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The Galaxy Z Flip 7’s new cover screen is a mess

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I love flip phone foldables. More specifically, I love flip phones with big cover screens. Being able to comfortably reply to texts, check notifications, and use apps on a large, high-quality cover screen is one of my favorite things about the flip phone form factor — and it’s why I was so excited to get my hands on the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

For the last couple of years, Samsung’s cover screen tech has paled in comparison to its competitors, namely Motorola in the US. For all Samsung has gotten right with the Z Flip series, its small, low-resolution, and low-refresh-rate cover displays have always lagged behind the competition. But not so this year.

I’ve had the Galaxy Z Flip 7 for just about a day, and I’ve spent most of my time playing with the new cover screen. It’s a massive improvement over Samsung’s previous attempts and by far the best we’ve seen on a Z Flip yet. But as much as I love the hardware, Samsung’s software greatly holds everything back.

Do you think the Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen was worth the wait? 15 votes Yes, it's exactly what I've been waiting for. 47 % I love the hardware, but the software is disappointing. 33 % No, I'm not impressed by it at all. 20 % Other (let us know in the comments). 0 %

The Galaxy Z Flip 7’s cover screen hardware is exceptional

Joe Maring / Android Authority

I want to start by talking about what Samsung got right, which, admittedly, is a lot. The most obvious upgrade over the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the display size, which has increased from 3.4 inches to 4.1 inches. That new full-screen design, combined with impressively thin bezels, is a truly impressive sight to behold.

Apps, like Telegram and Slack, are easy to navigate and don’t feel cramped in the slightest. I can see a long list of notifications without scrolling, and typing on the cover screen’s keyboard is far more comfortable than it was on the Flip 6. An extra 0.7 inches may not sound like much, but in practice, it’s a night-and-day difference.

And as much as I’ve enjoyed the cover screen’s extra real estate, that’s not the only hardware upgrade I’ve been thrilled with. The resolution jump from 720 x 748 to 948 x 1048 is immediately noticeable. Where the Flip 6’s cover screen looked grainy and fuzzy to my eyes, the Flip 7’s is as sharp as a tack.

Joe Maring / Android Authority

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