David Awoyode
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 had its work cut out for it. Despite early excitement over the original Flip, real-world use left me unconvinced. Since then, I’ve tried multiple models from Samsung and Motorola, and while Motorola won me over with its flexible cover display, Samsung’s latest model aims to close the gap.
The Biggest Upgrade: An Edge-to-Edge Cover Screen
Samsung finally expanded the Z Flip’s Cover Screen to a full 4.1 inches, eliminating thick bezels and awkward cutouts. This is a major leap from the Z Flip 6’s 3.4-inch panel. It looks fantastic — sleek, modern, and premium. Unfortunately, the functionality is still hampered by Samsung’s restrictive software.
A Refined Design That Fits Anywhere
Physically, the Z Flip 7 is slimmer and slightly wider, making the 6.9-inch main display feel more like a standard phone. The hinge is sturdier — perhaps too much so — making one-handed opening tricky. As with all foldables, dust remains a concern despite an IP48 water-resistance rating.
Inner Display: Crease Almost Gone
The Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display offers a peak brightness of 2,600 nits and feels roomier thanks to the wider body. Samsung has minimized the crease to the point where it’s barely noticeable unless viewed at an angle or touched directly.
Software Limitations Hold It Back
While the hardware shines, Samsung’s software remains overly restrictive. Out of the box, only three apps — Google Maps, Messages, and YouTube — are Cover Screen-ready, and enabling them requires digging through “Labs” settings. Expanding access to other apps demands extra downloads like Good Lock’s Multistar module, in stark contrast to Motorola’s open approach.
Performance and Battery Boosts
The Flip 7 now sports a slightly larger 4,300mAh battery and Samsung’s Exynos chip. Everyday performance feels smooth and responsive, but battery life still trails behind Motorola’s Razr 2025 with its 4,500mAh cell.
Cameras: Solid but Not Groundbreaking
You get a 50MP main shooter with a 2X crop mode and a 12MP ultrawide lens. While zoom quality can’t compete with dedicated telephoto lenses, the Flip 7’s design makes photography fun, from using the Cover Screen for selfies to shooting hands-free with Flex Mode.
Z Flip 7 vs. Moto Razr: Hardware vs. Freedom
Motorola wins on external display usability, while Samsung’s advantage lies in hardware quality and long-term support — seven years of updates compared to Motorola’s three.
The Verdict: Great Hardware, Frustrating Software
Samsung perfected the Z Flip 7’s look and feel but still limits its Cover Screen potential. For a flip phone to truly replace a standard smartphone, the external display needs to be as functional as the main one.
Charles Esther