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Android Authority
5 hours ago
- Android Authority
The Pixel 10 Pro is copying one of the worst things about the Galaxy S25 Ultra
Joe Maring / Android Authority Just a day after official Google Pixel 10 renders leaked (showing the phone in some really striking new colors), we now have the same treatment for the higher-end Pixel 10 Pro. While the Pixel 10 Pro's design hasn't been a secret up until now, these latest renders do provide us with the best look yet at Google's upcoming flagship. And, perhaps most importantly, we now know what colors the Pixel 10 Pro will be available in. So, what are we getting? Unfortunately, the majority of the Pixel 10 Pro's colors are quite drab, featuring your choice of black/dark gray, blueish gray, and white. It's a rather depressing lineup, resembling colors that were ripped straight from Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra playbook. And I hate it. Which Pixel 10 Pro color is your favorite? 0 votes Obsidian NaN % Porcelain NaN % Moonstone NaN % Jade NaN % Fifty shades of gray C. Scott Brown / Android Authority As technically impressive as the Galaxy S25 Ultra may be, one of the things that annoys me most about the phone is Samsung's color lineup. One of the most powerful Android phones on the market deserves colors that are as exciting as the S25 Ultra is powerful and expensive. Instead, Samsung thought it would be better to adorn the phone in its apparent favorite color: gray. If you go to buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra, you have your choice of four colors: Titanium Black (dark gray) Titanium Gray (really gray) Titanium Silverblue (blue gray) Titanium Whitesilver (light gray) What a lineup it is. No matter what shade of gray you prefer, Samsung has you covered — whether you like a classic gray or enjoy living dangerously with a blue-tinted gray. It's so utterly boring and bland, even by modern flagship smartphone color standards. Looking at the leaked Pixel 10 Pro colors, it's hard not to draw parallels between Samsung's gray-ified Galaxy S25 Ultra and the colors Google is reportedly using for the Pixel 10 Pro. Obsidian is a decidedly dark gray color, the new Moonstone shade throws a blue-gray color into the mix, and Porcelain (while not technically gray) is a neutral and boring white option. Google can do better than this The exception here is that Jade, with its Pistachio-green backside and gold accents, is really lovely. It's not overly colorful, but it's at least trying to be something other than an off-gray. It's nice! But colors like that shouldn't be the exception; they should be the norm. And for years, that was the norm for Google. It wasn't that long ago when Google's flagship Pixels came in colors like Oh So Orange, Really Blue, and Sorta Sage. You used to be able to buy the best Pixel on the market in properly exciting colors. But fast forward to 2025, and they're being overrun by gray, more gray, and washed-out versions of other colors. Google Not only do Google's previous Pixel colors remind us of what we used to have, but it's all the more frustrating considering that the cheaper Pixel 10 is due to get much brighter and more vibrant paint jobs. The Pixel 10's Indigo color is a deep, rich blue that looks like its saturation levels were cranked up to 11, while the Limoncello finish is a brighter, more colorful version of the Pixel 10 Pro's Jade. Google is very much still capable of crafting good smartphone colors; the Pixel 10 is proof of that. So then, why does the Pixel 10 Pro look like it does? Why did Google copy Samsung's gray obsession? Why is every smartphone company under this bizarre assumption that people who buy 'Pro' and 'Ultra' phones have the color palette preference of the average House Hunters couple? Google was one of the last shining beacons of regularly exciting flagship smartphone colors, and if the Pixel 10 Pro is any indication, it, too, has finally fallen victim to the gray abyss.
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Android Authority
5 Android phones you should buy instead of the Galaxy Z Fold 7
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 doesn't officially hit store shelves until later this month, but it's already established itself as one of the most exciting foldable releases of the year. With its impressively thin and light design, larger screens, and better cameras, the Z Fold 7 makes a strong argument for being the folding phone to buy in 2025. Although the US isn't teeming with foldable handsets the way other markets are, there are still options to choose from. And as good as the Fold 7 looks, it's worth considering those options before deciding that Samsung's latest is the right fit for you. So, before you click 'Buy now' with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in your online shopping cart, here are five alternatives I may recommend buying instead. Which phone do you think is the best Galaxy Z Fold 7 alternative? 0 votes Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 NaN % Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold NaN % OnePlus Open NaN % Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra NaN % Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 NaN % Other (let us know in the comments) NaN % Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Alex Walker-Todd / Android Authority Perhaps the most obvious alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Samsung's newest Fold is obviously the better of the two phones, with the most notable difference being the design. The Fold 7 is substantially thinner than the Fold 6 (8.9mm closed vs. 12.1mm) and much lighter, too (215g vs. 239g). That can make a pretty big difference in daily use, especially if you've typically found folding phones to be too bulky. However, if you're OK with the Fold 6 being a bit chunkier and heavier, it may be worth going with last year's handset. While the Fold 7 has slightly larger displays, they're not dramatically bigger than the ones on the Fold 6. The Fold 6's 50MP primary camera may not sound as impressive as the 200MP one on the Fold 7, but it's still a good, reliable sensor. And the Fold 6's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, while over a year old at this point, is still plenty fast for virtually any app or game. More importantly, many aspects of the Fold 7 and Fold 6 are identical. Both phones have 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM for the base model, 4,400mAh batteries, 25W wired charging, a 10MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. The Fold 7 is a better phone, but it also has a lot in common with its older sibling. Although Samsung is no longer selling the Fold 6, plenty of retailers and carriers still are. More importantly, given the Fold 6's age, you should be able to find it at a pretty great discount. Simply put, if you want a Samsung foldable and don't need the new design of the Fold 7 — or don't want to pay a whopping $2,000 for it — the Galaxy Z Fold 6 can make an excellent, cheaper alternative. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Thinner and lighter • Sizeable cover display • Great performance MSRP: $1,899.99 Thinner, lighter, and more powerful than ever. With a focus on refinement over previous generation Fold phones, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 rocks a 6.3-inch cover screen, a 7.6-inch, 20.9:18, 120Hz AMOLED folding display, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy chipset, a 50MP camera, 12GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of internal storage. See price at Samsung See price at Amazon Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Ryan Haines / Android Authority If you want a foldable phone but don't have to have a Samsung foldable phone, the next best choice right now is the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Google's folding phone is slightly thicker (and a lot heavier) than the Fold 7, but if you can overlook that, it's a great alternative to Samsung's latest. In terms of hardware/specs, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a lot to like. It has an 8-inch inner display (the same size as the Fold 7), 16GB of RAM for the base model, and a decent camera setup — including 48MP primary, 10.8MP telephoto, and 10.5MP ultrawide sensors. Its battery is also a bit bigger than the Fold 7, featuring a 4,650mAh capacity. What really makes the Pixel 9 Pro Fold stand out, however, is its software. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has all of the same Pixel-exclusive software features found on other Pixel phones, and they're among the best you can get. With features like Call Screen, Hold For Me, Now Playing, Pixel Screenshots, etc., there are so many great software goodies you can only get on a Pixel. Plus, if you like the Material 3 Expressive interface that's coming as part of Android 16 QRP1, only the Pixel 9 Pro Fold — not the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Fold 6 – will get that makeover. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's $1,800 retail price is already $200 cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and it's another phone that's not uncommon to find heavily discounted. The biggest reason not to buy the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is likely launching on August 20, potentially with a massive chipset upgrade. That's probably worth waiting for, but if you want a new foldable right now, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold remains a solid pick. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Improved design • 8-inch folding display • Seven years of software updates MSRP: $1,799.00 The Fold goes Pro. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is Google's most impressive foldable to date, offering a 6.3-inch exterior display, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of internal storage. When you're ready for more, unfold to access the 8-inch interior display. Solid cameras, a decent battery, and top-notch software support round out this monster of a device. See price at Amazon See price at Google Store See price at Best Buy OnePlus Open Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority My next recommendation may not be the most practical, but it's a phone I still enjoy so much almost two years after its release that I can't help but include it. The OnePlus Open is far from the newest foldable phone on the market today, but for the right person, it can still be well, well worth it. Design-wise, the OnePlus Open still looks fantastic. I love the large circular camera bump (which is a great place to rest your finger while holding the phone), and the leather back on the black model is fantastic. Both the outer and inner displays hold up extremely well by 2025 standards, and I'd argue that the cameras are more than competent, too. You also get 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM by default, a large 4,805mAh battery, and super-fast 67W wired charging. As you might expect from a phone released in 2023, there are downsides to buying the OnePlus Open in 2025. Its IPX4 rating isn't nearly as comprehensive as the IP48 rating for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is getting a little long in the tooth, and the Open is guaranteed just two more OS upgrades to Android 16 and Android 17. There's also no wireless charging. Those are real drawbacks to consider, and for many folks, the Fold 6 or Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be much safer choices. But even so, the OnePlus Open is still special. It's a phone I occasionally return to every now and then, and if you find it on sale, it can still make a very good purchase — even in a world where the Galaxy Z Fold 7 exists. OnePlus Open OnePlus Open Solid cameras • Refined hardware • Alert slider MSRP: $1,699.99 A debut foldable phone with great hardware The OnePlus Open brings what might be the best hardware on a foldable phone and enough clever software tricks to turn heads. It pairs top-end internals with some of OPPO's careful trial-and-error to create a debut foldable phone that hardly feels like a first attempt. Add in a competitive asking price, and the OnePlus Open just might give other foldables a run for their money. See price at Amazon See price at OnePlus Save $200.00 Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Joe Maring / Android Authority If you're considering buying the Galaxy Z Fold 7, it's probably because you want a big, powerful Samsung phone that can do it all. While a slab phone will never replicate the versatility offered by a foldable, the Galaxy S25 Ultra gets pretty close. The S25 Ultra is Samsung's best non-foldable currently available, and what it lacks with its non-folding design, it makes up for with significantly better specs in some key areas. While both the S25 Ultra and Z Fold 7 have the same 200MP primary camera, the S25 Ultra's other cameras — including a 50MP 5x telephoto camera, a 10MP 3x telephoto camera, and a 50MP ultrawide camera — are substantially better than those on the Fold 7. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a much larger 5,000mAh battery than its foldable counterpart, faster 45W wired charging, and comes with a built-in S Pen for all of your handwritten note-taking and doodling desires. As a reminder, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 doesn't support the S Pen at all. You get all of this with the same One UI software and Snapdragon 8 Elite chip that powers the Z Fold 7 – all for a much lower starting price of $1,300, a full $700 less than the Fold 7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 C. Scott Brown / Android Authority The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a great Z Fold 7 alternative if you want the biggest and best specs possible, but what if you still want a Samsung phone that folds? If you aren't married to the book-style foldable form factor, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is well worth a look. Where previous Z Flips have been hampered by a small and cramped cover screen, the Flip 7 breaks that trend with an edge-to-edge 4.1-inch display. It's one of the largest on a flip phone foldable today, and the bump to a 120Hz refresh rate is great, too. Meanwhile, the 6.9-inch inner display is the same size as the Galaxy S25 Ultra's screen. The idea behind a flip-phone foldable is obviously quite different from a book-style one, but depending on what you want out of a folding phone, the Flip 7 may be the better fit. If the prospect of having a 'normal' Android phone that can fold in half to slip into a pocket or bag sounds appealing, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 — not the Galaxy Z Fold 7 — is what you should buy. The best part? With a starting price of just $1,100, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 gets you a foldable Samsung phone for almost half the cost of the Fold 7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Largest ever Flex Window • 6.9-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X folding screen • 7 years of updates MSRP: $1,099.00 Melds Galaxy AI with the new edge-to-edge FlexWindow With a 6.9-inch main display and a 4.1-inch FlexWindow outer display, the Samsung Galaxy Flip 7 focuses on putting AI smarts in your pocket. Measuring just 13.74mm thick when folded, it's the slimmest Z Flip phone yet. Packed with a 50MP camera and a suite of AI tools, Samsung calls the Z Flip 7 a "pocket-sized selfie studio." See price at Amazon See price at Google Fi Save $900.00 See price at Samsung
Android Authority
4 days ago
- Android Authority
After six years, it's finally time for me to switch back to a Pixel
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority In my five years working as an Android journalist, I've been known as the Samsung guy. That's been an accurate description, but it may surprise you to learn that I used to be a Nexus/Pixel fanatic, using every Google flagship from the Nexus 6 to the Pixel 3XL. That changed toward the start of 2019, when I became tired of how unreliable Pixels were for me in a few areas and started to use Samsung phones exclusively. Recently, I got to spend a month with the Pixel 9 Pro, and after six years, it could be time for me to rejoin team Google. A lot has changed, and these are the reasons my next smartphone purchase could be a Pixel. Would you switch from a Galaxy to a Pixel, or vice versa? 0 votes Yes — Galaxy to Pixel NaN % Yes — Pixel to Galaxy NaN % No, I like my Galaxy NaN % No, I like my Pixel NaN % Pixel favorites Ryan Haines / Android Authority Since my switch to Samsung phones, there have been features I've missed from the Pixel experience. Now Playing is something that's easy to take for granted when you have it, but I've missed while using non-Pixel phones. That sums up a lot of the Pixel experience — subtle features that can seem minor in a vacuum but come together to make a more complete product. Call Screening and all of its associated functions are another example of this. Although Call Screening debuted with the Pixel 3 and 3XL, which I owned, the UK didn't get access to it until 2021 with the Pixel 6. Samsung may have its version now, but it doesn't quite compare to what a Pixel can do. Hold For Me, Direct My Call, and Wait Times set Google's phone call experience apart from what Samsung has done with One UI so far. Calling my doctor or the hospital is a prolonged experience of waiting in line for an operator, and instead of smashing my head against the wall while the horrible hold music played, I could go about my day and let the Pixel handle that for me. Joe Maring / Android Authority At A Glance is another one of those small but mighty features I miss when I use a non-Google phone. Sure, I can use it as a widget on my Samsung phones, but it's not the same as having it built-in, especially on the lock screen. At A Glance shows you what you need to know when you need to know it, and its absence makes the lockscreen on my Galaxy phones feel lifeless by comparison. Google For the first time since the introduction of One UI, I'm starting to prefer how Google's flavor of Android looks thanks to the Material 3 Expressive overhaul in Android 16 QPR1. The redesigned notifications and quick settings panel look fantastic, and the focus on bouncy animation and haptics makes a Pixel phone feel alive in ways Samsung phones don't, even on One UI 7 or 8. There are still things I prefer about One UI — more on that later — but it isn't as cut and dry as it used to be, and the Pixel feels more fun. Build and reliability Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority Here lies the reason I stopped using Pixel phones in the first place. My Nexus 6, 6P, Pixel XL, 2XL, and 3XL all had issues that led to multiple repairs or warranty replacements for each. To Google's credit, their support was great, always getting me a replacement phone within a single working day of reporting an issue. But after nearly five years of constant problems, I'd had enough. I could only tell myself things would be better next year for so long, and when my Pixel 3XL couldn't even keep my music player in memory and take photos at the same time, thanks to the pitiful 4GB of RAM, it was time for me to move on. I could only tell myself things would be better next year for so long. I've kept up to date with Pixels since — my wife had a Pixel 4, my Grandad had a 3a, 6a, and now an 8a, and I used a Pixel 6 Pro and later an 8 Pro for work a few times. Each of those devices, while great, didn't inspire the same confidence that my Samsung phones have, all of which have been flawless, except my S20 Ultra, which needed a motherboard replacement after overheating. The Pixel 9 Pro feels incredible. The materials and build quality are top-notch and rival that of my S24 Ultra, and at no point in my month with it did I experience any of the issues I did with Pixels of old. Tensor G4 has been fast, stayed cool even during an awful heatwave, even when all my friends' iPhones were showing the 'iPhone needs to cool down' warning. It hasn't given me any problems with signal strength, either, which was a particularly weak point for previous generations of Tensor. At no point did the 9 Pro feel slow — it powered through everything I needed a Pixel for without complaint. Battery and camera Joe Maring / Android Authority I didn't expect battery life to be this good with the 9 Pro, but it has been nothing short of outstanding. Despite the size and weight difference, the battery in the Pixel isn't much smaller than the one in my S24 Ultra — 4,700mAh vs 5,000mAh. The Pixel 9 Pro got me through some tough days, even though I ran it in the Android 16 QPR1 beta for the duration. In my final two weeks with the phone, I made two trips to London. The first was a trip with friends, including a boat ride along the Thames and several hours at Hampton Court. Later, I returned to London for a press briefing. Both of these trips spanned an entire day, leaving home at around 7 AM and returning home at 6 PM. These days were hard on the phone with almost-constant GPS usage for public transport around London, plenty of photo and video capture, and music streaming. All of this during a heatwave that left my S24 Ultra running hot, no matter what I was doing, while the 9 Pro stayed cool for the duration. On both of those days, I got home with at least 20% battery left, more than my S24 Ultra ever managed on similar trips. On more mundane days, working from home and staying almost entirely on Wi-Fi, I was going to bed with at least 35-40% left. I've always loved taking photos and always enjoyed that experience on older Pixels. The Samsung phones I've owned have all been solid, except for the S20 Ultra, and so over the years, I forgot what the magic of a Pixel camera felt like. The 9 Pro reminded me of what I've been missing, especially now that the zoom hardware truly rivals Samsung. Every photo I took on the Pixel 9 Pro was sharp, in focus, and pleasing to look at. Don't get me wrong, my S24 Ultra takes solid photos, but I always feel the need to take multiple at a time to ensure shutter lag or missed focus doesn't ruin the result. The Pixel has a point-and-shoot capability that few phones possess, more so than even the iPhone 16 Pro I tried last year. I might not take as many photos as Rita, but I took enough to know I love this camera. The Pixel also inspired me to record more video. That's something I've never tended to do on mobile. I hate inconsistent framerates, and my Pixels of old and the Samsung phones I use now have always had issues with dropping frames, especially when switching between lenses. On top of that, Samsung's tendency to over-sharpen everything looks awful in video, depending on the subject. The video I captured on the Pixel 9 Pro had no such issues, especially after Video Boost worked its magic. It's naturally sharp, the colors aren't oversaturated, and the framerate is consistent with little juddering between lenses. Those lenses keep the quality consistent between them, too. All of this, combined with useful features like Add Me, makes the Pixel experience more of an unmatched champion than ever, and I'd forgotten how much fun Google's approach to photography is. The best part of the battery and camera experience is that I got it in a phone that isn't unwieldy. I love my S24 Ultra, but it's big, heavy, and pointy. If I had a nickel for every time that led me to drop the phone on my wife when showing her memes in bed, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice. The Pixel 9 Pro isn't small, but it is easy to use one-handed, and at no point did I feel like I was going to drop it. If Samsung doesn't bring the S25 Ultra's cameras to a smaller phone, specifically the 5X telephoto, I'll be disappointed. Nobody's perfect Robert Triggs / Android Authority There are still things I prefer about Samsung phones. I praised the battery life on the 9 Pro earlier, but I'm not as happy with the charging situation, especially wireless charging. Samsung phones can charge up to 15W wirelessly, while the Pixel 9 Pro can charge up to 21W wirelessly. That sounds like a win for the Pixel, but it isn't. A Pixel can only achieve that maximum wireless speed with a Pixel Stand, a product Google no longer sells. On a regular Qi charger, which manages 15W on my S24 Ultra, the Pixel 9 Pro will only charge at 12W. A difference of 3W doesn't sound like much, but 15W is enough for quick top-ups on my S24, while wirelessly charging the Pixel doesn't feel worth it. Likewise, the wired charging is too slow for my liking. 27W charges the 4,700mAh battery resonably fast, but my S24 Ultra is faster at 45W. It's not a deal-breaker when the phone lasts as long as it does on a charge, but it was frustrating when I wanted to give it a quick boost before going out for the evening. Giving your 'pro' phone 128GB of storage, especially when photos and videos take up so much space, is unforgivable. Storage is another pain point for me. The Pixel 9 Pro is £1,000 and only comes with 128GB in its base configuration. The S25 series, except for the base model, starts at 256GB, and Samsung regularly runs promotions that get you double the storage for no extra cost. Giving your 'pro' phone 128GB of storage, especially when photos and videos take up so much space, is unforgivable in 2025. While I love Material 3 Expressive in Android 16 QPR1 and the Pixel-specific features mentioned earlier, One UI still has a lot of things I'd find hard to give up. Widget Stacks is something I use all the time. Like iOS, One UI lets you stack multiple widgets in the same place so you can scroll through them. That means you can have every widget you'd need on your primary homescreen and eliminates the need to scroll through multiple home pages. In my setup, I have the Google Search bar stacked with the controls for my Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, my Calendar stacked with a Tick Tick to-do list, and my Google Home light controls with pinned notes in Google Keep. Good Lock is another thing that makes me hesitant to switch away from Samsung phones. Good Lock offers unrivaled customisation, from overhauling Android's gesture navigation to fine-tuning animations and icon shapes. Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority I know it's a cliché, but the Samsung ecosystem would be difficult to leave. I have multiple Samsung phones, a Galaxy Watch 6, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and a Tab S10 Plus. Likewise, my wife uses all-Samsung devices as well. There are perks to keeping to that ecosystem. Samsung's implementation of shared calendars is better than Google's, Galaxy Buds seamlessly switch audio sources between Samsung devices, and my S24 Ultra can act as a color palette and tool picker for my Tab S10 Plus when I'm drawing in Samsung Notes. Am I buying a Pixel? Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Probably. January is upgrade time, and based on the current rumours surrounding the Galaxy S26 series and the Pixel 10, the Pixel is what I'm leaning towards. Above all else, my experience with the Pixel 9 Pro made me realise I want a phone that's smaller, lighter, and still packs the camera prowess I want from a phone. That's the icing on top of a phone that nails all of the fundamentals of what I want, and it's so good I think I'm willing to give up the features I've grown accustomed to in One UI. MKBHD once called the Pixels 'the smartest smartphone,' and it's true. Google's thoughtful approach to software and hardware is something I didn't realise I missed, and now that I've experienced it again, I remember why I used to love Google phones in the first place.
Android Authority
5 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Google Fi is offering the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 for just $199.99!
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority Are you looking to get a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7? The best deals out there come from carriers, and here's one of the hottest ones I have seen. You can get the device for as little as $199.99! There are a few factors to keep in mind, though. We'll go over them below. Get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 for as low as $199.99 from Google Fi ($900 off) This offer is available directly from Google Fi Wireless. The discount comes in two steps. You get a $300 discount at purchase. Then, you can get another $600 discount in the form of 24 monthly credits. Max savings only apply if you sign up for a new Unlimited Premium or Flexible plan. If you're on another plan, the monthly credits are reduced to a total of $400. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 (Google Fi) Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 (Google Fi) Melds Galaxy AI with the new edge-to-edge FlexWindow With a 6.9-inch main display and a 4.1-inch FlexWindow outer display, the Samsung Galaxy Flip 7 focuses on putting AI smarts in your pocket. Measuring just 13.74mm thick when folded, it's the slimmest Z Flip phone yet. Packed with a 50MP camera and a suite of AI tools, Samsung calls the Z Flip 7 a "pocket-sized selfie studio." See price at Google Fi Save $900.00 If you're looking to get a new flip phone, there's no denying the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is all but guaranteed to be among the best this year. It offers a great overall experience, and while expensive, there are ways to score massive savings. In this case, you're essentially getting one of the top foldable phones for a mere $199.99! You're in for a treat here, as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a really nice design. It features an aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back, and even an IP48 rating. C. Scott Brown / Android Authority The Exynos 2500 processor and 12GB of RAM will offer plenty of performance. And like all other pre-order deals available for this phone right now, Google Fi is also offering a free upgrade to 512GB of storage, so you'll have plenty of room for all your apps, photos, and more. The main display measures 6.9 inches and has a 2,520 x 1,080 resolution. It also has a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. If you don't feel like unfolding the phone, the 4.1 external display will do the job for quick tasks, widgets, and other simpler actions. The battery size is pretty standard for foldable flip phones, at 4,300mAh. If you want in on this deal, you might want to act quickly. Google Fi Wireless mentions this promotion will run until July 24th, 2025, at 8:59 PM Pacific. That's in just a few days!
Android Authority
13-07-2025
- Android Authority
5 features I don't care about when buying a new phone
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority When it comes to buying a new smartphone, it's easy to get caught up in all the hype. Manufacturers constantly push the latest and greatest features, leading many of us to buy more phone than we actually need. When I'm in the market for a new phone, I always try to narrow down my options as much as possible. I do that by making a list of not only the features I want in my next smartphone but also those I don't care about. This approach helps me cut through the marketing noise and find a device that truly suits my preferences, without overspending on things I'll never use. Here are some popular smartphone features that I, personally, don't care about, and why you might consider them optional too. Which of these smartphone features you care about the least? 0 votes IP rating NaN % Wireless charging NaN % The latest and greatest SoC NaN % Lots of storage NaN % A super-slim body NaN % 1. IP rating Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority An IP rating indicates a phone's resistance to dust and water. While most high-end phones come with one, it's never been a deciding factor for me. In all my years of using smartphones, I've never found myself in a situation where an IP rating would have saved the day. I've never dropped a phone in a pool, spilled a drink on it, or taken a call in a downpour without an umbrella. I also make a habit of not handling my phone with wet hands. Of course, accidents happen, and some people are naturally more prone to them. Everyone's preferences are different, but for me, a phone without any water resistance is something I can absolutely live with. 2. Wireless and reverse wireless charging Ryan Haines / Android Authority Much like an IP rating, wireless charging and reverse wireless charging are standard features on many flagship phones these days. My current Pixel has it, but honestly, I couldn't care less. I've never used it. For starters, wireless charging is often slower than wired charging. It's also less convenient for me. With a cable, I can easily pick up my phone and use it while it's charging. Grabbing a phone off a wireless charging pad obviously cuts the power supply. I have a habit of plugging in my phone and tossing it on the bed. And let's be real, wireless charging doesn't technically get rid of cables; you still have one connected to the charging pad. Speaking of pads, they usually need to be placed on a flat, stable surface, whereas I have a habit of plugging in my phone and tossing it on the bed, couch, or other soft furniture. The only real benefit I see to wireless charging is when I'm at a coffee shop or restaurant that have tables with built-in charging pads, offering a quick top-up while I'm out. Beyond that, it's a feature I happily pass on. 3. The latest and greatest Joe Maring / Android Authority The days when you needed the absolute newest phone to get a smooth, lag-free experience are long gone. Modern mid-range phones are incredibly capable and more than good enough for most users, even some demanding ones. I don't play graphically intensive games on my phone, so I don't need the very latest Snapdragon SoC to be happy. The Tensor chip in my older Pixel works perfectly fine, and many mid-range options from Snapdragon would also suit my needs. I also don't need 16GB of RAM or the absolute newest camera hardware. Phones like the Pixel 9a or the Galaxy A56 are more than sufficient for my daily use, and that goes for the vast majority of people, in my opinion. My point is, I don't chase the latest specs and features just for the sake of it; I prioritize what I actually need. 4. Excessive storage Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Phones now come with as much as 1TB of internal storage, which, for me, is complete overkill. I don't use hundreds of apps or play dozens of demanding games. Most of my photos and videos are stored in the cloud, which makes them easily accessible from all my devices. The same goes for other documents. 256GB is the sweet spot for me. A phone with 256GB of storage is typically all I need, although I could easily live with less. For me, 256GB is the sweet spot that ensures I won't run out of space over the few years I'll use a specific device. With that in mind, I also don't need a microSD card slot. Granted, most high-end phones don't have one these days, outside of certain models like the Xperia 1 VII, for example. I understand that some people prefer local storage for privacy reasons, and that others download a ton of apps and games. But with my current wants and needs, a phone with massive internal storage is simply unnecessary. 5. An ultra-thin body Ryan Haines / Android Authority Don't get me wrong, I don't want a phone as thick as a brick. But I've also never asked for a phone as thin as the Galaxy S25 Edge. It seems manufacturers are constantly trying new tricks to convince us to part with our money, and an ultra-thin body appears to be the latest craze that I hope not every manufacturer will jump on. A thinner phone often means a smaller battery, which is a compromise I'm not willing to make. A phone with a standard thickness of around 8 to 9mm is perfectly fine for me, and I've never wished for it to be thinner. Usually, it's the overall size I have a problem with. A phone that's too big isn't easy to hold and use with one hand, and it's certainly not the easiest to pocket. The phone's thickness rarely plays a significant role in that, so it's not something I care about when buying a new phone. And unlike some other entries on this list, I think most people would agree with me on this one. These are the things I don't care about when buying a new phone. Of course, there are plenty of features I do prioritize, but that's a topic for another post. What about you? Are there any popular smartphone features that you just don't care about? Let me know in the comments.
