Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a smartphone of two halves, both literally and figuratively. When you hold it, the polished design and expanded FlexWindow suggest a new era for foldable devices. But upon closer inspection, the phone reveals certain quirks in performance. We have taken our time to write this review to understand what’s beyond the form factor here.
Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is now available in the market, with a starting price that feels ambitious given some of its compromises. The base model is around ₹1,09,999, making it a premium purchase. It's available in two variants:
Design
The design of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is certainly a step forward, but it's not without its issues. The build quality feels solid, and the phone feels premium in hand. It boasts an IP48 rating, which is a welcome addition, though it still falls short of the higher IP68 standard found on many non-folding flagships. The hinge, while robust, still results in a noticeable crease on the main display, which can be distracting during use.
The phone is available in several stylish colors, including Blue Shadow, Jet Black, and Coral Red. We reviewed the Blue Shadow model, which has a deep, vibrant tone.
The outer display, now called the FlexWindow, has grown significantly to 4.1 inches. It's certainly more useful than its predecessors, allowing you to check notifications and use a few widgets, but it's still a compromise compared to a full-sized screen.
Display
The main inner screen is a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a high 2,520 x 1,080 resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. On paper, these are impressive specs. However, the presence of a distinct crease in the center of the display is an unavoidable reality of the form factor. While it's easy to get used to, it's a constant reminder that you're using a folding phone, and it can be especially noticeable when viewing content.
The foldable form factor does offer some unique use cases, such as Flex Mode, which allows you to prop the phone up for hands-free photography or video calls. The larger outer display also lets you handle quick tasks like joining a Google Meets call without unfolding the phone, but the limited functionality of the outer screen can be frustrating.
Folded vs. Unfolded Use Cases
The dichotomy between the folded and unfolded states is a core part of the Z Flip 7 experience, but it also highlights its compromises. The outer display is useful for quick glances, but its limitations mean you'll often find yourself unfolding the phone for tasks that could be handled more efficiently on a larger, more traditional screen.
The unfolded main display is great for content, with vibrant colors and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. However, the dual stereo speakers, while a good addition, are a step below the audio quality of some competitors. The immersive experience is often hampered by the visible crease.
Operating System and Software
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 runs on Android 16 with Samsung's latest One UI 8. The software is well-optimized for the foldable design, with seamless transitions between displays. Samsung's promise of seven years of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates is a strong point for a device at this price.
The deep integration of Google Gemini is a key feature, but some of its capabilities feel more like a proof of concept than a fully realized tool. While features like Circle to Search and on-device translation are useful, their novelty may not justify the phone's premium price for all users. The native support for the Gemini app on the cover screen is a good idea, but the user experience can still feel a bit clunky compared to a full-screen interface.
Performance
This is arguably the most disappointing area of the Galaxy Z Flip 7. In a surprising move for a flagship device, Samsung chose to equip it with the Exynos 2500 processor instead of the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 'Elite' found in the Z Fold 7. This decision is quite surprising. While the Exynos 2500 performs well for most daily tasks and gaming, it falls short of the raw power and efficiency of its Qualcomm counterpart.
Battery life is decent, but a major complaint from previous generations remains: the lack of a true fast-charging solution. The phone supports a meager 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, which is far behind the competition. A full charge takes a considerable amount of time, an unfortunate reality for a premium device.
Camera
The camera system on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a mixed bag. While it features an improved dual-camera setup on the back with a 50MP wide-angle primary lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens, the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens is a major omission for a phone in this category. The 2x optical quality zoom is a decent compromise but cannot compare to the versatility of a true telephoto sensor.
Daylight photography is strong, but photos can occasionally be overly saturated, which is a common complaint with Samsung's image processing. The new AI-powered Nightography feature is good, but it still falls short of the market leaders in low-light performance.
The folding form factor does enable some creative shooting modes. You can use the main 50MP camera for high-quality selfies, with the large FlexWindow acting as a viewfinder. This is a genuinely useful feature. Video capabilities are solid, with 4K at 60fps recording and AI-powered video stabilization. New Galaxy AI features like Audio Eraser and Generative Edit are fun additions, but they feel like software tricks rather than fundamental improvements to the core camera hardware.
Verdict
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 blends eye-catching design with practical foldable features, making it a great choice for those who value portability and unique usability. It may not push the envelope in raw performance or camera hardware compared to some traditional flagships, but its charm lies in how it transforms everyday interactions with your phone. If you’ve been considering a foldable, this is one of the most refined clamshell options yet.
Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is now available in the market, with a starting price that feels ambitious given some of its compromises. The base model is around ₹1,09,999, making it a premium purchase. It's available in two variants:
- 12GB RAM and 256GB storage: Rs 1,09,999
- 12GB RAM and 512GB storage: Rs 1,21,999
Design
The design of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is certainly a step forward, but it's not without its issues. The build quality feels solid, and the phone feels premium in hand. It boasts an IP48 rating, which is a welcome addition, though it still falls short of the higher IP68 standard found on many non-folding flagships. The hinge, while robust, still results in a noticeable crease on the main display, which can be distracting during use.
The phone is available in several stylish colors, including Blue Shadow, Jet Black, and Coral Red. We reviewed the Blue Shadow model, which has a deep, vibrant tone.
The outer display, now called the FlexWindow, has grown significantly to 4.1 inches. It's certainly more useful than its predecessors, allowing you to check notifications and use a few widgets, but it's still a compromise compared to a full-sized screen.
Display
The main inner screen is a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a high 2,520 x 1,080 resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. On paper, these are impressive specs. However, the presence of a distinct crease in the center of the display is an unavoidable reality of the form factor. While it's easy to get used to, it's a constant reminder that you're using a folding phone, and it can be especially noticeable when viewing content.
The foldable form factor does offer some unique use cases, such as Flex Mode, which allows you to prop the phone up for hands-free photography or video calls. The larger outer display also lets you handle quick tasks like joining a Google Meets call without unfolding the phone, but the limited functionality of the outer screen can be frustrating.
Folded vs. Unfolded Use Cases
The dichotomy between the folded and unfolded states is a core part of the Z Flip 7 experience, but it also highlights its compromises. The outer display is useful for quick glances, but its limitations mean you'll often find yourself unfolding the phone for tasks that could be handled more efficiently on a larger, more traditional screen.
The unfolded main display is great for content, with vibrant colors and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. However, the dual stereo speakers, while a good addition, are a step below the audio quality of some competitors. The immersive experience is often hampered by the visible crease.
Operating System and Software
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 runs on Android 16 with Samsung's latest One UI 8. The software is well-optimized for the foldable design, with seamless transitions between displays. Samsung's promise of seven years of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates is a strong point for a device at this price.
The deep integration of Google Gemini is a key feature, but some of its capabilities feel more like a proof of concept than a fully realized tool. While features like Circle to Search and on-device translation are useful, their novelty may not justify the phone's premium price for all users. The native support for the Gemini app on the cover screen is a good idea, but the user experience can still feel a bit clunky compared to a full-screen interface.
Performance
This is arguably the most disappointing area of the Galaxy Z Flip 7. In a surprising move for a flagship device, Samsung chose to equip it with the Exynos 2500 processor instead of the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 'Elite' found in the Z Fold 7. This decision is quite surprising. While the Exynos 2500 performs well for most daily tasks and gaming, it falls short of the raw power and efficiency of its Qualcomm counterpart.
Battery life is decent, but a major complaint from previous generations remains: the lack of a true fast-charging solution. The phone supports a meager 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, which is far behind the competition. A full charge takes a considerable amount of time, an unfortunate reality for a premium device.
Camera
The camera system on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a mixed bag. While it features an improved dual-camera setup on the back with a 50MP wide-angle primary lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens, the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens is a major omission for a phone in this category. The 2x optical quality zoom is a decent compromise but cannot compare to the versatility of a true telephoto sensor.
Daylight photography is strong, but photos can occasionally be overly saturated, which is a common complaint with Samsung's image processing. The new AI-powered Nightography feature is good, but it still falls short of the market leaders in low-light performance.
The folding form factor does enable some creative shooting modes. You can use the main 50MP camera for high-quality selfies, with the large FlexWindow acting as a viewfinder. This is a genuinely useful feature. Video capabilities are solid, with 4K at 60fps recording and AI-powered video stabilization. New Galaxy AI features like Audio Eraser and Generative Edit are fun additions, but they feel like software tricks rather than fundamental improvements to the core camera hardware.
Verdict
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 blends eye-catching design with practical foldable features, making it a great choice for those who value portability and unique usability. It may not push the envelope in raw performance or camera hardware compared to some traditional flagships, but its charm lies in how it transforms everyday interactions with your phone. If you’ve been considering a foldable, this is one of the most refined clamshell options yet.
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