I Spent A Week With The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, And It's An Even Bigger Leap Than Expected

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 has officially launched pinch a starting value of $1,099
• With a bigger screen screen, thinner shape factor, and improved artillery life, it is Samsung's champion return yet connected nan foldable
• To amended compete successful nan foldable market, it could usage a amended camera strategy and faster charging.

The Galaxy Z Flip lineup has been nan astir celebrated of Samsung's foldable devices, and its entreaty is clear -- who can't use from a instrumentality pinch each nan functionalities of a regular smartphone that tin besides shape-shift into a smaller telephone for mundane easiness of use? 

With its latest summation to nan lineup, nan Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung leaned into nan phone's astir charismatic feature, making it moreover much portable pinch a slimmer design, while besides much capable, pinch nan intent to amended personification acquisition for powerfulness users and mundane users alike. 

Also: 24 hours later pinch Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Why I'm leaving nan S25 Ultra behind

However, astatine $1,099, nan Z Flip 7 is still successful nan higher value scope of phones. To find whether it's worthy your money, I replaced my regular driver, an iPhone 16 Pro, pinch nan Z Flip 7 for nan full play -- nan results near maine pleasantly surprised. Let's dive correct in.

The FlexWindow refresh we've been waiting for

FlexWindow comparison connected Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

The astir visible, and possibly anticipated, alteration is nan FlexWindow (the outer screen). The surface is now larger, spanning from 1 area of nan telephone to nan other, pinch nan bezels hardly visible -- a large upgrade from its predecessor, arsenic seen successful nan photograph above. Not only is it astir aesthetically pleasing to look at, resembling nan look of nan Moto Razr 60 Ultra, but it is besides much practical. 

The 4.1-inch FlexWindow is brighter, pinch 2,600 nits of highest brightness and a smoother 120Hz refresh rate. It besides has VisionBooster, a characteristic that enhances outdoor visibility, making it nan brightest and highest-functioning FlexWindow yet. When utilizing nan Z Flip 7 connected outdoor walks, I was capable to look astatine nan surface pinch nary existent strain, moreover pinch nan NYC sun beating down connected my telephone and reflecting disconnected nan pavement and each shiny building successful nan city.

Also: iOS 26 envy? 5 iPhone features you tin already usage connected your Android (Samsung included)

So, why does this make it a win? To get much than conscionable nostalgia retired of nan clamshell design, you request to beryllium capable to usage nan outer surface for basal tasks, and nan larger surface and faster refresh complaint make it tempting to forgo opening your phone. 

Within nan first 24 hours of utilizing nan phone, I recovered myself utilizing nan screen surface to do basal tasks specified arsenic taking photos, viewing notifications, and moreover looking up accusation much than pinch nan past models. This is apt because connected nan older models, nan constricted surface size and little soft refresh complaint weren't really enticing for maine to extremity opening nan phone. 

After an full weekend, I noticed that I was leaning connected nan screen surface truthful overmuch that it really deterred maine from my typical, not ideal, telephone usage habits. These see accidentally doom-scrolling connected societal media each clip I spell to look astatine a notification, which I recovered to beryllium a awesome win. 

Of course, you tin activity astir this by utilizing nan Good Lock app and adding societal media apps to your screen screen, and pinch nan bigger screen, you whitethorn really beryllium capable to person a decent experience. That said, if you want full-on in-app experiences connected nan screen screen, moreover if you alteration it done Good Lock, nan functionality is constricted and will apt require you to unfastened your phone. 

One point nan screen surface was useful for was accessing nan latest AI features, which leads maine to nan adjacent section.

Easier AI access

Hey Gemini, what benignant of canine is this?

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

If you attraction astir AI connected your mobile device, this screen surface makes it easier to get nan contiguous assistance you want without moreover opening your phone. Gemini Live is now accessible connected nan screen screen, whether done a agelong property of nan broadside fastener aliases done nan app. It tin reply questions quickly for you connected nan spell aliases entree apps that return action for you, specified arsenic creating a statement aliases adding a almanac event. 

If you often usage multimodal AI assistance, arsenic I do, you'll beryllium happy to study that you tin now stock nan camera correct from your FlexWindow -- meaning you prop your telephone up and usage nan camera to get multimodal Gemini assistance from Gemini Live. 

Now, alternatively of having to prop my iPhone 16 Pro on a h2o vessel aliases different point to afloat return advantage of nan multimodal assistance, I tin conscionable unfastened nan telephone and group it connected nan nearest aboveground to inquire a question. The clamshell creation besides makes it easier to return photos aliases watch videos, unlocking a scope of experiences you typically wouldn't person pinch a modular ceramic phone. 

Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE hands-on: The 'cheaper' foldable telephone sewage maine very confused

You tin besides entree a Personalized Now Bar and Now Brief from nan screen screen, a characteristic antecedently constricted to nan Galaxy S25 Ultra. This makes it easy to get a speedy rundown of personalized insights specified arsenic weather, arena summaries, and news. Beyond these, One UI 8 brings different adjuvant AI features specified arsenic improved photograph and audio editing. 

Additionally, nan acquisition of nan Galaxy Z Fold 7 aliases Flip 7 will besides travel pinch six months of Google AI Pro, which retails for $19.99 a month. The scheme gives you entree to immoderate of Google's astir precocious AI offerings, including much entree to Google's astir tin model, Gemini 2.5 Pro; Flow, Google's AI filmmaking instrumentality built pinch Veo 3 Fast, which makes hyper-realistic videos; and more. 

If you are large into AI aliases person wanted to effort it, this is intelligibly a bully measurement to entree immoderate of nan latest features.

More powerfulness successful a slimmer package

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

The Flip 7 is thinner, coming successful astatine 13.7mm thick, compared to past year's 14.9 mm. While nan quality successful measurements whitethorn look minimal, it is visibly little chunky, arsenic seen successful nan image below. This makes it much comfortable to gaffe into your pocket, minimizing nan uncomfortable emotion of having 2 mini phones stacked connected apical of each other. 

Even though it is slimmer, Samsung didn't discuss connected cardinal components, including a larger soul show of 6.9 inches, compared to nan 6.7-inch surface connected nan Galaxy Z Flip 6, and a larger 4,300mAh artillery (up from 4,000mAh) that tin grip up to 31 hours of video playback time, according to Samsung. 

Also: Your Android telephone and watch are getting a awesome upgrade for free - Samsung models included

Throughout my regular usage, I person had nary rumor pinch having it past an full day. In fact, I person been ending my days pinch a batch much juice than I typically would -- hovering astir nan 30% mark. In part, I property nan extended artillery life to nan truth that, arsenic mentioned above, I was spending importantly little clip connected my telephone since nan screen surface told maine astir of what I needed to know. One caveat pinch nan artillery is really agelong it takes maine to complaint it; nan hold for nan 25 W wired charging is arsenic achy arsenic watching h2o boil. 

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (left) and Z Flip 7 (right).

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

Instead of nan expected Snapdragon 8 Elite, nan Z Flip 7 is powered by nan Exynos 2500, nan first 3nm in-house processor, released conscionable past month. The capacity differences betwixt some chipsets shouldn't beryllium noticeable, different than nan in-house processor enables caller experiences specified arsenic DeX support connected nan Z Flip for nan first time, allowing users to plug their telephone into a show and usage it for illustration a desktop computer.  

Back to nan screen: When I first heard of nan surface increase, compared to nan different specs, it sewage drowned retired by nan noise. However, aft having utilized it for a play and scrolling connected societal media, though little than usual, I remembered really overmuch I really enjoyed utilizing a telephone pinch a larger screen. 

Typically, what turns maine disconnected larger surface models is having a yet bulkier instrumentality to transportation astir -- hence why I purchased nan 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro versus nan 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max. With nan Z Flip 7, I was capable to return advantage of a 6.9-inch surface for my TikTok scrolls, while astatine astir times utilizing a 4.1-inch phone.  

Also: I spent a week successful New York City pinch nan Samsung Z Fold 7 - and it spoiled maine large time

It has nan aforesaid camera specs arsenic past year, pinch a 50MP wide-angle and a 12MP ultrawide sensor. In past year's Z Flip 6, this camera strategy was a awesome boost from nan Z Flip 5, and ZDNET's review recovered that while it didn't connection flagship-tier performance, it was still a tin system, excelling successful well-lit conditions and producing vibrant, elaborate photos. 

Samsung besides claims to person made upgrades to nan image processing, including Enhanced Nightography and 10-bit HDR for much elaborate videos, which should boost and differentiate nan camera's value from nan preceding model. I took a scope of photos this weekend, from my walks, errands, hangouts, and more, and was satisfied pinch nan results. Below are immoderate photos I took successful different ray conditions and settings truthful you tin return a look for yourself.

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

ZDNET's buying advice

I person genuinely enjoyed my acquisition pinch nan Samsung Galaxy Flip 7. Overall, Samsung upgraded nan Z Flip 7's specs successful almost each way, addressing astir of nan users' complaints astir nan predecessor and making it a beardown competitor successful nan flip telephone market. 

You tin bid yours now for a starting value of $1,099 (with a $50 discount happening now), and respective promotions and offers are already active. The colors see Coralred, Jetblack, Blue Shadow, and nan online-exclusive Mint, and retention sizes are 256GB to 512GB. 

Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra: I tested some foldables, and here's nan winner

If you are a powerfulness personification who could use from a amended camera strategy and get much retired of your screen surface pinch a amended refresh rate, highest brightness, and much app interoperability, you whitethorn want to see nan Motorola Razr Ultra. However, it starts astatine a higher premium of $1,300. For much connected really they compare, publication ZDNET's return here. 

You tin support up pinch my latest stories and tech adventures connected societal media. Follow maine connected Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and connected Instagram at @sabrinaa.ortiz.