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The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is Samsung’s first try at making a extra reasonably priced flip telephone, following Motorola’s established playbook with its entry-level merchandise just like the Razr 2025.
Because the story goes, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is designed for price-conscious shoppers and gives a pared-down model of final 12 months’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 — and this 12 months’s flagship Galaxy Z Flip 7 — at a 30% saving.
This sounds interesting, besides the Galaxy Z Flip 6 remains to be broadly accessible at a reduced worth from most of the similar reasonably priced retailers and carriers that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is destined for.
Regardless of this complicated market positioning, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is a strong telephone that excels in a number of areas, but it surely lacks among the soul that makes flip telephones really feel particular. A lot of that is associated to the design, an space the place the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE struggles towards its chief rival within the US.
It’s good if you’d like a no-frills flip telephone, however if you’d like a telephone that elicits emotion, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE falls quick. At a lower cost than at launch, it might be a unbelievable deal, so long as the Flip 6 isn’t additionally discounted.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Worth and availability
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE begins at $899.99 for the 128GB model, with the 256GB storage variant costing $60 extra. Nonetheless, on the time of writing, Samsung is at the moment nonetheless operating its pre-order promotion, discounting the 256GB model to a lower cost.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is accessible in simply two colours — Black and White. In contrast to the Flip 6, there are not any extra shade choices, nor any colours unique to Samsung’s direct gross sales channels like its on-line and bodily shops.
The premise of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is that it’s reasonably priced sufficient for MVNOs to supply it totally free, or near it. To this point, Increase Cellular is the one one to take action, with the service providing as much as $899 off the handset worth with an infinite information plan from $65 per thirty days. The most effective half? There’s no trade-in requirement. As for the principle carriers, you gained’t discover the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE there. As an alternative, these carriers are specializing in offering the greatest Galaxy Z Flip 7 offers.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Design & show
- The identical folder-like design because the Galaxy Z Flip 6
- Refined and polished in-hand expertise
- Lack of colours makes it really feel not very attention-grabbing
Should you’ve tried a current Samsung flip telephone, you’ll discover the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE immediately acquainted as it’s nearly equivalent to the Galaxy Z Flip 6. It is a polished folding telephone expertise, even when I discover the entrance display screen limiting (extra on that beneath).
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE has the identical weight and measurements because the Flip 6, but it surely’s thinner and lighter than the Razr 2025, which is wider, thicker, and heavier — but the textured end on the latter makes it extra comfy to carry within the hand.
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The squared design is not essentially the most pleasant within the hand, and it may be uncomfortable in sure positions to grip the telephone for a very long time. That mentioned, it’s a needed design to allow the completely different flex modes. The hinge is unbelievable and means that you can hold the telephone open throughout a broad vary of levels, and just like the Flip 6, there’s loads of nifty software program methods to optimize the expertise on this mode.
Unfolded, the principle show is identical 6.7-inch show discovered on the Galaxy Z Flip 6, full with a 120Hz refresh fee, HDR10+ assist, and as much as 2,600 nits of peak brightness. Whereas the crease is extra pronounced than on the Flip 7, it’s nonetheless a superb all-around show.
The duvet show measures 3.4 inches with a folder-like design, a 60Hz refresh fee, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 safety. It’s the identical because the Flip 6, besides this 12 months’s mannequin is considerably brighter at 2,600 nits of peak brightness. Like most flip telephones, it’s also possible to use the duvet show as a viewfinder to take selfies utilizing the principle cameras. That mentioned, the bigger cowl show on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 makes the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE really feel dated.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE design is as sturdy because the Flip 6 final 12 months, however whereas utilizing the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, I’ve found that one thing is lacking. It is taken me weeks to pinpoint it: it is missing character.
A few of this is because of Samsung’s selection of colours, or full lack of them. I feel Samsung utterly missed the mark right here; whereas the black and white shade choices are normal, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE goes up towards the Razr 2025, which is available in a number of colours, together with a beautiful inexperienced colorway.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: {Hardware} and specs
- Principally-flagship specs sheet just like the Galaxy Z Flip 6
- Notable modifications in processor from Qualcomm to last-gen Exynos 2400
- Solely 8GB of RAM limits its capabilities
Inside the brand new Galaxy telephones
Very like the design, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE has nearly equivalent specs to the Galaxy Z Flip 6, apart from one key bundle: the processor and RAM.
Whereas Qualcomm has powered virtually all of Samsung’s foldables, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE ditches Qualcomm in favor of Samsung’s personal Exynos 2400 processor. Samsung is utilizing the identical 4nm fab course of used to create the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 within the Flip 6, however that was Qualcomm’s flagship processor on the time, and the Exynos is a step beneath.
In every day utilization, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE’s efficiency is usually acceptable, however there is a noticeable lag in comparison with the greatest Android telephones at this worth. The RAM may trigger this, as Samsung has paired this processor with simply 8GB of RAM, a notable downgrade from the 12GB used within the Flip 6.
Class | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE |
|---|---|
Processor | Exynos 2400 |
Show | Predominant show: Cowl Show: |
OS | Android 16 |
Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB |
RAM | 8 GB |
Safety | Aspect-mounted fingerprint sensor |
Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC |
Battery | 4,000 mAh Li-Ion |
Charging | 25W wired |
Dimensions | Unfolded: Folded: |
Weight | 187 grams |
Look past the processor, and you will largely get a flagship telephone with practically equivalent specs to final 12 months’s flagship.
So long as you do not want the very best efficiency, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE delivers a strong expertise. Sure, it does wrestle underneath heavy load, however no extra so than the Razr 2025, so that is most likely to be anticipated on this low cost flip telephone class.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Cameras
- A unbelievable all-around digital camera
- Class-leading digital camera efficiency
- Some stutter attributable to Exynos
One space the place the lag is especially pronounced is within the digital camera, with some images dealing with noticeable delays in capturing the picture after you press the shutter button. This has led to some blurry photos and frustration in direction of the telephone, however apart from this, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE digital camera truly stands out as being among the many greatest on a flip telephone.
It options the identical triple digital camera array because the Flip 6, which means it nonetheless boasts a flagship digital camera. The digital camera is considerably higher than the Razr 2025, and simply as succesful because the flagship Galaxy Z Flip 7.
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Like many telephones, the 50MP most important digital camera additionally gives 2x in-sensor cropping, in addition to 4x and 10x presets. The latter may be very succesful and outperforms Motorola’s base folding telephone. Sure, it’s not as succesful because the Galaxy S25 Extremely or flip telephones just like the Huawei Pura X, however it’s extra succesful than the same dual-camera array on the ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge.
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Given the digital camera specs are equivalent to the Galaxy Z Flip 6, it’s no shock that the Flip 7 FE digital camera offers basically the identical in real-world efficiency as nicely. Sure, the previous is quicker at processing and the latter typically struggles when capturing a number of images briefly succession, however in any other case, it’s basically the identical digital camera expertise.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Battery and charging
- Close to equivalent battery life to the Galaxy Z Flip 6
- The 25W charging velocity is beneath common
- Battery is notably smaller than the Razr 2025
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE additionally options the identical battery and charging specs because the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and unsurprisingly, it has nearly equivalent battery life as nicely. Meaning the 4,000 mAh battery delivers the identical 4 to 6 hours of display screen time on a full cost as earlier years, though total longevity has improved barely to round 27 hours.
These specs are fairly normal amongst Samsung flip telephones, but it surely’s not fairly as simple: the Razr 2025 prices $100 much less and has an even bigger 4,500 mAh battery with 30W charging. It really works out to be barely slower than the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, however so far as longevity goes, the Razr 2025 lasts significantly longer.
That’s to not say the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE’s battery life is dangerous; quite, it might be considerably improved. The battery ought to supply a full day’s utilization for a lot of clients, however in case you are a heavy consumer, chances are you’ll have to cost it earlier than the top of the day.
The 25W charging is barely quicker total than the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Flip 7. A 15-minute cost boosts the battery to 30%, whereas a 30-minute cost boosts it to 53%, a rise of 4% and seven%, respectively, over the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Nonetheless, it’s round 10% slower than the 30W charging on the Razr 2025. Complete cost time on the Flip 7 FE is 1 hour and half-hour, eight minutes quicker than the Flip 6, however over half an hour slower than the Razr 2025.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Software program
- Wonderful expertise when you unfold the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE
- A particularly limiting Cowl Display expertise
In contrast to Motorola, which has adopted an method that treats the duvet show like a small telephone, Samsung has opted to construct a extra curated expertise with optimized widgets and panels. For some customers, that is greater than acceptable, however if you happen to’re used to the Razr expertise, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE will possible depart you wanting.
That mentioned, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE advantages from the identical enhancements to Good Lock because the Flip 7, particularly that Samsung has considerably decreased the variety of steps wanted to allow any app to run on the Cowl Show.
Regardless of this, it’s nonetheless extra convoluted than Motorola’s method, and whereas it’s good to see Samsung iterate and enhance this expertise annually, there are nonetheless a number of enhancements that I’d prefer to see.
Should you’re questioning why somebody would purchase the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE over the Razr 2025, the software program might but show to be a key motive, as we have now discovered many causes to get pleasure from utilizing One UI 8 for the reason that beta first landed earlier this 12 months. Motorola has backed its folding telephone with three years of software program updates and 4 years of safety updates, however the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is supported by seven years of each updates. This implies it’ll final significantly longer than Motorola’s base folding telephone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: competitors
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE poses a conundrum for Samsung and carriers. On one hand, it gives the perfect of the Galaxy Z Flip 6; on the opposite, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 remains to be broadly accessible, options the identical specs, higher shade decisions, and is often accessible for cheaper. If the costs are equivalent, select the Galaxy Z Flip 6 for its colours.
Nonetheless, it is also wroth contemplating the Moto Razr 2025. That is considered one of my favourite telephones proper now as Motorola’s method to the Cowl Display is considerably higher than Samsung, with the flexibility to run any app, a number of optimized panels inclduing video games, and several other methods to reap the benefits of the shape issue.
The Razr 2025 is $100 cheaper and accessible from all main carriers; it additionally is available in vibrant colours and has higher battery and charging. The important thing downsides? Efficiency and digital camera aren’t nearly as good as Samsung, and Motorola’s software program dedication of three main updates is lower than half Samsung’s dedication of seven.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Must you purchase it?
You should purchase this if…
- You desire a no-frills reasonably priced flip telephone
- You need the perfect flip telephone digital camera
- You care about how lengthy your telephone shall be supported
You shouldn’t purchase this if…
- You need the perfect battery life
- You desire a full-featured Cowl Show
- You may get the Flip 6 for a similar or related worth
Flip telephones are supposed to elicit a sense, however the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is distinct in simply how detached I really feel in direction of it. The shortage of colours and dated entrance show design detracts significantly from what’s in the end a strong flip telephone.
On one hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is a superb selection if you’d like a no-frills, extra reasonably priced folding telephone, or if the digital camera is equally as necessary because the price range. Plus, at $300 decrease than the Flip 7, it’s a compelling providing. Nonetheless, it isn’t as convincing when you think about the alternate options, such because the Galaxy Z Flip 6 or Razr 2025.
Total, whereas the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is a reasonably complicated product, it’s a strong telephone by itself however hampered by final 12 months’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the superb Galaxy Z Flip 7. In opposition to the rising competitors, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE struggles to face out despite the fact that it’s a superb, if unspectacular, folding telephone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE
A less expensive flip telephone
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE takes the perfect of the Flip 6 and brings a brand new chip and comes at a less expensive launch worth. If the dearer Z Flip 7 is not for you, this might be the choice.