Are two Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phones better than one?
That's the question I kept pondering as I held the new Galaxy Z Flip 7 in one hand and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE in the other at a Samsung press preview. It's a strategy that's worked well for one of the company's foldable phone competitors, Motorola, which has Razr models starting as low as $700 and as much as $1,300.
The new Galaxy Z Flip 7, which starts at $1,100, has been completely redesigned with a 4.1-inch cover screen, a 6.9-inch main display, a larger battery and a body that's thinner than last year's Galaxy Z Flip 6. It's not quite as thin as the new Galaxy Z Fold 7, which was also announced at the Galaxy Unpacked event.
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Then there's the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE (which stands for fan edition) that inherits some Galaxy Z Flip 6 looks in a smaller and more modest package, including the classic 3.4-inch cover screen with a file folder tab cut-out for its cameras. It costs $900. There will certainly be people eager to save $200 with the Flip 7 FE. But there'll be others wondering if Samsung has an Apple iPhone 16E-like problem when it comes to its definition of affordable.
In my limited time with each phone, I was especially enamored with the Flip 7 because it seems to have solved for many of the shortcomings of previous Z Flip phones by adding a larger cover screen and battery.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Flip 7 FE are now available to preorder and will be on sale starting July 25. Samsung's launch coincides with Amazon's Prime Day event, which has sales on Samsung TVs and laptops.
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Galaxy Z Flip 7
Here is the Z Flip 7 in a tented position with its cover display turned off. Joe Maldonado/CNET
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