Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Phone Design
- Muhammad Rehman
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
It is neither the Z Flip7 nor the Z Flip6; in 2025, Samsung will release a second-tier clamshell foldable, the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE, which bears the number 7 but is more like the 6 in most ways. Samsung is diversifying its offerings by offering two clamshells in addition to the Fold—not content to only offer a book-style foldable. A two Flips approach does seem to make sense - Motorola has had two Razrs in most markets, and competing at more price points is probably good for the bottom line.
Like the S-series and their FEs, the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE comes with some hardware concessions, but it doesn't seem like as much of a downgrade as compared to the "real" model. In fact, this FE is more of a reissue of the model from last year. The Z Flip7 FE reuses the Z Flip6's cameras, but then so does the Z Flip7.
However, in contrast to the Z Flip7, the 2024 model's body, displays, battery, and most other features remain unchanged. However, Samsung decided that 12GB of RAM was too much for an FE, so it has 8GB of RAM instead of the S24-like Exynos 2400 chipset. The Z Flip7 FE does start its life at Android 16, though, two more than the Z Flip6, so there's that.
The Z Flip7 FE does not benefit from the relatively significant design changes that were made to the actual Galaxy 7-series foldables compared to the models that came out last year. Instead, it's essentially a Galaxy Z Flip6 with toned-down camera ring accents. Or a Z Flip5 in the cameras, but with the Z Flip6's flatter sides. Either way, it's a very familiar sight.
Depending on how you look at it, that does make the Z Flip7 FE somewhat smaller than the regular Z Flip7. It's 1.6mm shorter, which is no big deal, but it's 3.3mm narrower, which is more easily felt.
That is directly attributable to the Z Flip7's reimagining of the internal screen's aspect ratio and increased size; consequently, you could say that the Z Flip7 FE is a little bit simpler to use because it requires less effort to reach across with your thumb. Having said that, both when it is unfolded and when it is folded, the FE appears to be slightly thinner than the Z Flip7.
When you unfold the FE (which is a little easier here than it is on the non-FE), you get that classic tall 22:9 aspect ratio. There are a few creases, but as we've said before, only reviewers complain about them, while foldable users simply use their foldables. You never notice it in daily use, that's all.
The Z Flip7 FE still uses the side-mounted fingerprint sensor in the "power" button, but instead of using multiple taps to register, the FE uses the new swipe-around method. Well, it's no under-display fingerprint reader, but it does work without incident.
The Z Flip7 FE has an IP48 rating, just like the Galaxy clamshell from last year. Samsung foldables have had protection against water subversion for several generations, but the 6s brought in a rated dust tightness protection - okay, it's not strictly 'dust', but the 4 means no particles larger than 1mm can enter the Z Flip7 FE.
In some ways, the Z Flip7 FE is inferior to the Z Flip6 because it only comes in two of the five color options of the older phone. While Black or White is a more straightforward option than Black, White, Yellow, Silver Shadow, Mint, Blue, or Peach, it is also a little bit more monotonous.
Comments