A Test of Durability for the Galaxy Z Flip 7
If you’re worried about the durability of Samsung’s foldable phones, there’s no need to be. This is especially true when it comes to the new Galaxy Z Flip 7, which stands out among today’s best smartphones.
After less than six hours with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, I accidentally conducted my own informal drop test. At a catered event in Brooklyn, I stepped outside to enjoy the waterfront view and, while pulling the Z Flip 7 from my pocket, I fumbled it. I watched helplessly as the phone hit the ground. The sound it made when it clacked against the concrete drew curious glances from those around me, as if they were saying, “That’s a shame. Your phone is toast.”
Have you ever dropped your phone? There’s that moment of anxiety before you pick it up, wondering if it survived. Fortunately, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 came through unscathed. The 4.1-inch cover screen had no cracks or scratches. The 6.9-inch inner display was undamaged because the phone was closed. The only sign of its fall was a small scuff near the microphones on the bottom of the device. Samsung’s claim that its new “Armour Flex Hinge” is built to withstand impact is indeed true.
In the early days of foldable phones, their durability was a big concern. It’s impressive that, after about six years, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 can handle being dropped on concrete as if it landed on a velvet pillow. However, I still wouldn’t take the Flip 7 (or any foldable phone) to the beach, as it can only withstand particles that are 1mm or larger. Going to a confetti factory would be fine, but a salt factory is definitely not advisable.
The Thin Design of the Galaxy Z Flip 7
The star of Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event was the Galaxy Z Fold 7. At just 8.9mm thick when closed, the Fold 7 is impressively slim. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 also looks sleek, but it’s 13.7mm thick when closed—slim, but not as thin as the Fold 7. I wonder why the Flip 7 couldn’t be as slim as the Fold 7. I imagine a Galaxy Z Flip 8 with the same thinness as the Fold 7.
Here’s how the Flip 7 compares to its clamshell predecessors:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7: 13.7mm thick
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: Slightly thicker
- Galaxy Z Flip 5: Even more substantial
The Big Cover Screen
The defining feature of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is its 4.1-inch cover display. Unlike the original Galaxy Z Flip, which had a tiny 1.1-inch pill-shaped screen, the Flip 7’s cover display is much more functional. I checked my notifications on the screen under direct sunlight and could easily read everything. One issue I had with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 was switching between the inner screen and the cover display outdoors. On sunny days, the cover display was often hard to see, even though the main screen worked perfectly.
Samsung has increased the maximum brightness of the Flip 7’s cover screen to 2,600 nits, matching the inner display. Both screens now top out at 120Hz, ensuring a smoother experience with system animations, gameplay, and scrolling through social media feeds.
The 6.9-inch inner screen is large, but it doesn’t feel unwieldy. The Flip 6 had a 6.7-inch display, but the extra 0.2 inches on the Flip 7 makes it feel significantly bigger, which is great for my middle-aged eyes.
Functionality of the Cover Screen
The cover screen’s default state is widgets. Some, like Spotify’s widget, are all I need instead of using full apps. However, I prefer having apps on the home screen, so I have to enable this functionality in the Labs section of Settings and download the MultiStar app. It takes a few minutes to set up, but I wish the interface supported apps by default.
Cameras on the Galaxy Z Flip 7
The Flip 7 has three cameras: a 50-megapixel wide-angle, a 12-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10-megapixel selfie camera (in the main 6.9-inch screen). These cameras are the same as those on the Flip 6 and Flip 7 FE. However, the phones run on different processors, so any differences or improvements in photos and videos will come from Samsung’s processing and machine learning.
Final Thoughts on the Galaxy Z Flip 7
Samsung gave its foldable line a major overhaul. While the Galaxy Z Fold 7 feels like an entirely new phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 seems like a refined version. I’ve only had the phone for two days, and while I’m impressed with the larger cover screen, I’m eager to see how the battery life performs.
Samsung gave the Flip 7 a 4,300-mAh battery, up from the Galaxy Z Flip 6’s 4,000-mAh battery. However, I wonder if the increased capacity will be offset by the power needed for its Exynos 2500 chip and the larger, brighter displays.
I have more testing to do, but as I work toward a full review, I’ll try not to drop the Flip 7 again.
Correction, Jul. 12: The Galaxy Z Flip 7 runs on Samsung’s Exynos 2500 chip.