As someone who has constantly been on the cusp of making the change to an android phone, especially a Samsung flip phone, I think this might just be the model that finally gets me to make the switch.
At first glance, what really sold me on the device was the now larger end-to-end exterior FlexWindow Screen, which not only looked aesthetically pleasing but also made things more productive, even when the phone is closed in its compact mode.
The loss of that black bar from the Flip6 did the Flip7 a huge favour as it just gives the new device a more rounded and sleek look that didn’t eat into the real estate of the display whether it was opened or closed.
With every flip phone, I tend to look at the general feel and sturdiness of the phone during its fold, and whether the crease is a bother. While I understand that the crease in the middle of the device is an unavoidable factor, Samsung has definitely evolved over the years, perfecting their crease to an almost no-show.
The fold was also an impressive one, providing a real sturdy feel that didn’t feel as delicate as its predecessors. Its hinges felt incredibly strong and durable which offered confidence for me to close the Flip7 however I liked, without worrying about damage to the device.
But, with that said, it meant that it was a bit of a challenge too, to open the phone with one hand. I tried on a few occasions to flip open the phone using just the hand that was holding it, and struggled to get it open. Of course, this wasn’t a dealbreaker but it would have been an added bonus to be able to have this ability handy.
Handy AI features
Built with Android 16 and Samsung’s OneUI 8, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 offers great AI features in a small device.
This includes Photo Assist for moving or erasing background objects, Portrait Studio to clean up your photos, and Suggest Edit, where you can automatically select and erase background distractions, Audio Eraser, which detects and removes unwanted background noise, and Writing Assist, which revises your text.
One of the standouts for me is Gemini Live AI Mode which proves a super useful tool without having to open the phone. From the outer screen, I could easily have a conversation with the Google chatbot, or even share my screen for visual searches.
Almost perfect camera for a compact phone
You know that feeling you get when you are travelling solo and you’re just too awkward to ask someone to help you take a photo? This is something that I struggle with every time I am on my own in a new country for work or play.
Needless to say that before I got the opportunity to test the Samsung Galaxy Flip7, my solo travel photos were mostly made up of scenery, architecture, food and random things I see, but never actual images of myself in the said locations; safe for the few awkward selfies where my face took up 70% of the photo.
However, with the Flip7’s FlexCam, I no longer faced this issue. During my recent trip to Phuket, I was able to take photos of myself at the beach with the bright blue skies behind me, simply by using the FlexCam.
All I needed to do was set up the camera somewhere steady and then use the built-in hand gesture to start the camera’s countdown and voila, I got my photo! I even liked how the camera was able to detect how far away I stood from the camera, and was able to adjust its focus accordingly, so that I looked proportionate to my background.
The main camera also takes great photos, offering almost accurate colours and a decent focus, making full-resolution photos look like it came from a digital camera with a good amount of detail and little noise.
Surprisingly long-lasting battery life
Since upgrading the battery capacity from 4,000mAh to 4,300mAh, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 is now able to deliver up to 31 hours of video play time on a single charge. For a general user like me, this essentially meant I was able to get even longer hours.
I charged the phone fully on a Monday and by Wednesday, I still had a decent amount of battery left over despite having used the phone to take photos in the hot sun. This definitely won me over especially since I often face the issue of having to charge my iPhone every single day.
Final thoughts: If you’ve wanted a compact phone, this is the model to go with
Having tested out the very first Z Flip, I have to say that the Z Flip7 has indeed come a long way. It’s not only a great improvement from its predecessor, but it is proof that Samsung has taken feedback into account, tweaking different areas to present a more perfected device.
With a bigger second screen, sleek design, AI features and sharper camera lenses, what more can you ask for?
