Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Hands-On: A Bigger Screen, a Bigger Battery, and a Much Better Foldable

It’s that time of year again. Samsung’s mid-year Unpacked has arrived, and with it, the next evolution of the company's foldable vision. After years of refining curved edges and folding screens, Samsung is now focused on perfecting the formula. While the rumored tri-fold remains a tantalizing glimpse of the future, the present belongs to the clamshell, with the official debut of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and its new, more affordable sibling, the Z Flip 7 FE.

I’ve had a chance to go hands-on with the new devices, and it’s immediately clear that Samsung has been listening intently to user feedback. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 isn't just an incremental update; it’s a thoughtful and substantial upgrade that addresses key pain points and makes a compelling case for being the mainstream foldable to beat.

The Flex Window Finally Fills the Space

The most dramatic and welcome change to the Z Flip 7 is the new 4.1-inch Flex Window. The cover screen now occupies the entire front surface of the device, with elegant cutouts for the dual cameras. This is a massive leap from the 3.4-inch display on the Z Flip 6 and brings Samsung's design in line with competitors like Motorola's latest Razr.

But it’s not just bigger; it’s better in every conceivable way. The screen can now reach a dazzling peak brightness of 2,600 nits, matching the flagship S25 Ultra. It boasts a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate and features the thinnest bezel (a mere 1.25mm) of any Samsung smartphone. This isn’t just a cosmetic upgrade; it transforms the usability of the phone when closed, making notifications, widgets, and AI interactions far more immersive.

A More Natural Main Display

The refinements continue when you open the device. For the first time, Samsung has expanded the primary internal screen to 6.9 inches and adjusted its aspect ratio to a more conventional 21:9. Previous Flips had a taller, more elongated screen that could make reaching the top corners a stretch. This new ratio feels more natural in the hand and is a significant improvement for media consumption, as video content now fits the screen without awkward letterboxing.

What about the crease? It’s still there. Visually, it looks very similar to last year's model, and Samsung has wisely stepped back from hyping hard-to-measure improvements in its visibility. Instead, the focus is squarely on durability. The company amusingly noted that the ultra-thin glass is now "50 percent thicker," a clunky phrase that nonetheless points to a tougher screen. The device also features a new waterproof coating and a further strengthened hinge, reinforcing the message that these phones are built to last.

An Engineering Marvel: Thinner, Yet More Powerful

Here’s where the Z Flip 7 truly impresses. Despite adding a larger cover screen, a bigger main display, and a more robust hinge, the phone is thinner than last year's model. It measures just 6.4mm thick when open (down from 6.9mm) and 13.7mm when closed.

Even more remarkably, Samsung has managed to cram a larger battery into this slimmer frame. The Z Flip 7 now houses a 4,300mAh battery, a 300mAh increase over the Z Flip 6. Given Samsung's recent track record of delivering excellent battery life, this is a hugely promising upgrade. Powering the device is Samsung's new 3nm Exynos 2500 chip, and it will be fascinating to see if it can match the impressive performance and efficiency of the Snapdragon chips in previous models.

Familiar Cameras, Smarter Software

The camera hardware remains largely the same, with a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 12MP ultra-wide. The key upgrade this year is on the video front, with the Flip 7 now able to record in 10-bit HDR, offering richer colors and greater dynamic range.

The real improvements are in the software. The camera interface has been refined for the Flex Display, and Samsung's clever AI-powered features like auto-zoom and auto-frame return, allowing the camera to track subjects automatically when the phone is closed.

The AI integration goes deeper, with Google's Gemini Live and Samsung's Now Brief features fully accessible from the cover screen. This is a perfect marriage of hardware and software, making the glanceable front display genuinely useful for quick queries and live updates. And in a first for the series, the Z Flip 7 now supports Samsung DeX, allowing you to connect a mouse, keyboard, and external monitor for a full desktop experience.

The Curious Case of the Z Flip 7 FE

Alongside the flagship, Samsung introduced the $900 Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. This is essentially last year's Z Flip 6 with an Exynos processor. It has the smaller 3.4-inch cover screen and 6.7-inch main display, and it does a good job of highlighting just how much of an upgrade the Z Flip 7 is. However, with the Z Flip 6 currently on sale for $800 during Amazon's Prime Day, the FE model launches in a slightly awkward position.

Final Thoughts

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 feels like the device Samsung has been working towards for years. It addresses the biggest requests from users: a more functional cover screen and better battery life, all while delivering a thinner, more refined design.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is available for pre-order today, starting at the same $1,100 price as its predecessor. It comes in a handsome dark blue, red, and the standard black and white, with an online exclusive mint color. Devices are set to ship on July 25th.