REVIEW: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7

The foldable smartphone market has come a long way, and after a few years of iteration, Samsung seems to be properly finding its rhythm again with the Galaxy Z Flip7. I’ve been testing the phone for the last few weeks, and it’s fair to say this is the most refined Flip yet. There are still some quirks that feel like they should’ve been ironed out by now, but overall, this feels like a much more complete package. Here’s a breakdown of how it performs in the real world.

Design & Build Quality

If there’s one area where Samsung has absolutely nailed it this year, it’s the physical design of the Z Flip7. From the moment you hold it, the device feels premium. At 188g and just 6.5mm thin when open, it’s light enough to use comfortably but sturdy enough that it doesn’t feel fragile. Fold it shut and it clicks closed with a satisfying snap—no creaky hinge sounds, no wiggle.

Samsung’s new Armor FlexHinge definitely adds to that sense of solidity. It feels tighter and better engineered, and the magnetised closure makes the device feel solid when folded. That said, opening the Flip still requires two hands for most people—it’s not quite a one-handed flick open job just yet.

The biggest bonus with the updated hinge is how much less noticeable the crease is on the main screen. It’s still there, but it no longer dominates the experience. Samsung hasn’t gone into much detail about how the hinge works differently this year, but you can definitely feel the improvement.

Software Features

Samsung’s One UI 8 keeps things clean and easy to use, and while Android 14 forms the base, the company’s software skin brings a lot of unique touches—some useful, some just window dressing.

One of the biggest visual changes this year is the upgraded 4.1″ cover screen. It’s brighter, faster (thanks to 120Hz refresh rate), and more practical… but only to a point. Out of the box, you’re still limited to using Samsung’s built-in widgets, toggles, and basic functions. That means toggling Wi-Fi or changing a keyboard still requires flipping open the phone.

To unlock real multitasking potential on the cover screen, you’ll need to dive into Samsung’s Good Lock suite. It’s a bit of a faff, and it really should be native by now, especially in the seventh generation of this product. Once you get things set up properly though, it does make a big difference. Messaging, media browsing and even YouTube become perfectly usable without opening the phone.

Still, it has its limitations: no Gboard or SwiftKey keyboard support on the cover display, limited notification interactions, and speaker-only calling on the front screen. Small things, but ones that can chip away at the experience.

Performance

The Exynos 2500 chip inside the Galaxy Z Flip7 performs very well for everyday use. Multitasking, media playback, and general app usage are all smooth. It’s responsive, snappy, and feels every bit a flagship phone in normal scenarios.

Where it struggles slightly is under heavier load. Push it into gaming territory—especially with something graphically intense like Zenless Zone Zero—and the heat starts to build quickly. The top half of the phone gets noticeably hot within minutes, which affects comfort and performance. Samsung hasn’t upgraded the cooling system this time around, so if gaming is a big part of your phone use, you’ll want to keep settings low or opt for a different handset.

Still, for most users, the Flip7 delivers the kind of fluid experience you’d expect from a top-tier phone. And Samsung’s ongoing improvements to the Exynos line seem to finally be paying off.

Cameras

The camera hardware on the Z Flip7 is mostly unchanged from the Flip6. You’re still working with a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and no telephoto lens. But while the sensors are familiar, Samsung has fine-tuned the experience.

Photos from the main camera are sharp and vibrant in daylight. Low light performance is acceptable but not class-leading. The ultrawide is still the weak link—especially in darker settings—and definitely due for an upgrade in future models.

Video is solid, and the folding form factor makes for some interesting creative options. You can prop the phone up without a tripod, use the cover screen for framing shots, and even take selfies with the rear cameras. It’s still a very fun phone to shoot with, even if the hardware isn’t cutting-edge.

Battery Life

Battery capacity gets a small bump this year to 4300mAh. It’s not huge by modern smartphone standards, but it’s a welcome improvement, and the software optimisation from Samsung does help eke out more life from each charge.

In everyday use—browsing, messaging, taking photos, streaming a few videos—I got through a full day comfortably with around 3.5 to 4 hours of screen-on time. Start gaming or shoot lots of video, though, and the battery dips much faster.

Charging is one of the more disappointing aspects. The Z Flip7 still tops out at 25W wired charging. That’s noticeably slow compared to other premium Android phones, especially when some of Samsung’s cheaper A-series models support 45W. Wireless charging is also here, but it’s not particularly fast either.

If you’re someone who charges your phone in the morning, you may want to rethink that routine—this is more of an overnight top-up kind of device.

Conclusion

After several years of minor updates, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 finally feels like the foldable phone that’s hit its stride. The better hinge, improved cover display, and subtle software tweaks all add up to something that’s genuinely satisfying to use.

It’s not perfect—some software limitations feel outdated, the camera hardware could do with a refresh, and the charging speed is well behind competitors. But none of those are outright dealbreakers, especially if you’re into the flip phone lifestyle.

If you’re coming from a Flip4 or earlier, this is a big enough leap to consider the upgrade. If you’re new to foldables, this is the most refined Flip yet and finally makes the form factor feel mature. Samsung has clearly listened to feedback and moved things in the right direction.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Pricing & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 is available now via Samsung.com with a RRP of €1239 for the 12GB RAM / 256GB storage model. It comes in three colour options, Jet Black, Coral Red and Blue Shadow.