, it's the slimmest Z Flip phone yet. Packed with a 50MP camera and a suite of AI tools, Samsung calls the Z Flip 7 a "pocket-sized selfie studio." See price at Amazon See price at Samsung See price at Amazon Save $320.00
This feels like peak Galaxy Z Flip design
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
The cover display on Galaxy Z Flip phones — officially called the Flex Window — has always been a bit weird. Originally, it was just a small rectangle with the most basic of information and usability. Then Samsung made it slightly bigger, but it still felt like an add-on rather than a true display feature. Eventually, Samsung expanded it, making it a strange, folder-shaped display that was certainly more usable, but felt awkward, even on the most recent Galaxy Z Flip 6. While this progression was happening, competitors had jumped ahead and gone all out by making the entire top half of the phone a display (see the Motorola Razr Ultra for a great example of this).
Samsung has finally made the cover display go edge-to-edge, and it looks and feels amazing.
Well, Samsung has finally thrown caution to the wind and copied Motorola. The Galaxy Z Flip 7’s cover display now goes edge-to-edge, with only the two exterior camera lenses obstructing the view. Honestly, I can’t believe it took Samsung so long to do this. Was it waiting to see if Motorola faced pushback or durability complaints? I’m not really sure what the delay was for, but I’m glad we’ve made it to this point.
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