Price and Storage: Little Overlap
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the pricier flip phone, starting at $1,099.99 for 256GB of storage—the same starting price as last year’s Z Flip 6 . The Z Flip 7 FE is cheaper, starting at $899.99 for 128GB of storage. The Flip 7 comes in a 512GB variant for $1,219.99. If you need that much storage, the Flip 7 is your only option; the Flip 7 FE tops out at 256GB for $959.99.
The price difference between the Flip 7 and 7 FE is partly explained by the amount of RAM each phone has. The Flip 7 FE comes with 8GB of RAM, while the Flip 7 bumps that to 12GB. Last year’s Flip 6 also shipped with 12GB of RAM.
Winner: Tie (depending on whether you want more storage or a lower price)
Design and Size: Small But Meaningful Differences
Both the Flip 7 and the Flip 7 FE feature the classic clamshell flip design. They both have a front display that gives you access to important information such as the time, date, messages, and incoming calls. You can also access some apps from this display, though the number of apps and their functionality are limited.
The Flip 7 has a stronger and thinner Armor FlexHinge, which gives the device a sleeker appearance. Both phones use Samsung’s Enhanced Armor Aluminium frame and take advantage of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to protect the display from drops and scratches. They share an IP48 rating for dust and water protection, which allows them to reject particles larger than 1mm and withstand full immersion in about five feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
Each phone has a power button and volume rocker on the right side. At the bottom, there is a USB-C port for charging and data transfer. The SIM card tray is on the left edge.
The Flip 7 is available in Blue Shadow, Coral Red, or Jetblack. If you purchase the phone directly through Samsung’s website, an exclusive Mint color is available. The Flip 7 FE is available in Black or White only.
The Z Flip 7 measures 6.56 by 2.96 by 0.26 inches (HWD) when it’s open and 3.37 by 2.96 by 0.54 inches when closed. It weighs 6.63 ounces. The Z Flip 7 FE has similar measurements at 6.50 by 2.83 by 0.27 inches when open and 3.35 by 2.83 by 0.59 inches when closed. It’s slightly lighter than the Z Flip 7 at 6.60 ounces. While the difference in measurements between the two phones is subtle, the Flip 7 FE definitely feels like the larger of the two when held.
Winner: Galaxy Z Flip 7
Displays: One Is Bigger Than the Other
The Flip 7 has a 4.1-inch Super AMOLED cover screen with a resolution of 1,048 by 948 pixels and a variable refresh rate between 60 and 120Hz. Samsung supercharged the brightness, which reaches 2,600 nits at its peak under the sun.
The Flip 7 FE's outer display is smaller, at 3.4 inches. It’s also not as sharp or bright as the one on the Flip 7. It has a resolution of only 720 by 748 pixels, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits.
The inner screens are different, too. The Flip 7 has a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x main display with a resolution of 2,520 by 1,080 pixels and an adaptive refresh rate between 1 and 120Hz. Like the outer screen, it reaches 2,600 nits of peak brightness. The Flip 7 FE sports a smaller 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x main screen with a resolution of 2,640 by 1,080 pixels, the same adaptive refresh rate as the Flip 7, and the same peak brightness of 2,600 nits.
Though the main display isn't that much different, the improved outer screen gives the Flip 7 a significant advantage.
Winner: Galaxy Z Flip 7
Performance and Connectivity: Testing Required
Samsung’s other foldable device, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, sports one of the fastest mobile processors available, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite . Neither Flip phone receives such high-end treatment this time around.
Instead, the Flip 7 is powered by the Samsung-made Exynos 2500 system-on-a-chip, which is new and mostly unknown. We do know that the phone has 12GB of RAM, but we haven’t tested it yet and can't speculate on its performance.
The Flip 7 FE has a slightly older Exynos 2400 processor with 8GB of RAM. A similar processor, the Exynos 2400e, is in Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE and performed admirably in benchmark testing. We look forward to testing the Exynos 2500 and 2400 processors to see where they land.
Both phones offer good 5G support. Each can connect to sub-6GHz and C-band 5G, but only the Flip 7 has access to faster mmWave service. The Flip 7 gets a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth upgrade, too, gaining support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 . The Flip 7 FE supports the older Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 protocols.
Winner: Too Early to Say (But Leaning Z Flip 7)
Battery Life: All-Day Power All Around
The Z Flip 7 has the larger battery of the two phones, at 4,300mAh. Samsung claims that it should give you up to 31 hours of video playback on a single charge. The Flip 7 FE’s battery is only slightly smaller, at 4,000mAh—the same size as the battery found in last year’s Flip 6. The company says the 7 FE's battery should last for up to 24 hours of video playback, while the Flip 6 was supposed to last 23 hours under the same conditions.
We test battery life by streaming a 1080p video over Wi-Fi with the screen set at full screen brightness to get our numbers. In our test, the Flip 6 managed 16 hours and 20 minutes on a single charge. This is impressive, but not nearly as long as the company claims. We’ve yet to test the batteries of these new phones, but it's likely they'll both outlast the Flip 6.
Both phones charge identically: They support 25W of wired charging, 15W of wireless charging, and 5W of reverse wireless charging.
Winner: Too Early to Say
Cameras: No Upgrades Here
The Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE have the exact same physical camera array that was found on the Flip 6. There’s a 50MP main camera with dual-pixel auto focus and optical image stabilization (OIS). It has an 85-degree field of view (FoV). It is paired with a 12MP ultra-wide camera with a 123-degree FoV. Both of these cameras are located on the front, outer panel. On the inside, there's a 10MP selfie camera with an 85-degree FoV located at the top of the display.
The one thing the Flip 7 has going for it is Samsung's updated ProVisual Engine. The company's newer image processing software should result in sharper shots. Further, it supports the same always-on 10-bit HDR10+ color capture and advanced noise reduction of the flagship Fold 7. The 7 FE doesn't share those features.
When we reviewed the Flip 6, we found that the camera's images were clear and detailed but slightly oversaturated in color. We look forward to testing the cameras of both phones so we can provide you with a more solid recommendation.
Winner: Too Early to Say (But Leaning Z Flip 7)
Software and AI: Android 16 and Galaxy AI
Both the Flip 7 and the Flip 7 FE come equipped with Android 16 out of the box. They each run Samsung's One UI 8, which tweaks the Android software with features like Edge Display and DeX. They will each receive seven years of OS upgrades and security support, which is the best in the biz at the moment.
Samsung's Galaxy AI is a large part of the software experience on both devices. Both have access to all the same AI tricks, including Circle to Search, Gemini Live, Note Assist, and Transcript Assist. They also feature an AI interpreter for calls and Samsung’s AI-assisted photo editing software.
The Flip 7, however, has a major advantage here: Gemini Live AI Mode. With AI Mode enabled, you can talk directly to Gemini Live from the outer Flex Window, use the phone's cameras to let Gemini "see" things, and have an ongoing discussion without ever opening up the phone. This new feature could be a real game-changer.
Winner: Galaxy Z Flip 7
Which Galaxy Flip Is Right for You?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the Z Flip 7 FE share a lot of features, including their cameras, software, and basic form factor. The Flip 7 is $200 more expensive than the Flip 7 FE, but it comes with better displays, a larger battery, an improved processor, and more memory. However, we think more testing is needed to make a firm recommendation here. Until we get a chance to review the phones fully, here are the things we suggest you consider ahead of placing an order:
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If that $200 price difference is a big deal to you, the Flip 7 FE gets you most of the flip phone experience for less money.
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If you prefer the latest hardware and want the bigger screens of the Flip 7, it's a solid bet for the outer display alone.
We expect to have reviews of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Flip 7 FE soon, so be sure to check back for our definitive buying advice. Want something bigger? Check out our comparison of the Z Fold 7 and the Z Fold 6 .
