
This Polestar just went nearly 600 MILES without charging on real UK roads!
Open gallery Polestar 3 used for the attempt was completely factory-spec
SUV achieved efficiency of 5.1 miles per kilowatt hour during the run
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The Polestar 3 has claimed the world record for the longest distance travelled by an electric SUV on one charge, cracking nearly 600 miles in one hit on UK roads.
The new Long Range version of Polestar's flagship SUV, with a 107kWh battery and a single 295bhp motor on the rear axle, managed 581.3 miles of driving around the east of England. That comfortably beats the 3's 438-mile official range and smashes the previous record of 569.64 miles, set by the Ford Mustang Mach-E last year.
The distance travelled equates to a final efficiency figure of 19.5kWh per 100 miles, or 5.13mpkWh, which is in line with the official WLTP efficiency figures of some small electric cars weighing around two-thirds as much as the 2.4-tonne 3.
Polestar said the SUV continued for eight miles after the battery charge readout reached 0% and still managed to get to a charger, suggesting it could even have gone slightly farther.
Crucially, the car used for the attempt was completely unmodified – even using the standard Michelin Sport 4 EV tyres – and the attempt was carried out on open public roads, including single-track lanes, dual carriageways and B-roads.
The news comes a week after Chevrolet revealed its new Silverado EV pickup truck had managed a whopping 1060 miles on a single charge, but that was with light modifications in place and took seven days to complete. Furthermore, the Chevy's 205kWh battery pack is around twice the size of the Polestar's and it averaged 4.9mpkWh, compared with the Swedish car's 5.1mpkWh.
The current outright range record for an unmodified electric car, as recognised by Guinness World Records, is held by the Lucid Air. However, the Polestar's record-chasing run was undertaken in conditions that better reflect real-world driving so is more relevant to consumers, explained Sam Clarke, one of three drivers who piloted the car during the attempt.
'This is a 'journey' record, which means that we use public roads, we have to adhere to normal speed limits and we can't go over the same road twice, so effectively we do one very large loop, as best we can.'
That last requirement presented a significant obstacle, as not only did it become increasingly difficult to avoid previously used roads while remaining on the flat ground needed to maximise range, but it also meant that any late changes to the route could have quashed the team's chances of setting a record.
'We did have one particular jeopardy when we got to Melton Mowbray at the very tail end of the run and it turned out there was a cycle race on the next day, so a load of the roads were closed. Every time we tried to change direction, we found another road closure and another road closure...' said Clarke. Fortunately, some quick thinking from the navigator got the team back on a diversion route without having too drastic an impact on remaining range.
Clarke said the journey record is more relevant than the outright range record because 'it's the closest thing to the real world, on proper roads at proper speeds'.
He added: 'We're not suggesting for a second that everybody can achieve the same ranges that we did, but we did exceed the WLTP figures by some margin, so it just shows what's possible. Driving a little bit more efficiently – which ultimately equates to just moving your right foot a few less millimetres each time – can actually generate significant amounts of range'.
Figures like this, while not necessarily achievable in everyday driving, help to show that 'EVs really can go a long way now', Clarke said, and 'the range anxiety phraseology we've seen in our industry for many years is rapidly diminishing'.
Clarke, who has taken part in several previous EV record-breaking runs (including the Mustang Mach-E one last year), said range anxiety as a concept is 'definitely dying' but 'the infrastructure still needs to continue to improve as the technology advances in the vehicles as well'.
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Auto Express
32 minutes ago
- Auto Express
Hyundai Inster vs BYD Dolphin Surf: cool urban EVs go wheel-to-wheel for the crown
Barely 12 months ago, the chances of getting your hands on a small electric car were pretty slim. One or two contenders were around, but more choice at this end of the market – especially where simple, clean EV powertrains designed for urban use make the most sense – will always be welcome. Advertisement - Article continues below Two such options have arrived recently: one from a brand that's in a fantastic run of form, the other from a manufacturer that has burst onto the UK market and introduced a range that grows more comprehensive by the month. Hyundai has been one of the best car makers this decade, with its Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric both winning our New Car Awards Car of the Year crown in the past five years. Its latest electric car is significantly smaller than either of those champions, but not when it comes to personality; the Inster is a quirky-looking electric vehicle that stands out even among some very distinctive new rivals. Here, it faces off against BYD's Dolphin Surf. The brand's arrival in the UK market has been largely promising, but so far its cars have never quite hit the highs to top their class. Could its smallest and cheapest contender yet be about to change all of that? Model: Hyundai Inster 02 Price: £26,755 Powertrain: 49kWh battery, 1x e-motor, 113bhp 0-62mph: 10.6 seconds Test efficiency: 3.8 miles/kWh Official range: 223 miles Annual VED: £195 The Inster is the smallest member of Hyundai's EV line-up, arriving just before the firm's largest EV offering, the Ioniq 9. This little-and-large pairing bring the total number of models to five, giving buyers a very comprehensive range to choose from. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Its size will no doubt make the Inster an ideal choice as the second vehicle in a two-car family, although alongside some of its similarly sized rivals, the prices look a touch high, ranging from £23,505 to £28,755. In 02 trim, as tested here, it costs £26,755. There aren't many cars on sale measuring just 3.8 metres long that offer up so much space inside, and the clever details which allow that to happen start right at the front of the Hyundai Inster's cabin. As with the larger Ioniq 5, the Inster has a column-mounted shifter that allows more space to be freed up between the front seats. Storage space is mounted either on the tall dash area or, in the case of the cup-holders, sitting in an upholstered section integrated between the front seats. We think the sweet spot in the Inster range is the 02 model, giving the best balance between value and standard equipment. At almost 27 grand, it's still pricey, but it makes more sense than the Inster Cross. In addition to its chunky SUV-inspired looks, this brings a sunroof, a surround-view monitor and extra driver- assistance tech, but costs a full £2,000 more than the 02. 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Nobody can accuse the Dolphin Surf of being short of driver-assist tech, because adaptive cruise control, emergency lane-keep assist and traffic-sign recognition are all standard. There's also a driver-monitoring system fitted on all cars – and it's one of the worst we've had the displeasure of using. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Peering around an approaching corner, a lingering look in one of the mirrors, looking just beyond the bonnet line for an upcoming speed bump; these are just some of the situations that caused the BYD to bark 'Keep eyes on road!' at us when on the move. Even though this is BYD's cheapest car in the UK, there's been no skimping on the eye-catching tech. Just as with its larger siblings, the Dolphin Surf gets a rotating touchscreen. At the push of a button (either on the steering wheel or the 10.1-inch display itself), the screen electrically rotates from a landscape to a portrait layout. It may impress your mates for a moment or two, but beyond that, it's a bit of a gimmick – especially when the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay systems that most drivers will use only work in landscape mode. Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express ? We'll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too . For such small cars, this pair ride with remarkable compliance, easily making them feel grown up enough to live with every day. The BYD's tiny turning circle makes it great to drive in town, but its steering response and feedback have plenty of room for improvement. The Hyundai's natural-feeling steering makes it more fun to drive than the BYD, but the Dolphin Surf is quieter at motorway speeds. When it comes to battery capacity, the Inster steals a march on its rival with a 49kWh unit – 5.8kWh more than the BYD. However, the Dolphin Surf's electric motor delivers more performance. Figures of 154bhp and 220Nm beat the Hyundai by a significant 41bhp and 73Nm, so even though the BYD is the heavier car, it still accelerates from 0-62mph in 9.1 seconds, 1.5 seconds quicker than the Inster. In our hands, the Dolphin Surf proved to be the more efficient of this pair – if only just – achieving 3.9 miles/kWh to the Inster's 3.8 miles/kWh figure. Thanks to its larger battery, the Hyundai can travel further on a single charge, though; when we tested both models until they ran out of charge, the Hyundai covered 184 miles before it reached zero, while the BYD managed just 168 miles. The Inster lets drivers choose between vast interior space or a decent boot, thanks to a sliding rear bench. With that in its rearmost position, knee and head room are superb, but the boot is a modest 238 litres. With the bench moved forward, there's 351 litres, but knee room drops behind the BYD and its 308-litre boot. Given that the Hyundai is smaller than its rival on the outside, its packaging is very impressive. Blind-spot monitoring is only offered on the top-spec Inster Cross, but other versions get lane-keep and lane-follow assist as standard. The on-board safety tech contributed to the Hyundai's four-star rating when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2025. The body hasn't evaluated the Dolphin Surf yet, but every BYD tested by NCAP so far has got a maximum five-star rating, which bodes well for the brand's smallest car. Hyundai finished 20th out of 31 in our 2025 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey for brands – not outstanding, but largely consistent with what the Korean firm achieved in 2024. BYD's first showing in our survey wasn't a strong one; it beat only MG on the way to 30th place. At least both marques here provide strong warranties, with Hyundai owners getting five years' cover and BYD drivers six years'. Most of what BYD has offered in the UK so far has been competent yet fairly unremarkable, but the Dolphin Surf is its best offering yet. In a segment where value really matters, BYD has delivered a competitively priced, well equipped small EV, that blends plenty of performance, interior space and maturity for its asking price. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Character and fun aren't high on its list of qualities, but that won't bother value-focused buyers. An efficient powertrain and a long warranty hold more appeal for those choosing a car with their head. That value gives the BYD the edge over the Hyundai in this contest. Buy a new BYD Dolphin Surf now If we take price out of the equation, then the Hyundai Inster is the superior package in this contest. More spacious, better to drive and boasting a fantastic range for a car of this size, there's a huge amount to appreciate. However, it's not enough to overcome the difference in price between these two models, and value for money plays a big part in the overall result at the smaller, more affordable end of the market. The Inster is a more desirable, characterful product than the BYD Dolphin Surf, so those who can stretch the budget will be getting hold of a cracking small car. 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The Sun
33 minutes ago
- The Sun
‘Code red' recall for ANOTHER 10,000 cars in UK over worrying ‘explosion' fault – check if you're affected
THOUSANDS of UK motorists have been told to park up their cars immediately after Citroën and DS models were hit with a rare 'do not drive' safety order over potentially deadly airbags. The highest-level 'stop‑drive' recall affects well over 100,000 vehicles on British roads and has just been widened again, leaving around 10,000 owners unable to use their cars until repairs are completed. 1 Makers say they're moving fast, but many drivers have already been without their cars for weeks, and are facing cancelled bookings due to parts shortages. Stellantis says it proactively widened the stop‑drive action to C4, DS4, and DS5 in mid‑August, while DVSA continues to oversee recall compliance. Here's what's going on, the full list of affected cars, and exactly what to do now. Why the 'stop‑drive' order is so serious This isn't a routine recall. It's a code‑red instruction to stop using the car with immediate effect because there's a risk the driver's airbag can explode dangerously when it deploys. The issue involves Takata airbag inflators, which can degrade over time and, in rare cases, rupture and fire metal fragments into the cabin. A fatal incident in France triggered the UK action. With the stakes this high, the manufacturer and the DVSA expect owners to take the notice seriously. That means no school runs, no quick nip to the shops, and crucially, no driving the car to a dealership for a repair. If you're affected, you must arrange for recovery or an at‑home fix via the brand's network. Full list: Citroën and DS models under 'do not drive' Owners of the following cars have been told not to drive until the airbag is replaced. If you see your model and build years below, assume you're affected unless a dealer has already confirmed your car has had a new airbag fitted. Citroën C3 (2009–2019) DS 3 (first generation, including earlier Citroën‑badged DS3) – built 2009–2019 Citroën C4 – built 2010–2011 DS 4 – built 2010–2011 DS 5 – built 2010–2013 The most recent expansion added roughly 9,968 UK cars (C4, DS4, and DS5). In total, near-106,000 Citroën/DS vehicles in Britain are now covered by the stop‑drive action. Can I still drive to the garage? No. The stop‑drive instruction means exactly that. Do not use the car on public roads until it's repaired. The maker has been clear that cars must be returned to the workshop or repaired at home. Driving an affected vehicle could carry legal consequences if you're involved in a collision, and insurers may refuse claims on the grounds that the car wasn't safe to be on the road. How to check if your car is on the list Look out for a red‑bordered stop‑drive letter or email from the manufacturer. These have been sent to registered keepers of affected vehicles. 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If you've been given a date weeks away - or had a slot cancelled at short notice - push for alternative options and mobility support (more on your rights below). What you're entitled to: your rights explained Courtesy car or mobility support: There's no automatic legal right, but Stellantis says it will support mobility (courtesy car, recovery, at‑home repair, or alternatives). Ask explicitly and keep receipts for reasonable costs. Recovery to the dealer: You shouldn't be asked to drive the car in. The brand should arrange safe transport for the vehicle if an at‑home fix isn't available. Expenses: Keep every receipt for taxis, public transport, and other essential travel caused by the stop‑drive order. Ask the manufacturer to reimburse reasonable costs where a courtesy car hasn't been provided. Clear communication: You're entitled to a straight answer on whether your car is affected, when parts are expected, and how you'll be kept mobile in the meantime. If you're being passed from pillar to post, escalate in writing to customer service and copy in the dealership principal. If you recently bought the car: Bought from a dealer and only just discovered it's under stop‑drive? Speak to the seller. Consumer protection laws may give you remedies if the car was not of satisfactory quality at the point of sale. Independent legal advice is sensible here. Insurance and legal consequences Ignoring a stop‑drive recall is a serious risk. If you crash and investigators find an outstanding stop‑drive order, insurers may reject the claim, and you could face prosecution. If you need to inform your insurer that your car is temporarily off the road due to the recall, do so and keep records of all communications. Practical steps to take today Stop driving immediately. Park the car safely and remove the keys. Confirm your status by using the recall checker and then call your dealer with your VIN. Book the repair. Push for the earliest available slot or at‑home fix. Ask for mobility support. If no courtesy car is offered, request it explicitly - and ask about alternative options if the waiting list is long. Keep records. Save emails, note call times, and keep receipts for any extra travel costs. Can I SORN the car and save on tax? If your vehicle will be off the road for a while, you can apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). That means you must not use or park the car on public roads, but you could get a refund for the full remaining months of vehicle tax. Only do this if you truly won't need to drive it until it's repaired; it can take admin time to reverse a SORN when your car is fixed. How the repair works The fix involves replacing the affected airbag module. In many cases, this is a straightforward job a technician can complete in a single visit, though the exact time varies by model. Some owners are being offered at‑home replacements to speed things up; others will need workshop slots. If you're offered an alternative airbag brand emblem (for example, a Citroën ‑branded wheel in a DS model) to get you back on the road faster, ask whether you can swap to the correct trim later without charge. Why some owners are still waiting This is one of the biggest safety actions the car industry has seen, and scaling up parts supply plus trained technicians takes time. That doesn't help if you're stranded now, but it explains the uneven experience across the country. If your booking is weeks away, consider being wait-listed for cancellations, checking nearby dealers for earlier slots, and requesting a mobile repair if available in your area.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Samsung Z Flip 7 review: I was too young for the original flip-phone era - but I'm totally converted with this retro revival
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more These relics might have a soft spot in the hearts of many tech fans, but I'm ashamed to say I was simply too young to enjoy the first flip-phone era. However, even without the benefit of rose-tinted nostalgia, I've been totally converted by this retro rival. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is Samsung 's latest iteration of the Z Flip series, and joins the book-like Galaxy Fold 7 as one of the company's two flagship foldables. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is available in a choice of three colours - Blue Shadow, Jetblack, and Coralred - and costs £1,049 or £1,149 depending on the storage option. Its main selling point is the 'clamshell' folding design, which lets you snap the handset closed into a package small enough to slip into your pocket. While it might not be as much of a game-changer as the Galaxy Fold 7, Samsung has succeeded in making a flip-phone that is simply great fun to use. Whether it was sat, neatly folded on my desk or flipped open to reveal the gorgeous 6.9-inch AMOLED display, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 mixes form and function to great effect. An average battery and middling cameras might be a concern for some, but if there's been a flip-phone-shaped hole in your life since the 2000s, this could be the device to fill it. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Our verdict Rating: Although it isn't perfect, Samsung has finally offered a folding phone that feels worth the extra cost compared to slab phones. Taking one of the biggest displays available on a Samsung phone and folding it down to a pocket-sized square isn't just great fun; it really enhances the phone's practicality. The only thing that holds the Galaxy Z Flip 7 back is the less-than-spectacular battery life and camera options that feel a little weak for a phone of this price. However, while I can't say that this is the right phone for everyone, I simply adore Samsung's refreshing modern take on the flip-phone. How we test our phones When we test phones, we make sure to put them through their paces in as many real-world environments as possible. That means seeing how they work at home, in the office, and out in public for all the situations your device needs to handle. We evaluate devices based on their hardware, software, and overall appeal - testing everything from camera quality and battery life to how easy they are to type with. Each phone is tested for at least a week, allowing us to provide an in-depth review to help consumers make an informed decision. Why trust us? Wiliam Hunter is a science and technology reporter at MailOnline and has been testing and reviewing products for two years. He completed a master's degree in Newspaper Journalism at City University London in 2022. Design Unfolded, the device is 6.56 inches tall by 2.96 inches wide and just 6.5mm thick. That puts it on the larger and thinner end for most smartphones, coming in a little taller and slimmer than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. But when the phone is closed, you're left with a neat little block measuring just 3.36 inches by 2.96 inches. In this form, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is pretty chunky at 13.7 mm thick and weighing 188 grams, but I really don't mind the extra heft. The device feels reassuringly solid, fitting nicely into the palm of your hand or sitting stably on a table. Despite the thickness, the design is so compact that there were times when I honestly forgot it was in my pocket. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 also looks fantastic. Perhaps I've spent too long looking at smartphones, but to me, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is absolutely adorable. Compared to the ocean of identical metal and glass slabs on the market, this compact foldable is, simply put, cute. The front display is a nearly square 4.1-inch display that, in a colossal improvement over the Galaxy Z Flip 6, wraps around the two small cameras. In its folded form, the Galaxy Z Flip 7's front screen is pleasantly reminiscent of my beloved 2010s tech favourites, the Tamagotchi and iPod Nano 6. We received our review model in the colour Blue Shadow, which looks stunning, but the vibrant Coralred also looks like an extremely fun alternative. Display Compared to the previous Galaxy Z Flip 6, this updated model has bigger screens both inside and out. On the outside, the display has grown from 3.6 inches to 4.1 inches, which really makes a noticeable difference. Considering you can't use most apps from this outer display, the screen quality is almost unnecessarily good. It's a Super AMOLED with a variable refresh rate of 60-120Hz and extremely high peak brightness of 2,600 nits, coupled with Samsung's Vision Booster to improve outdoor viewing. Inside, there is a 6.9-inch display compared to the 6.7-inch display on the Galaxy Z Flip 6. That gives the Galaxy Z Flip the same screen size as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and an even bigger display than the Google Pixel 9 XL. This inner screen is a Super AMOLED display with a variable refresh rate of 1-120Hz and the same peak brightness of 2,600 nits. During testing, I found that both screens were extremely bright, colourful, and clear. The slightly larger inner display was a real bonus, especially for typing out emails or watching videos on YouTube. The inner screen is a bit more reflective due to the flexible material and smudges a lot, which can make it a little difficult to use outdoors. However, the extra brightness usually makes up for any difficulties. The crease, an unavoidable feature of folding phones, is just about visible when the screen is off but practically disappears whenever the display is in use. I also noticed that the crease seems to show up more in pictures than it does to the naked eye, so don't be too put off by how it might look in images online. Performance The Galaxy Z Flip 7's one major deviation from other Samsung models is that it comes with Samsung's own Exynos 2500 processor. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Motorola Razr Ultra, meanwhile, both ship with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. Samsung says that this chipset has just as much power as the Snapdragon, and, based on our testing, there's no reason to doubt that. The Z Flip 7 allows you to run two apps at the same time, with the option to add a third as an overlay, and manages this without any hint of juddering. However, the phone does become quite warm during extended periods of high-intensity use. Samsung has increased the battery size from 4,000mAh on the Z Flip 6 to 4,300mAh on the Z Flip 7. That's a fairly big increase and only a little shy of the 4,400 mAh battery in the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Samsung says that this can deliver 31 hours of video playback at 720p for content stored locally on the phone. Battery life was by no means terrible, but for the price, I'd like to see something a little more impressive - especially considering that the smaller Google Pixel 9 Pro packs a 4,700 mAh battery. In our testing, I found that the phone easily lasted a full day of regular use, but could dip worryingly low if I was streaming a lot of content or creating a mobile hotspot on a long train journey. Certainly not enough to be a deal-breaker for most people, but if you want that extra peace of mind that comes with a massive battery life, it's something to consider. In terms of day-to-day use, the screen is more than large enough to make typing comfortable and easy for emails and texts. Calls sounded crystal clear thanks to the Galaxy Z Flip 7's excellent in-built speakers, and I found that the device had excellent network connectivity. Camera The cameras on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 are probably one of its weakest points. Samsung has kept the 50 megapixel main camera and 12 megapixel ultrawide from the Z Flip 6, along with a 10 megapixel inner selfie camera. The cameras are absolutely fine for most people, but they're nothing too exciting. The big change is that the phone now packs Samsung's latest ProVisualEngine, which digitally analyses and enhances your photos. Generally, photos from the Z Flip 7 look surprisingly good for their specs and capture a great amount of detail. Side by side with a picture from the Fold 7's 200 megapixel main camera, the difference isn't that noticeable. The Z Flip 7's cameras are nothing too exciting, but will be more than good enough for most regular users to get some nice photos. Picture taken on the Z Flip 7 Although the 10 megapixel selfie camera takes perfectly fine photos, a great feature of the Z Flip 7 is that you never have to use it. You can simply open the camera app while the phone is still folded, using the front display as your preview and take a photo or video with the 50 megapixel main camera. In addition to being an extremely neat party trick, this is a great way to easily get some crisp-looking shots. Software The Galaxy Flip 7 is one of the first phones to ship with Android 16 and runs on Samsung's OneUI 8. That gives you plenty of great features, such as the Now bar, which provides updates on ongoing activities like sports scores, music playback, and timers. Samsung also has some of the best AI features on any smartphone at the moment, with its own in-house tools and access to Google's AI services. That gives you access to writing, image editing, transcription, and translation services, which are simple and easy to use. I had a great time playing with Samsung's AI picture editing tools, turning my crude doodles into photorealistic edits or turning my cat into a cute cartoon. Google services include the Gemini chatbot, which lets you ask questions about what's happening on screen, and Circle to Search. Unusually, Gemini struggled to identify buildings in a few photos during testing - despite having performed well on this task when running on the Z Fold 7. For example, when shown a picture of the Design Museum, the AI insisted that it was the Francis Crick Institute building in Cambridge, even telling me that a sign 'clearly' stated that this was the case. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 also has plenty of tools that you can use on the outer screen. You can view notifications, respond to messages, set timers, access the voice recorder and use a few other widgets. I found being able to check my shopping list without needing to open the phone or look for the app was really useful. Google Gemini really struggled to identify the Design Museum, London, repeatedly telling me that it was the Francis Crick Institute. The AI even claimed that there was a sign in the picture saying that this was the case Some apps like Spotify and WhatsApp also have their widgets that you can use from the outside screen. To use other apps on the cover screen, you need to download Samsung's MultiStar plugin from the Galaxy Store. This isn't difficult to do, but it really should be a default feature from the start. Price Starting at £1,049, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a bit more expensive than the Galaxy S25+ at £999 and the Google Pixel 9 at £799. However, it still comes in slightly cheaper than the iPhone 16 Pro Max at £1,199. For a foldable, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is fairly middle of the road in terms of price. For comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 costs £1,799 and the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra costs £1,099.