Galaxy Z Flip 7 First Impressions: A Bigger, Brighter, Better Flip
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The foldable market has a new contender, and it's making a big statement. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is here, and after spending some time with it, I can say that Samsung has focused on key upgrades that refine the flip phone experience into something truly premium. This phone is currently available for pre-order, starting at a retail price of $1,100. It arrives in four colors: Jet Black, Coral Red, a Samsung.com exclusive Mint, and the stunning Blue Shadow I'm looking at today.
I've got the base model, which comes with a generous $256$ GB of storage and 12 GB of RAM. For those pre-ordering, Samsung is offering a free upgrade to the `512 GB version, which is a fantastic deal.
Let's dive into the unboxing and my first impressions.
What's In The Box?
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The unboxing experience is minimalist, to say the least. Inside the sleek packaging, you'll find:
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 itself
A small amount of paperwork
A USB Type-C to Type-C charging cable
A SIM ejection tool
First Impressions: A Refined and Comfortable Design
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The moment I took the Flip 7 out of the box, I was struck by two things. First, the Blue Shadow color is absolutely gorgeous, matching the new Fold 7. Second, and more importantly, is the feel in the hand. I am so happy that Samsung has brought back the rounded, comfortable edges. Last year's Flip 6 felt a bit too squared-off for my taste, but the Flip 7 feels much more ergonomic and pleasant to hold, both open and closed. It's a subtle change that makes a huge difference in day-to-day use.
Samsung has also reverted to a more subtle, integrated camera design, moving away from the color-accented rings on the Flip 6. This gives the device a cleaner, more sophisticated look.
A quick physical tour reveals the power button/fingerprint scanner and volume rocker on the right. The side-mounted sensor is my preferred way to unlock the Fold and Flip devices—it’s fast and intuitive. The hinge is incredibly flush with no visible gap, and the overall device is now thinner at just $6.5$ mm (down from 6.9 mm on the Flip 6). On the bottom, you'll find the USB-C port (supporting `25 W super-fast charging), microphones, and one of the two stereo speakers.
The Displays: The Star of the Show
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The biggest upgrades are undoubtedly the screens. Both the outer and inner displays have received significant enhancements that elevate the entire user experience.
The New 4.1-inch Outer Display
Want the full deep dive? Read our complete blog post above for the full unboxing experience, detailed first impressions on the new design, an in-depth look at the game-changing inner and outer displays, and our initial thoughts on the battery life and gaming performance of the new Galaxy Z Flip 7.
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This is probably the most impactful upgrade. While the jump from last year's $3.4$-inch screen to this new 4.1-inch display might not sound massive on paper, it's a world of difference in person. The screen is taller and wider, occupying the front face in a way that feels complete and premium, not compromised.
What’s more, it’s now a buttery-smooth $120$ Hz display with 2,600 nits of peak brightness, matching the main screen. This consistency is fantastic. Scrolling through widgets for weather or alarms is fluid and responsive. I found myself using the outer screen for so much more than I expected. Replying to comments with the surprisingly capable keyboard felt natural, and I didn't feel the immediate need to open the phone for simple tasks.
You can run almost any app you want on the cover screen. From checking emails to controlling my smart lights, it’s incredibly versatile. If an app gets partially obscured by the camera cutouts, a handy software button lets you resize and reposition the app window for full accessibility. Watching a YouTube video is a decent experience, and you can simply open the phone to seamlessly continue on the larger inner display.
The New 6.9-inch Inner Display
For the first time, Samsung has increased the size of the main display, moving from $6.7$ inches to 6.9 inches. The most noticeable change isn't the height, but the width. The Flip 7 feels less narrow and more like a conventional smartphone.
This extra width has two major benefits:
A Better Typing Experience: The keyboard is larger, and the keys are more spaced out. Typing passwords and messages during setup immediately felt more comfortable and accurate.
A Less Noticeable Crease: The infamous crease is still there if you look for it in direct light, but I barely feel it in use. Because the phone is wider, my thumb naturally rests lower on the screen when scrolling, so I'm not constantly running over the middle of the display.
Performance, Gaming, and Battery
The Flip 7 is powered by the new Exynos 2500 processor. In my initial testing, performance has been flawless, with no hiccups or lag.
Want the full deep dive? Read our complete blog post above for the full unboxing experience, detailed first impressions on the new design, an in-depth look at the game-changing inner and outer displays, and our initial thoughts on the battery life and gaming performance of the new Galaxy Z Flip 7.
To get exclusive content, detailed guides, and early access to reviews like this, make sure to subscribe to our pro version at kinghacks365+
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This phone is also a surprisingly viable gaming device. The wider internal display makes games more immersive, and the crease is a non-issue. But the real fun is gaming on the outer display. Thanks to the `120 Hz refresh rate, games like Old School Runescape look incredibly smooth. You can even prop the phone up in a half-folded position and game at your desk, which is a unique and fun feature.
The battery has also seen an upgrade, now at a $4,300$ mAh capacity (up from 4,000 mAh in the Flip 6). In my first battery cycle, I achieved $4$ hours and 17 minutes of screen-on-time with $43$% battery remaining. This projects to well over 7 hours of total screen time, which is very impressive for a device this compact. It seems the slightly larger battery and new chipset are making a real difference.
Cameras
The camera setup includes a $50$ MP primary lens and a MP ultrawide lens. My initial photos look great, with sharp and vibrant results from the main sensor. The biggest advantage of the Flip's form factor is using these high-quality main cameras for selfies by using the outer display as a viewfinder. You get incredible versatility, from ultra-wide group selfies to digitally zoomed-in shots.
Final Thoughts: A Truly Premium Flip
After a day of use, I am incredibly impressed with the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Samsung didn't just make an iterative update; they delivered a major facelift. The larger, brighter, and faster displays, combined with the more comfortable design and improved battery life, make this feel like the device the Flip was always meant to be.
It's a premium smartphone experience in every aspect. While the $2,000$ Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a two-in-one tablet hybrid that can be a tougher recommendation, the 1,100 Flip 7 is a phone I can easily recommend. It offers a unique, compact form factor without compromising on the core smartphone experience. This is a winner.
Want the full deep dive? Read our complete blog post above for the full unboxing experience, detailed first impressions on the new design, an in-depth look at the game-changing inner and outer displays, and our initial thoughts on the battery life and gaming performance of the new Galaxy Z Flip 7.
To get exclusive content, detailed guides, and early access to reviews like this, make sure to subscribe to our pro version at kinghacks365+.
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