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Title: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: More screen, more battery but
something's missing

Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:00:22 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/s...

SamsungΓÇÖs annual foldable refresh includes a trio of devices this year.
While the Z Fold 7 comes with a top-tier processor and cameras, the Z Flip 7
carries over many technical details from its predecessor. In fact, the most
significant upgrade this year is a more expansive front display, or Flex
Window, as the company prefers to call it.

Samsung has also, somehow, added an even bigger battery to a slimmer
foldable, which is technically impressive. However, the company made minimal
software additions and modest improvements in places. The upgrades are good,
but are there enough of them?

Hardware Mat Smith for Engadget

Samsung has caught up to one of its few foldable rivals by substantially
increasing the front display from 3.4 inches to 4.1 inches. The two camera
cutouts are the only things interrupting this bright, vivid display.

Despite bigger screens (and battery), the Flip 7 is also thinner than last
yearΓÇÖs model. It measures 6.4mm (0.25 inches) thick, down from 6.9mm (0.27
inches). That's equal to the Galaxy S25 edge, where the major selling point
is its thinness. I shouldnΓÇÖt have to say this, but that thickness doubles
when you fold it away: Samsung says itΓÇÖs 13.7mm (0.54 inches) when closed.
However you measure it, this is the thinnest Flip yet.

The Flex Window now has a 120Hz refresh rate, can reach peak brightness
levels of 2,600 nits (matching the S25 Ultra) and features the thinnest bezel
yet (1.25mm) of any Samsung smartphone display. The brightness increase is a
crucial upgrade on a screen thatΓÇÖs used mainly to glance at your device
from across a desk or outside in sunlight. Samsung said it was able to
further extend the display to the edges by applying a waterproof coating on
components beneath the AMOLED display. This meant less bezel is needed around
the screenΓÇÖs perimeter.

Samsung also expanded the foldableΓÇÖs main screen to 6.9 inches ΓÇö a
notable step up from the previous modelΓÇÖs 6.4 inches. The company also
wisely shifted closer to a more typical smartphone display ratio of 21:9.
While itΓÇÖs not quite the same as, say, the Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16, video
content now fits better.

Previous Z Flips had more elongated screens, making it hard to reach the
upper corners when using one hand. While the Z Flip 7 has a better aspect
ratio, itΓÇÖs also bigger, which unfortunately means it has the same issue.
If Samsung had changed the aspect ratio while keeping the screen size, it
might have struck the ergonomic sweet spot.

Not for the first time, Samsung says itΓÇÖs further strengthened the Flip's
hinge mechanism. While I can't attest to its longevity, the Flip 7 does close
with a beefier 'thunk' than its predecessors.

I like that it takes a little bit more strength to open because it makes the
whole device feel more solid. If youΓÇÖre hoping this is the year where the
display crease disappears, IΓÇÖm afraid that isnΓÇÖt happening. For those who
have never owned a foldable though, the Flip 7ΓÇÖs crease is largely
unnoticeable.

The cameras Mat Smith for Engadget

The story of this year's Flip's cameras? More of the same. The Flip 7 has the
same 50-megapixel f/1.8 primary setup with optical image stabilization (OIS)
and a 12MP ultra-wide lens with a 123-degree field of view. ThereΓÇÖs a 10MP
camera on the inside, too, but with the FlipΓÇÖs improved front screen, you
really should be using the primary camera duo.

The best images come from well-lit scenes. SamsungΓÇÖs Night Mode is a little
aggressive, but itΓÇÖs still great for nighttime shots, even if it leaves an
over-processed look on skin tones and faces. The Flip 7 defaults to 12.5-
megapixel images, but you can switch to 50MP stills if you want all the
detail ΓÇö and you have a steady hand. ThereΓÇÖs no dedicated telephoto
camera, which means the zoom is limited to a 2x crop, hindering the Z Flip
7ΓÇÖs versatility. Once again: if you want a foldable with the best cameras,
youΓÇÖll have to go with the Fold series.

Mat Smith for Engadget

In regard to video capture, the Flip 7 can record video in 10-bit HDR, up
from 8-bit, for more color accuracy and detail. And you can still hold the Z
Flip 7 like a retro camcorder, which remains far more enjoyable than it
should be.

Software Mat Smith for Engadget

Despite the bigger screen, Samsung hasnΓÇÖt really evolved its Flex Window's
software this year. There are a few improvements, though. When using the
front display to take selfies and videos, interface icons and mode buttons
will float around the display to get out of the way of what it detects
youΓÇÖre trying to take photos of. If youΓÇÖre looking to use a special
filter on your shots, the Z Flip 7 can show a live preview of each filter
before you apply them.

Two other software additions to the Flip series are the Now Bar and Now
Brief, introduced in this yearΓÇÖs S25 series. The Now Bar is SamsungΓÇÖs
spin on the iPhoneΓÇÖs Dynamic Island, displaying pertinent ongoing or time-
sensitive information that isnΓÇÖt quite a notification, but something you
might want to know about. This includes fitness metrics, weather or live
updates from ride-share apps like Uber.

You can tap into the Now Bar without opening the phone, and you won't have to
unfold it if youΓÇÖre looking to interact with GoogleΓÇÖs Gemini Live either.
ItΓÇÖs another Android feature that seems well-suited to foldables, as you
can talk to Gemini with minimal physical interaction on the Z Flip 7.

To use most other apps, youΓÇÖll still need to install the Multistar launcher
(which is made by Samsung) in order to view and use basic software like Gmail
and Chrome. This is the workaround for now, as Samsung hasnΓÇÖt expanded the
approved list of six apps that are allowed to run on the Z Flip 7ΓÇÖs Flex
Window ΓÇö a short list which bafflingly includes Netflix.

Battery life and performance Mat Smith for Engadget

Despite being even slimmer than last yearΓÇÖs model, the Flip 7 has a
4,300mAh battery thatΓÇÖs 300mAh larger than its predecessorΓÇÖs. That, along
with a new processor (its homemade 3nm Exynos 2500), has led to a leap in
longevity.

In our standard battery rundown tests, the Flip 7 played continuous video for
18 and a half hours. ThatΓÇÖs a big jump from the 13-hour rundown I got from
the Flip 6. I was so surprised I ran the test two more times to confirm and
got similar results.

The new chip never felt particularly sluggish, either, whether I was gaming,
using Galaxy AI features or completing other taxing activities. That said,
the phone would get warm, both in my hand and in my pocket, during camera
testing and location-based tasks, like using Google Maps and CityMapper.

In my day-to-day use, with heavy testing, IΓÇÖd get through a solid day and a
half before I had to think about recharging. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Z Flip
7's wired charging speeds still top out at 25W, which Samsung has the gall to
call Super Fast Charging. ItΓÇÖs the same speed as the Z Flip 6 (and the base
S25), but when other phones are using 45W charge speeds (or higher), itΓÇÖs a
little underwhelming, especially on a premium device like this.

Wrap-up Mat Smith for Engadget

By refreshing the design and further slimming down the Z Flip, Samsung has
made its smaller foldable easier to handle. At the same time, itΓÇÖs
accomplished an engineering marvel by squeezing in larger screens and a more
substantial battery. However, certain aspects of the Flip 7 are lacking, most
notably the cameras, which havenΓÇÖt been changed since last year.

Samsung also needs to put more work into its Flex Window. While the ability
to use most apps on the smaller front display is here, itΓÇÖs still a fussy
implementation and most of them arenΓÇÖt tailored for the tinier screen.
ThereΓÇÖs untapped potential here and the Z Flip 7 doesnΓÇÖt push its
category of foldables forward by much.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/s...
140022250.html?src=rss

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