Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a big upgrade over its predecessor. It features an edge-to-edge cover-screen display, a bigger battery, and more polished AI features. It retains the $1,099 price tag, but Samsung needed a flip phone under $1,000 to address the increasing competition from Motorola Razr. Enter the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.
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The new entrant in Samsung's flip lineup isn't as affordable as the Motorola Razr, nor does it share many of the upgrades from the Galaxy Z Flip 7. However, at $900, it is the only Samsung foldable phone available under a thousand bucks. It retains many of the Galaxy Z Flip 6's features and pairs them with the smarts of Android 16-based One UI 8.
I went hands-on with the new flip phone at Galaxy Unpacked. While I appreciate Samsung for adding a more affordable Flip to the lineup, it might have missed the mark with pricing.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE looks a generation-old
Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE and Z Flip 7 cover screen Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
I tried both the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE, and the latter was thicker and felt heavier, despite weighing one gram less than the Flip 7. Samsung hasn't released any details on the hinge, but in my experience, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE doesn't take advantage of any of the latest-gen hardware upgrades.
The hinge is tight and solid, but it isn't as smooth as the Flip 7. As a result, the crease is also deeper than that of its new sibling.
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