I mistook how durable the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is


If you’re worried about how many durable Samsung folding phones exist, I’m here to tell you not to worry. And it’s especially true when it comes to new things Galaxy Z Flip 7.

In less than 6 hours on a Galaxy Z Flip 7, I accidentally ran my own unofficial drop test. The event in Brooklyn catering allowed me to go outside and enjoy the waterfront views. I groped for it when I pulled the Z-Flip 7 out of my pocket. I looked helplessly as Samsung’s latest folding phone fell to the ground. The noise it made when it hit the concrete made, knowing, sympathetic expressions made that said, “Oh, that’s a shame. Your phone is a toast.”

Have you ever lost your phone? There’s a Schrödinger cat-like moment before you pick it up. phone Survived.

Luckily, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 was fine. The 4.1-inch cover screen had no cracks or scratches. The 6.9-inch inner display was unharmed as the phone was closed. The only thing that got kissed on the ground was a small scuff on the bottom of the phone near the microphone. Samsung’s claim that the new “armor flex hinge” is Built to withstand shock It’s certainly true.

In the early days of foldable phones, one of the biggest unknowns was durability. It’s amazing how about six years later, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 can be dropped onto concrete, just like it landed on a velvet pillow. Now, I won’t take a Flip 7 (or a folding phone) yet to the beach, as it can only withstand particles of 1mm or more. So it’s okay to go to a confetti factory, but the salt factory is a clear no-no.

Galaxy Z Flip 7 thin design

Galaxy Z Flip 7

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is 6.5mm thick when opened and 13.7mm when closed.

Joe Maldonado/CNET/PCMAG

The star Samsung’s Galaxy Release Event It was Galaxy Z Fold 7. It is 8.9mm thick when closed, and the fold 7 is ridiculously thin. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 also appears to have an Ozempic, but when closed it is 13.7mm thick. It’s slim, but not 7 slim. Why did the Flip 7 not become as slim as the Fold 7? I continue to imagine a Galaxy Z Flip 8 in the same thickness as the folded 7.

From some perspectives, here is how Flip 7 compares its clamshellkin fork:

Galaxy Z Flip 7 thickness and other flip phones

phone Closed open
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 13.7mm 6.5mm
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 14.9mm 6.9mm
Motorola Razr Plus 15.32mm 7.09mm
Motorola Razr Ultra 15.69mm 7.19mm
Motorola Razr (2025) 15.85mm 7.25mm

Galaxy Z Flip 7 big cover screen

Flip 7 phones with 3 Galaxy Z side by side

This is three Galaxy Z Flip 7 mobile phones in different colors.

Joe Maldonado/CNET

Original Galaxy Z Flip There was a small 1.1 inch tablet-shaped cover display. It was great to show the time, but of little use to others. The Galaxy Z Flip 7’s definition feature is a 4.1-inch cover display. The screen looks incredible. I was checking the notifications on screen under direct sunlight and was able to read everything. One of the hangups I reviewed Galaxy Z Flip 6 I switched from the inside screen to the cover display outdoors. On sunny days, you may be able to barely see what happened on the cover display, even though the main screen is fine.

Samsung has increased the maximum brightness of the Flip 7’s cover screen to 2,600 knit. This is the same as the inner display. Both screens will also be available at 120Hz. This allows for a much more consistent experience by making system animation, gameplay and scrolling through social feeds extremely smooth.

The 6.9 inch inner screen is large, but it doesn’t feel difficult to use. The Flip 6 had a 6.7-inch display, but the Flip 7’s screen felt a big 0.2-inch extra, which I am grateful for in the middle-aged eyes.

From a functional standpoint, the natural state of the cover screen is a widget. And instead of using a full app, like a widget in Spotify, you need everything. However, you will need to enable this feature in the lab section of Settings and download the MultiStar app as the app is required for your home screen. It takes a few minutes to set up, but I hope it supports apps that support interfaces by default.

Galaxy Z Flip 7 camera

Samsung-Unpacked-2025-CNET-12

The Z-Flip 7 features a 50-megapixel camera with a wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera on the cover screen.

Joe Maldonado/CNET

The Flip 7 has three cameras: a 50 megapixel wide-angle, a 12 megapixel ultra-wade, and a 10 megapixel selfie camera (main 6.9-inch screen). The camera is the same as the Flip 6 and Flip 7 FE cameras. However, because mobile phones run on a variety of processors, differences and improvements in photos and videos come from Samsung’s processing and machine learning.

So far, here are some of my favorite photos of the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

I doubled this shot of the New York skyline to the main camera set of Flip 7. The cloud highlights and textures really make this photo pop.

Patrick Holland/CNET

This image of CNET’s Tara Brown and Vanessa Hand Orellana was taken with the main camera of the Flip 7.

Patrick Holland/CNET

New York streets look great on nights after rain. Especially in this photo taken with the main camera.

Patrick Holland/CNET

I’m a fan of Ultrawid Cameras and this snap I took with Flip 7 is why. I like the way Samsung Ultrawid’s lenses distort and exaggerate the subject, making it appear more dramatic.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Here is another photo from the main camera of a mobile phone taken in a dimly lit airline cabin.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Both of these shots are from the main camera. The one on the left was lit up purely by the sign from behind me. The one on the right captures the texture and details of the large gelato corn.

Tara Brown, Patrick Holland/CNET

Galaxy Z flips seven final thoughts for now

Galaxy Z Flip 7

The hinge on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is almost 30% smaller than the one on last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 6.

Joe Maldonado/CNET/PCMAG

Samsung gave the foldable line a major overhaul. And while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 feels like a completely different phone from the previous creases, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 seems like a great refinement. I think I only had two days on the phone. And I’m looking forward to how the battery life will be measured, just like a big cover screen.

Samsung gave the Flip 7 a 4,300-MAH battery (compared to the 4,000-MAH battery on the Galaxy Z Flip 6), but I think the increase in capacity will be offset by the power required for the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and their larger brighter displays.

There’s a lot to do. But when I work my way towards a full review, I try not to drop my Flip 7 anymore.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Specs vs. Motorola Razr Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Covers display size, technology, resolution and refresh rate 4.1 inch AMOLED, 948×1,048p, 120Hz refresh rate 4-inch polling, 2,992×1,224p, up to 165Hz variable refresh rate 3.4 inch AMOLED; 720×748 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate
Internal display size, technology, resolution, refresh rate 6.9 inch AMOLED, 2,520×1,080p, 1-120Hz refresh rate 7-inch AMOLED; 1,272×1,080p, up to 165Hz variable refresh rate 6.7 inch AMOLED; 2,640×1,080 pixels; 1-120Hz refresh rate
Pixel density Cover: 342ppi. Inside: 397ppi Cover: 417 PPI. Internal: 464 PPI Cover: 306 PPI. Internal: 425 PPI
Dimensions (inches) Open: 2.96×6.56×0.26 Closed: 2.96×3.37×0.26 Open: 2.91×6.75×0.28 Closed: 2.91×3.47×0.62 Open: 6.5 x 2.83 x 0.27 Closed: 3.35 x 2.83 x 0.59
Dimensions (mm) Open: 75.2×166.7×6.5Closure: 75.2×85.5×13.7 Open: 73.99×171.48×7.19Closed: 73.99×88.12×15.69 Open: 165.1×71.9×6.9 Close: 85.1×71.9×14.9
Weight (grams, ounces) 188 g (6.63 oz) 199 g (7 oz) 187 g (6.6 oz)
Mobile Software Android 16 Android 15 Android 14
camera 50 megapixels (main), 12 megapixels (ultrawid) 50 megapixels (wide), 50 megapixels (ultrawid) 50 megapixels (wide), 12 megapixels (ultrawid)
Internal screen camera 10 megapixels 50 megapixels 10 megapixels
Video Capture 4k at 60fps 4k TBD
Processor Samsung Exynos 2500 Snapdragon 8 Elite Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM/Storage 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB 16GB + 512GB, 1TB 12GB + 256GB, 512GB
Expandable storage no none none
battery 4,300 mAh 4,700 mah 4,000 mah
Fingerprint sensor yes side side
connector USB-C USB-C USB-C
Headphone jack none none none
Special features 1 UI 8, IP48 Water Resistant, 25 Watt Wired Charging, QI Wireless Charging, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Galaxy AI IP48 rating, 68 watt wired charging, 30 watt wireless charging, 5 watt reverse charging, dual stereo speakers, Corning Gorilla glass ceramic cover display, 3,000 knots peak brightness on the cover display, 4,500 knots peak brightness on the main display, 5g. IP48 rating, 25 watts wired charging, wireless charging + PowerShare, 3x optical zoom (up to 10x digital, 30x space zoom for AI Super Resolution Tech)
US prices start $1,100 $1,300 $1,100



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