Latest news with #ZFlip6
Engadget
5 days ago
- Engadget
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a bigger battery and is still thinner than last year's model
Samsung has launched the Galaxy Z Flip 7, along with the Z Flip 7 FE and the Z Fold 7, during its latest Unpacked event. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a 4.1-inch Super AMOLED Flex Window, which is the largest external display on a Z Flip model yet. It's also the slimmest iteration of the Flip so far, measuring only 13.7 mm in thickness when folded, and has a larger battery (4,300mAh) than any of its predecessors. Since the new model comes with the AI features of Android 16, Samsung calls it an "intelligent pocket-sized companion built for seamless interaction and everyday reliability." You'll be able to access Gemini Live from its Flex Window, allowing you to ask the AI for assistance, such as to set a reminder or to find you restaurants to eat at, without having to open your phone. You'll even be able to point its camera at an object in the real world and ask the AI questions about what you're looking at and get answers on the Flip's external display. The Galaxy Z Flip 7's main display is a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen that has a peak brightness of 2,600 nits and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Samsung says its Armor FlexHinge is thinner than previous generation's hinges and features a restructured design with high-strength materials for better durability and smoother folds. When it comes to cameras, the new model come with a 50MP Wide and a 12MP Ultra-Wide lens for both scenic shots and selfies. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is also the first model in the line to come with Samsung DeX, allowing you to use the phone as a workstation. You'll simply have to connect it to a compatible screen for a PC-like experience. You can now pre-order the Galaxy Z Flip 7 in the US from Samsung's website and retailers nationwide. It'll set you back at least $1,100 and will be widely available starting on July 25. The phone comes in Jet black, Blue Shadow and Coral with 256GB or 512GB in storage. It will also be available in Mint only from Samsung's website. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, which comes in Black and White with 128GB or 256GB in storage, will set you back at least $900. It's cheaper, but it's pretty much the Z Flip 6 equipped with an Exynos 2400 processor. To note, you can get the Z Flip 6 right now from Amazon for the same price, but with 512GB in storage for Prime Day. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Engadget
5 days ago
- Engadget
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 hands-on: Bigger screens, bigger battery, better foldable?
Once again, it's time for Samsung's mid-year Galaxy foldable showcase. Over the last 10 years, Samsung gave us curved edges, curved screens, and then screens that fold (both ways). While we're still waiting for that rumored tri-fold Galaxy, Samsung has primed two new Flip foldables, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and (surprise!) the Z Flip 7 FE. First, there's the Galaxy Z Flip 7. This year, the biggest change is a larger 4.1-inch second display with cutouts for the dual cameras. This occupies the entire front surface of the device and is a considerable increase from the 3.4-inch display of last year's Z Flip 6. (It also looks a lot like Moto's most recent foldable.) The Flex Window is also better in almost every way. It can reach peak brightness levels of 2,600 nits (matching the S25 Ultra), has a 120Hz refresh rate and the thinnest bezel yet (1.25mm) of any Samsung smartphone. The front screen is a significant improvement over the Z Flip 6, but refinements also extend to the main display. Samsung has expanded the primary internal screen to 6.9 inches, up from 6.4 inches. It's now in the more typical smartphone display ratio of 21:9. Previous Flips had a more elongated screen, making it harder to paw at the upper corners. This means video content fits better, too. What about the crease? Well, in person, it looks the same as last year's phones, and, interestingly, Samsung isn't hyping some hard-to-measure crease visibility metric. I did chuckle when the company said that it made the main screen's ultra-thin glass '50 percent thicker.' The wording's clunky, but it points to Samsung's continued focus on improving toughness and longevity. The Flip 7 now has a new waterproof coating beneath the glass and AMOLED display. Once again, the hinge has been further strengthened. And yet, the Flip 7 is thinner than last year's model. It measures 6.4mm (0.25 inches) thick, down from 6.9mm. That's equal to the Galaxy S25 edge, where the major selling point was its thinness. I shouldn't have to say, but that thickness doubles when you fold it away – Samsung says it's 13.7mm (0.54 inches) when closed. However you measure it, this is the thinnest Flip yet. Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, Z Flip 7, Z Flip 6, side by side comparison. (Image by Mat Smith for Engadget) Despite less space, Samsung has increased the battery up to 4,300mAh, 300mAh more than the Z Flip 6. Samsung is addressing our issues with its recent Flip foldables. It's also delivered solid battery life on nearly every device it has launched in the last year or so. The company also mentioned that the Flip 7 packs a new 3nm processor, the company's own Exynos 2500 chip. This is intriguing: last year's foldables featured the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy that delivered impressive battery life. I'm interested in seeing whether Samsung's latest silicon delivers similar performance and efficiency. While Samsung has equipped the Z Fold 7 with a new sensor, the Flip 7 essentially matches last year's model, featuring a 50-megapixel primary camera with 2X optical zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide secondary camera. This year, the Flip 7 can record video in 10-bit HDR, up from 8-bit, resulting in richer colors for those seeking even more polished video from their smartphone. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget Camera controls have been refined to better suit the Flex Display on the front. There's now a zoom slider for smoother video punch-ins and more broadly, an interface tidy-up. If you're into using Samsung's built-in photo filters, the Flip 7 will show live previews in each filter before you even choose one. Some of my favorite software features introduced on the Z Flip 6, auto-zoom and auto-frame, are back once again in the Flip 7. While the Flip is closed, the cameras can detect and track users, zooming in and out to focus on the subject automatically. Software-wise, Samsung is folding in the Gemini AI smarts and Now Brief features that debuted in the S25 series. As a refresher, it's Samsung's rival take on the iPhone's Dynamic Island. It'll present health information, music and video controls and live updates from supported apps like Uber. It's a perfect fit for the Flip, with its small glanceable screen. Similarly, you can now chat to Google's Gemini Live AI assistant without unfurling the phone. As I mentioned in my review of the Galaxy S25, the appeal of the Now Brief and Bar depends on how frequently you use it. Hopefully — and I've asked Samsung to confirm this — transferring data between Galaxy devices should include the profile and information used to populate these two features. With the Flip 7, you can tap into the Now Bar without opening the phone. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a more typical 16:9 screen ratio. (Image by Mat Smith for Engadget) Samsung is also adding weekly updates to your Now Briefing, although it was hard to discern from the demo devices earlier this week whether that would be future-facing summaries of your schedule or more of a what-you-did-last-week summary of the week that's already happened – it's something we'll be testing during review. There isn't much new functionality for the larger 4.1-inch secondary screen, which is a shame. In this regard, Motorola still manages to offer more with its flip phones. The Flip 7 is also the first Flip device to support mouse and keyboard peripherals, which means, yes, Samsung Dex is back. It never left. And Samsung will continue to tell us all about it. If you want to plug your foldable into a giant monitor, you can now do that. There's also the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, priced at $900, with a 6.7-inch main display and a 3.4-inch Flex Window on the front. And if you think it looks and sounds familiar, you're right. This is almost entirely the Galaxy Z Flip 6 with a new name. The only significant aesthetic change is that the Z Flip 7 FE lacks the metal accents on the cameras. The only meaningful spec change is an Exynos chip, replacing the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The Z Flip 7 FE has a 50MP primary camera and 12MP ultra-wide, with a 10MP camera once it's unfolded. The FE does a good job of showcasing how much thinner the Z Flip 7 is and how much better that full-width cover display looks, but those aren't great selling points in and of themselves. The timing sucks, too: in Amazon's Prime Day sale, the Z Flip 6 is $800. That's $100 less than this "new" entry-level foldable, which is almost identical. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 will launch at the same price as its predecessor, at $1,100. It'll come in multiple colors: a very handsome dark blue, red and the usual monochrome black and white options. There will also be a mint color, available as an online exclusive. Preorders open today, with devices shipping on July 25. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Digital Trends
5 days ago
- Digital Trends
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: the upgrade we've been waiting for?
I never really thought that I'd want to go down the route of owning a flip phone, ever since I swore off my Nokia in the early 2000s (you know, the one with the weird felt covering and tiny notification window). Fast forward two decades, and I'm considering rejoining the race, thanks to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7. Coming in at $1,100, it's not cheap, but it's definitely something different compared to the world of black rectangles, and it it feels like Samsung's Flip family has finally come of age. Recommended Videos Let's not forget that Samsung has started to get overtaken in the foldable phone world. The new Motorola Razr Plus is a similar design to this phone, with the full-front cover window, so Samsung needed to improve the style and performance of it's smaller foldable device to keep up. A new world First thing: I need to be honest, I've not had much hands-on experience of the folding flip phones since they appeared on the scene a few years ago. I've watched their appearance on the tech scene and taken note of how they look, what they do and how they're received, of course, but I've never been the one to review them. As it turns out, I'm glad that the Z Flip 7 is my first experience. The new front cover window, which stretches out to 4.1-inches across the front half of the phone, feels right. To compare it to the cramped, weirdly-designed window on the Z Flip 6, with its 3.4-inch screen… well, that would have annoyed me. While the Z Flip 7 is still a little thicker in the pocket, when folded down, it still doesn't feel weighty and it slips much further down inside the trouser leg, which is a plus. The front display, with the two cameras able to be used in selfie mode when combined with the cover window, is great for both video and photography capture, providing a 'proper' viewing experience to check your framing if you're ever trying to shoot your own footage. The camera quality, using the 12MP ultra-wide or the 50MP wide-angle lens, looked great, especially on the smaller screen. Samsung made a big deal about being able to use one finger to zoom in and out, like we were used to on old JVC camcorders, but this wasn't the simplest action to use, with a few taps needed – I'd have to like to see that be a little more intuitive. I hugely enjoyed the novelty of propping up the phone to use as a screen to take a selfie, and when viewed from the other side, a small touchpad with mouse control for the 'top' screen popped up. I'm not sure what this is for, other than being able to select items on the screen and have the mouse function in place of a finger… it felt fiddly and, well, pointless, so I'm looking forward to trying to figure out what that's for. The one thing that I was a bit worried about when trying a foldable flip phone for the first time was the length – it's a loooonger phone than you might be used to when it's fully extended. But in under a minute I was used to it, and I didn't mind the fact that watching YouTube or other 16:9 content didn't quite extend to the ends of the device. It also gives more real estate for scrolling, which is nice, and makes it easier to read articles on the go – especially combined with the fluid 120Hz display, which means content slides across the screen with ease. The screen size has been increased from a 6.7-inch display to a 6.9-inch one, with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which isn't that uncommon in smartphones these days, and the overall shape just fits the device well. The brightness of the screen, both front and back, is something that really helps – both in terms of being able to see what's on there from far away but also helping minimise the visibility of the crease down the middle of the phone. It's far from a problem, and a long way from the heavy divot in the middle of foldable devices from years gone by. It is still there, and the big question will be if it's more noticeable or visible after a few months' use, which will hopefully be less of a problem given the crease hasn't started out as deep as with other foldable phones on the market. The phone didn't feel fully straight at some times though, with the hinge feeling like it was flexing a touch inward on occasion. I couldn't tell in my limited hands on time with the phone whether this was just the way I was holding it, or if there was something I was missing, but it did make me feel a little more tentative using it. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 does have the new Flex Hinge, which means the design can be thinner but with a strong opening and closing mechanism, something Samsung has been tested to last for 200,000 flips open and shut. It certainly feels robust enough in the hand, and that's partly to do with the fact Samsung has made the circuitry waterproof, rather than needing to seal the phone around the bezel, which allows it to be a little thinner. The phone packs Gemini Live onboard as well, so you can chat with Google's AI chatbot, but I didn't have enough time to dig into that properly. In my limited tests, where I pressed the side button and asked it questions about what I was seeing on screen, it was working more as an 'AI intercom' to chat with Gemini, when I wanted to ask it more contextual questions about what I was seeing on the screen. The One UI 8 onboard felt more complete and comprehensive than on any Samsung phone I've used (and finally supports DeX on the smaller foldable phone from Samsung), and the Now Briefing bar on the front of the phone sounds like it'll be useful to show you things like health, boarding information or updates on your latest Uber ride. Again, these don't feel like earth-shattering changes, more Samsung finally catching this range up with the likes of other high-end flagships, like Apple has been using on the newer iPhones with the Dynamic Island. It's arguably more important here, given the Z Flip is the kind of phone that's going to be used more when shut, so these notifications become more pivotal. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 comes in three colors: the coral red, black and a rather attractive blue (called 'Blue Shadow', whatever that means). The colored options in particular do look good in the hand, and I'd be hard-pressed to choose between the two. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, much like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, is a huge step forward for the South Korean brand – its devices have been stagnating in the foldable world, but these feel like a real effort to try and catch up. The Flip 7 is compact with a lot of power under the hood – if the battery life promises hold up (Samsung believes it's improved battery life with the 4300mAh power unit inside, able to last 31 hours in video playback) then this could be a serious contender for those that want high end power in a compact design, without having the same flat candy bar design as we see on most other phones.
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Gizmodo
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Hands-On: The Cover Screen Is No Longer Made for Ants
Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung's Z Flip 7 feels less like a major leap forward. Announced at Unpacked, the fllp-style smartphone has the largest cover screen that Samsung's ever put on phone that folds in half like an old cellphone, and certain specs are improved, but the dimensions still feel like the Z Flip 6. I really wish Samsung trimmed down the Z Flip 7 the same way it did the Z Fold 7. Starting at $1,100, the Z Flip 7 sports a 4.1-inch cover screen that fully spans edge-to-edge and wraps around the dual cameras (50-megapixel main and 12-megapixel ultra-wide). That's bigger than the 4-inch external display on the Razr Ultra—with slimmer bezels to boot. Besides being more expansive, the cover screen on the Z Flip 7 is also—for the first time on a Z Flip—120Hz with a brighter 2,600 nits of peak brightness (the Z Flip 6 had 1,600 nits). The benefits of a larger cover screen are immediately clear: you can see more content. While Samsung still doesn't show the home screen of apps or even let you open apps on the cover screen by default (there are workarounds just a Google away), all those extra pixels will display more lines from Google's Gemini AI chatbot. Samsung strongly believes that Gemini further builds on top of the Z Flip's bite-sized widget interactions. Instead of getting sucked into apps on the cover screen, AI and widgets can help you do things in quicker and shorter bursts without having to open the Flip 7. The foldable inner screen is slightly larger this time around at 6.9 inches versus 6.7 inches on the Z Flip 6, and it's marginally wider at 70.8mm versus 68.6mm. The camera punched into the inner screen is still a 10-megapixel shooter. Upgrades that you can't see with the naked eye include a 3nm Exynos2500 chip (not a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite) and a larger 4,300 mAh battery (up from 4,000 mAh). Inside, there's either 256GB of 512GB of storage paired with 12GB of RAM. Samsung says it's also made the aluminum frame tougher, waterproofed the circuitry (though it's still rated for IP48), and refined the hinge for better durability. However, just like on the Galaxy S25 family of phones, Samsung's emphasizing its suite of Galaxy AI features. In addition to accessing Gemini right on the cover screen, you can point the camera at something and ask the chatbot for information about it. It's basically the same as Visual Intelligence on iPhones with Apple Intelligence. In the age of AI integration into our phones, I'm interested in seeing how useful having Gemini on command will be, especially with some of the agentic functions that use the AI perform things on your behalf. For example, creating a calendar event from a mention in a text message. How much can Gemini help me and how much time will I save having an AI as my personal assistant? I don't know, but I'm looking forward to finding out. Samsung also introduced a 'Fan Edition' Galaxy Z Flip FE that starts at $900. This looks to be a mostly recycled Z Flip 6 at a lower price. It'll come in black or white with 128GB or 256GB capacities. The Z Flip 7 and Z Flip FE are available for pre-order starting today and will be available starting on July 25.
GSM Arena
5 days ago
- GSM Arena
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 arrives with bigger displays, cheaper Z Flip7 FE tags along, both with Exynos chips
Samsung's new clamshell foldables are here – yes, plural this time, as the company is introducing a cheaper FE model alongside the premium Flip7. Both phones debut with One UI 8/Android 16 out of the box, which adds extra functionality to the FlexWindow among other improvements. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 has succeeded in the difficult task of bringing a slimmer frame while increasing the battery capacity. The new model measures 13.7mm folded and 6.5mm unfolded, while also packing a 4,300mAh battery. For comparison, the Z Flip6 was 14.9mm/6.9mm with a 4,000mAh battery. Weight is essentially the same at 188g. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 The screens have also grown – the cover display is now an edge-to-edge 4.1' Super AMOLED panel (1,048 x 948px, 120Hz) surrounded by the thinnest bezels on any Galaxy, just 1.25mm. This is a significant increase from the 3.4' display on the old model. The cover display has a Vision Booster feature and can go up to 2,600 nits for great outdoor visibility. The Google Gemini AI assistant and the Now Bar can now be used on the FlexWindow. Additionally, more first-party and third-party apps can be used on the cover display, which also offers more customization options to boot. The internal display is bigger too, now stretching to 6.9' (up from 6.7'). Samsung says that it's similar in size to the Galaxy S25+ display (the Z Flip7 display is 68.6mm wide, compared to 70.8mm wide on the S25+). The Flip is, of course, more compact once folded. Samsung engineers had their work cut out for them when they set out to make the Galaxy Z Flip7 thinner. They had to slim down internal components and pack them more densely than in any other Galaxy devices. The Armor FlexHinge is 30% thinner than before. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Interestingly, Samsung decided to waterproof the internal components instead of trying to seal the bezels. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is used for the outside halves, the frame is made of Armor Aluminum. The Z Flip7 is rated IP48 for dust and water resistance. Something that's changed since last year is the chipset – the phone is powered by the new 3nm Exynos 2500. The chip is paired with 12GB of RAM and 256/512GB storage. No, there's no Snapdragon variant for the North American market this time. The improved efficiency of the Exynos 2500 over last year's Snapdragon promises up to 31 hours of video playback on a single charge – the larger battery capacity helps with that too, of course. The phone supports 25W wired charging (1-50% in 30 minutes) as well as wireless charging. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 The cameras on the flip side are a 50MP main (f/1.8, 1.0µm pixels, OIS) and a 12MP ultra-wide. These can be used for selfies, as can the 10MP camera on the inside display. There's no dedicated tele lens, but Samsung says that the 50MP main can do 'optical quality' 2x zoom. One important upgrade this year is the support for 10-bit HDR videos, which offer 4x richer color expression than Z Flip6. Also, filters are now previewed in real time on the FlexWindow cover display. That display has other new tricks up its sleeve. Auto Zoom automatically keeps you in frame so you can put down the phone (half folded to act as its own tripod) and do your thing – the feature will also handle things like brightness adjustments. Or you can do things manually with the Zoom Slider. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 is available in Blue Shadow, Jet Black and Coral Red, plus the online exclusive Mint color. For pricing details, scroll down. But first – the cheaper option. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 colorways Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE Rising costs are a concern for all smartphones, but especially foldables, which are already quite pricey. So Samsung is introducing the first FE model in the Z-series – the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE. The base FE model is $200/€200 less than the base Z Flip7. We should note that this is with less memory, however, 8/128GB vs. 12/256GB. If you're comparing 256GB models, the FE is $140/€140 less. Again, there is a detailed table with prices at the bottom of this article. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE Let's get the obvious out of the way – the Z Flip7 FE is basically a re-release of the Z Flip6. It has a new chipset, the Exynos 2400 from last year's Galaxy S24 series. And less RAM – 8GB, down from 12GB. The rest is quite familiar. The FE measures 14.9mm folded and 6.9mm unfolded and weighs 187g – this is with a 4,000mAh battery. It has a folder-shaped 3.4' cover display and a 6.7' internal display. The outside is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Armor Aluminum. Like its siblings, this model is rated IP48 for dust and water resistance. It comes only in Black and White and there are no online exclusive colors. The phone runs One UI 8/Android 16 out of the box. The cameras are a 50MP main (f/1.8, 1.0µm pixels, OIS) and 12MP ultra-wide outside and 10MP inside. These don't support HDR video. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE colorways Pricing & availability The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Flip7 FE go on pre-order today and will be available from July 25. Here are the prices: Model Memory US UK EU Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE 8/128GB $900 £850 €1,000 8/256GB $960 £910 €1,060 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 12/256GB $1,100 £1,050 €1,200 12/512GB $1,220 £1,150 €1,320
