After months of hypothesis, Samsung has lastly launched a less expensive various to its flagship flip telephone.
The brand new Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is a full £200/$200 cheaper than the common Z Flip 7, beginning at simply £849/$899. For a folding flip handset, that’s not unhealthy worth, even when the common Motorola Razr 60 is even cheaper.
Samsung’s FE (Fan Version) line doesn’t precisely have an amazing monitor file, with its telephones usually arriving too late, being too costly, or each. However based mostly on my hands-on time with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, I feel that’s about to vary for the higher. Right here’s why.
Galaxy Z Flip 6 Lite
At first look, you may be forgiven for pondering the Z Flip 7 FE was final 12 months’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 in disguise. The 2 gadgets look extraordinarily alike, particularly when in comparison with the common Z Flip 7 and its new edge-to-edge cowl show.
The Z Flip 7 FE seems to be dated by comparability, however I’ve to remind myself that this was Samsung’s flagship design simply 12 months in the past. The quilt show may embody an annoyingly chunky bezel, however the 3.4-inch show remains to be simple to make use of and many detailed sufficient.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
On the within, I really desire the 6.7-inch, 120Hz AMOLED panel right here to the massive 6.9-inch one on the common Z Flip 7. When open, the Z Flip 7 FE feels much more like an everyday telephone.
Don’t fear about sturdiness, both. Identical to the Z Flip 6, the Flip 7 FE has robust Gorilla Glass Victus on the again, a strong aluminium body and a powerful hinge that I feel may survive a few years of every day use. You additionally get IP48 water and mud resistance – the most effective you’ll get on a flip telephone proper now – that means it could survive a dunking in contemporary water and publicity to most small particles.
You would be forgiven for pondering the Z Flip 7 FE was final 12 months’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 in disguise
The similarities don’t finish there, although. The FE is 6.9mm when unfolded, weighs 187g and incorporates a 4000mAh battery. A triple digicam array contains 50Mp important, 12Mp ultrawide and 10Mp selfie lenses, which can be the identical because the extra premium Z Flip 7.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Two compromises, however one improve
Until you discover a huge low cost, I can’t see why you’d purchase the Z Flip 6 over the Z Flip 7 FE.
The one actual downgrade of word is the chipset, with Samsung’s Exynos 2400 thought to be barely much less highly effective than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Nonetheless, contemplating how rapidly the Z Flip 7 FE responded throughout my hands-on time, I doubt you’ll discover until you’re critical about cellular gaming.
Until you discover a huge low cost, I can’t see why you’d purchase the Z Flip 6 over the Z Flip 7 FE
The opposite slight compromise is by way of color choices, with simply boring black and white choices out there on the FE. However, as somebody who’d all the time purchase a black telephone anyway, I actually don’t care. You possibly can all the time add a splash of color by way of a case if you happen to’d like.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
And by way of software program, the Z Flip 7 FE undoubtedly has the higher hand. It ships working Samsung’s new One UI 8, which is predicated on Android 16. In the meantime, the Z Flip 6 nonetheless runs Android 15-based One UI 7, with no phrase on when it’ll get the improve.
What’s extra, the Z Flip 7 FE will get OS and safety updates till 2032, whereas the Z Flip 6’s assist will finish a 12 months earlier. Not precisely a large distinction, however if you happen to plan to cross it on to a pal or member of the family after you’re completed utilizing it, this can be important.
Charging remains to be solely 25W, which is difficult to imagine on a premium 2025 telephone
Some issues actually wanted to be modified…
The failure of the Z Flip 7 FE to repair among the Z Flip 6’s largest points isn’t a significant criticism – I’d a lot relatively the common Z Flip 7 had addressed these. Nonetheless, they’re nonetheless value mentioning as explanation why you may not wish to purchase it.
The battery remains to be solely 4000mAh, so I can’t see it comfortably and constantly lasting a full day. Charging remains to be solely 25W, which is difficult to imagine on a premium 2025 telephone. And whereas there are some good cowl display screen enhancements, the shortcoming to simply run any app (with out leaping by plenty of hoops) is completely pointless.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is a compelling gadget because of its worth, and is prone to be a lot simpler to suggest than the underwhelming Z Flip 6. However when you think about the common Pixel 9, Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 are all cheaper, you’ll in all probability solely wish to purchase the FE if you happen to’re set on a flip telephone.
We’ve additionally acquired early hands-on critiques of the 7 Flip 7 and the 7 Fold 7, if you wish to try extra of the brand new lineup.