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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Saskia Kemsley

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 phone review: "A powerful foldable that feels complete"

As someone who’s been firmly welded to the iPhone since my teenhood (as my entire iCloud history could testify), I rarely look up from the Apple ecosystem. But the Galaxy Z Flip 7 demands attention – not for its novelty, but for its sheer technical ambition.

This latest iteration is Samsung’s most refined yet. It’s lighter in the hand, slimmer in the pocket, and features a redesigned hinge that opens seamlessly, without so much as a squeak. The inner display is brighter and more durable, with thinner bezels and a noticeably smoother feel. Software improvements, including enhanced multitasking and a suite of baked-in AI tools, suggest this is a company aligning hardware and software with usability.

What stands out this time is how cohesive it all feels. The transition from the outer display to the unfolded screen is smooth and instinctive, and the entire interface alongside its integrated tools feels designed to make daily life easier. The Flip 7 doesn’t ask you to adjust how you use your smartphone, but it offers more space, more power, and more flexibility.

I recently reviewed Motorola’s Razr 50 Ultra – a punchier foldable with a more content-heavy focus – so stepping into Samsung’s take felt like entering another category altogether. This isn’t about fashion-led fun; it’s a serious piece of kit, built for productivity, and performance.

How I tested

Over a week, I lived with the Flip 7 in place of my usual iPhone – WhatsApp-ing, editing documents, watching videos, scribbling notes, and everything in between. What emerged wasn’t just a comparison of features, but a glimpse of how far foldables have come, and where they might be heading next.

Let’s go!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Key Specs

  • Dimensions: Folded - 75.2 x 85.5 x 13.7mm, Unfolded - 75.2 x 166.7 x 6.5mm
  • Weight: 188g
  • Memory and Storage: 12GB memory with 512GB, 256GB or 1TB internal storage
  • Main screen: 6.9-inch FHD+, Dynamic AMOLED 2X
  • Cover screen: 4.1-inch Super AMOLED
  • Battery: 4,300mAh dual battery
  • Water resistance: IP48
  • Operating system: Android 16, One UI 8
  • Processor: Samsung Exynos 2500 chip
  • Connectivity: 5G, LT`e, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v5.4, One Nano SIM and Multi eSIM

Design

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 feels refined in the hand. The screen resolution is buttery smooth—both tactile and responsive—offering a near-unbeatable swiping experience. It’s noticeably slimmer and lighter than previous models, to the point that its featherlight weight feels almost unsettling.

Yet, this slimness is a testament to Samsung’s engineering: packing this much power and a large foldable display into such a sleek chassis is no small feat.

That said, the hinge remains a tangible presence on the phone’s side, a reminder you’re still handling foldable tech rather than a traditional slab. While it opens and closes with quiet assurance, the physical seam at the sides is something you can’t fully forget.

(Saskia Kemsley)

User-friendliness

For anyone crossing over from an iPhone, Samsung’s ecosystem offers ways to smooth the transition, including options to migrate content seamlessly. However, the setup experience itself feels far from instant. Despite the promise of convenience through integration with Google services and AI features like Bixby, it takes patience to navigate the multiple onboarding instructions each app demands before you can even begin to use them.

For example, setting up the Notes app alone took a frustrating couple of minutes to sync with Microsoft OneNote. It’s clear that there is power under the hood, but less automation and more manual steps than expected. This isn’t a phone for those who want instant access to WhatsApp or Instagram; it’s better suited to the high-tech multitasker carrying a Surface laptop, who needs tools for real-time transcription, AI-enhanced doodling, audio processing, and document sharing on the fly.

Functionality

Functionality is where the Flip 7 tries to shine. Multitasking feels purposeful rather than gimmicky, and the AI integrations - such as real-time transcription and call translation - add genuine value for productivity.

A moment, please, for the camera: it is outstanding. Its zoom capabilities are remarkable and deliver sharp, true-to-life images. That said, the photos don’t have the “magical” softness that iPhones produce, making them feel a little too clinical for casual snaps.

The half-screen widget is a neat touch, but lacks the creative flair of features I experienced on the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra, such as timed selfies, underscoring how this phone is geared more towards efficiency than social media whimsy.

(Saskia Kemsley)

Favourite features

Among the Flip 7’s standout features, the Notes app (despite my qualms) deserves special mention. Its AI-powered transcription and sketch enhancements make it a powerful tool for anyone who needs to capture thoughts quickly and accurately.

Storage options are generous, ranging from 256GB up to a staggering 1TB - vastly outpacing many modern iPhones and accommodating heavy users with ease.

Overall, the Flip 7 is a technical marvel for a user who demands more from their device than scrolling and messaging—someone looking for a compact yet potent productivity machine that folds neatly away when not in use.

Is it worth it?

Call it Stockholm syndrome, but I’ll probably go back to my iPhone. Not because the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 isn’t impressive — it absolutely is — but because it’s a tool designed for a different kind of user. For all its power and polish, it simply offers more than I need. I’d rather open my Notes app in two taps than sync it across platforms, and I don’t need AI to enhance my doodles - yet.

All this said, I’ll admit that is Samsung’s most capable Flip yet. It’s lighter, slimmer and more refined, with a stunning inner display, serious multitasking tools and productivity-focused features that go far beyond novelty.

For those who live across apps, documents and deadlines, it’s a powerful foldable that finally feels complete.

Galaxy Z Flip 7

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a sleek, high-tech flip phone designed for professionals and power users who want compact convenience without compromising on performance. Its 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display delivers vibrant colors and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, while the 4.1-inch FlexWindow offers practical quick access to notifications and essential apps—no need to flip open every time. Powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2500 (or Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in some regions) and equipped with 12GB RAM plus up to 1TB of storage depending on which model you go for, it handles multitasking and AI features with ease.

Unlike more playful devices, this phone prioritises productivity, with water resistance, wireless charging, and a refined hinge that folds flat seamlessly. Its dual-camera system offers sharp, true-to-life images, focusing on clarity over gimmicks. For those who need a reliable, premium foldable that balances innovation with professionalism, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 fits the bill perfectly.

Buy now £1049.00, Amazon

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