Samsung’s seventh-generation Flip phone refines the design with a larger outer cover screen and bigger folding display inside, while keeping the familiar folding concept.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7, alongside the Z Fold 7, serves as Samsung’s flagship foldable lineup for 2025. Its main appeal remains the same—it folds a large 6.9-inch screen in half for a more compact size. Priced from £1,049 (€1,199/$1,099/A$1,799), it sits in the same range as Samsung’s standard S25+ and ultra-thin S25 Edge, though with a slightly bigger display.
When unfolded, the Flip 7 feels like a regular Android phone with its expansive 6.9-inch flexible OLED screen. It’s slightly taller and wider than its predecessor to accommodate the larger display, and while it’s 1.2mm thinner when folded, the difference is barely noticeable—unlike the more dramatic redesign of this year’s Fold 7.
The new outer cover screen now takes up the entire top half, wrapping around the cameras and flash. It shows more notification text and widgets while looking much sleeker than before. With the right wallpaper—especially in the dark metallic blue—it makes a striking impression.
The hinge feels sturdy, closing with a satisfying snap, though opening the phone one-handed is tricky. The exterior uses toughened glass, but the inner screen still has a softer protective layer that attracts fingerprints, reflects glare, and scratches more easily than a traditional phone. The Flip 7 is water-resistant (IP48 rating) but not dustproof, so it’s best kept away from fine particles that could clog the hinge.
### Specifications:
– Main screen: 6.9-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED (397ppi)
– Cover screen: 4.1-inch AMOLED 120Hz (345ppi)
– Processor: Samsung Exynos 2500
– RAM: 12GB
– Storage: 256GB or 512GB
– OS: One UI 8 (Android 16)
– Cameras: 50MP + 12MP rear, 10MP front
– Connectivity: 5G, nano-SIM + eSIM, Wi-Fi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4
– Water resistance: IP48 (1.5m for 30 minutes)
– Folded dimensions: 85.5 x 75.2 x 13.7mm
– Unfolded dimensions: 166.7 x 75.2 x 6.5mm
– Weight: 188g
### Performance & Battery
Powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2500 chip—similar in performance to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite—the Flip 7 feels fast in daily use and handles gaming well, though it can get warm during extended sessions.
Battery life is slightly weaker than previous Flip models, lasting about 36 hours with mixed 5G/Wi-Fi use and around six hours of active screen time. That’s on par with the smallest S25, meaning most users will need to charge nightly. Heavy 5G use drains the battery faster than on Qualcomm-powered Samsung phones.
Charging takes about 90 minutes for a full charge (50% in 30 minutes) with a 25W+ adapter (not included). Wireless charging at 15W is also supported.
### One UI 8
The Flip 7 debuts with One UI 8 (Android 16), offering deep customization and smooth performance. Features like Flex Mode split the screen for tools like a trackpad, scroll wheel, or media controls, enhancing usability when partially folded.
Overall, the Flip 7 refines Samsung’s foldable formula without reinventing it—delivering a polished experience with a few trade-offs.The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 comes with all the standard S25 software, including AI tools for writing, image editing, transcription, translation, and more. It also includes Google’s AI services like Gemini and Circle to Search. The Now bar is handy, displaying ongoing activities like sports scores, music playback, timers, and alarms.
The Flip 7 takes advantage of its folding design with features like Flex Mode, which splits content to the top half of the screen and controls to the bottom when folded into an L-shape.
The external cover screen is great for checking notifications, replying to texts, controlling music, or accessing widgets like a voice recorder and calculator. You can even use Gemini without opening the phone. Apps like Google Maps, Messages, WhatsApp, Netflix, and YouTube work on the cover screen, though others require downloading Samsung’s MultiStar plugin from the Galaxy Store—a simple but odd extra step.
Samsung promises Android and security updates until July 2032.
### Camera
The Flip 7’s camera setup includes a 50MP main lens, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP selfie camera. The selfie camera is fine for video calls but struggles in low light—you’ll get better results using the main camera with the cover screen as a viewfinder.
Outdoor shots look great with plenty of detail and vibrant colors, but indoor or low-light photos can appear dark and grainy. The ultra-wide lens works well for landscapes but falters in dim lighting.
Flex Mode adds fun options, letting you shoot photos and videos partially folded like a camcorder or propped up for hands-free selfies. While decent, the cameras don’t match those on standard flagship phones.
### Sustainability
The Flip 7 is sealed when closed to keep out dust and debris, though there’s a small gap near the hinge. The battery lasts at least 2,000 full charge cycles while retaining 80% capacity.
Repairs are possible—screen fixes cost around £294, but Samsung’s self-repair program and Care+ insurance reduce costs to £119. The phone uses recycled materials (18.2% of its weight), and Samsung offers trade-in and recycling programs.
### Price
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at £1,049 (€1,199/$1,099/A$1,799). For comparison:
– Z Fold 7: £1,799
– S25 Edge: £1,099
– S25+: £999
– Z Flip 7 FE: £849
– Motorola Razr 60 Ultra: £1,099
– Xiaomi Mix Flip: £640
### Verdict
The Flip 7 is Samsung’s best-looking flip phone yet, with its biggest upgrade being the larger cover screen. The rest feels familiar—the folding display is great but delicate, the fingerprint scanner works well but is awkwardly placed, and the cameras are decent but not flagship-level. Battery life could be better. Still, it’s a solid choice for those who love the flip form.The Flip 7 is excellent and includes seven years of updates, but it feels like a minor upgrade. While it remains the best way to fit a large screen into a compact pocket, it desperately needs the kind of major redesign its larger Fold 7 sibling received this year.
Pros:
– Larger outer screen
– Impressive foldable main display
– IP48 water resistance
– Great software with seven years of updates
– Plenty of AI features
– Stylish and fun design
Cons:
– Expensive
– Less durable than standard phones and costly to repair
– No dust resistance
– Camera lacks telephoto zoom and falls short of flagship standards
– Not a significant upgrade
The Flip 7 looks stunning and offers more functionality when closed, but most tasks are still better suited to the main internal screen.
