Galaxy Z Flip 7 Review: Pros and Cons After One Year
Samsung's foldable phone Galaxy Z Flip 7's long-term performance and shortcomings
1Overall Performance of the Galaxy Z Flip 7
Despite being overshadowed by Motorola in the foldable phone market, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 still delivers impressive performance after a year of use. Despite Motorola Razr Ultra 2026's price hikes, it remains a hurdle for the Galaxy Z Flip 8. Compared to the older Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Motorola Razr 2026 series, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 stands out with its hardware quality and support duration. However, the shortcomings in the cover screen software could be a disadvantage for users.
2Hardware and Design
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 stands out as one of the most durable foldable phones sold in North America with its IP48 certification. It features a strong hinge structure and an almost crease-free display. The phone's thickness of just 13.7 mm and weight of 188 grams when folded offer a thinner and lighter build compared to the Razr Ultra 2026. Its rectangular shape and premium feel could be a significant reason for users to choose it.
3Cover Screen Software
One of the biggest shortcomings of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is its cover screen software. It offers a more limited experience compared to the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026. Basic apps cannot be run without additional apps like MultiStar. The full-screen widget feature available in the Galaxy Z Flip 6 has been removed in the Galaxy Z Flip 7. This results in users seeing less information on the cover screen.
4Foldable Display and Image Quality
The Galaxy Z Flip 7's 6.9-inch foldable display, with a width of 68.6 mm, offers an experience similar to traditional smartphones like the Galaxy S25 Edge or Galaxy S26 Plus. Avoiding typical foldable phone issues like narrow screens and odd aspect ratios, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 stands out with its 120Hz refresh rate and 2,600 nits peak brightness. These features make the phone feel more like a foldable slab phone than a foldable phone with a cover screen.
5Camera Performance
The Galaxy Z Flip 7's camera system falls short even for foldable phones. The 50MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide camera lag behind the dual 50MP cameras of the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026. Even Motorola's Razr Ultra 2025 from a year ago offers dual 50MP cameras, while the Galaxy Z Flip 7 remains inadequate in this area. While the camera performance isn't terrible, there are foldable phones with better cameras available.
6Software Support and One UI
Apart from the cover screen limitations, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 offers a great software experience. One UI 8 performed excellently out of the box, and One UI 8.5 has further improved it. Soon to receive an upgrade to One UI 9, the phone offers a smoother, cleaner, and more versatile experience compared to Motorola's My UX. Additionally, with a seven-year software support guarantee, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 will stay updated longer than Motorola's three-year support.
7Battery Life and Charging
The Galaxy Z Flip 7's 4,300mAh battery and 25W wired charging fall short compared to phones equipped with silicon-carbon batteries sold in the U.S. It can't compete with the Razr Ultra 2026's 5,000mAh battery capacity. Additionally, the lack of Qi2 magnetic charging support could be seen as a drawback by users. Battery life and charging speed are areas where the Galaxy Z Flip 7 needs improvement.
8Conclusion and Evaluation
After a year of use, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 remains a strong contender in the foldable phone market. It stands out with its hardware quality, software support, and design, while shortcomings like cover screen software and camera performance could be disadvantages for users. Compared to Motorola's Razr Ultra 2026, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 attracts attention with its longer software support and lighter design. However, it needs improvements in areas like battery life and charging speed.