After weeks of leaks and speculation, Samsung finally unveiled its next-generation foldables at the Galaxy Unpacked event in New York. Alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, the company also introduced a new, more affordable flip-style foldable for the first time: the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.
Starting at $899 in the US — which is $200 cheaper than the flagship Galaxy Z Flip 7 — the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE brings foldable tech to a slightly more accessible price point. However, that lower price comes with a few compromises.
Here are some key features exclusive to the Galaxy Z Flip 7 that you won’t get on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.
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The Galaxy Z Flip 7 gives you bigger displays inside and out
The FE cuts corners with a smaller cover screen experience
One of the major upgrades on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 over the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the display. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 features a larger 4.1-inch edge-to-edge cover display, similar to what we’ve seen on recent Motorola Razr phones.
Thanks to the refined hinge mechanism, the cover screen stretches across more of the front surface, offering a more immersive experience when the phone is folded.
Inside, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 also gets a slight bump with a 6.9-inch main display, compared to the 6.7-inch panel on the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
However, these larger, more functional displays are exclusive to the flagship model. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE retains the same folder-shaped 3.4-inch outer display seen on previous Flip models.
It also keeps the 6.7-inch inner display, which, while similar in terms of specs, doesn’t offer the extra screen real estate of the Flip 7.
The outer display on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 supports a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, while the Z Flip 7 FE is limited to 60Hz.
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The Galaxy Flip 7 is slimmer and more refined
You’ll feel the difference in the hand and the pocket
Another major improvement with the new flagship Galaxy foldables is their slimmer build. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 now measures just 8.9mm thick when folded. While the Galaxy Z Flip 7 isn’t as thin as the Fold, it’s still noticeably slimmer than its predecessor at 13.7mm when folded.
However, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE sticks with the same design and dimensions as the Galaxy Z Flip 6, meaning you won’t get the benefit of a thinner build here.
The Z Flip 7 FE measures 14.9mm when folded and 6.9mm when unfolded, compared to 6.5mm unfolded on the flagship Galaxy Z Flip 7.
In terms of materials, both models share the same premium build with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP48 dust and water resistance.
While the difference in thickness may not be dramatic on paper, if you value a slimmer and lighter design, the Z Flip 7 FE won’t offer that same experience.
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You get a bigger battery on the Galaxy Z Flip 7
Expect longer battery life compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE
What’s surprising about the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is that, despite its thinner build, it actually packs a larger 4,300mAh battery, just 100mAh less than what’s found in the larger Galaxy Z Fold 7. In comparison, the more affordable Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE comes with a 4,000mAh battery.
While both phones support the same charging speeds, and real-world testing is still pending, on paper, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is expected to deliver better battery life than the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.
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The Galaxy 7 Flip 7 has better chip, RAM, and storage options
The Flip 7 FE tops out at 256GB with less power inside
There were rumors ahead of Samsung’s foldable launch that the company would switch from Snapdragon to its own Exynos chipsets — and that has now been confirmed.
Both the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE feature Exynos processors, but there’s a key difference: the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE uses an older Exynos 2400, while the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is powered by the newer Exynos 2500.
While both chipsets offer a deca-core configuration, the Exynos 2500 in the Galaxy Z Flip 7 includes the latest ARM Cortex-X5 core, whereas the Exynos 2400 relies on the previous-gen Cortex-X4. Additionally, the Exynos 2500 is built on a more efficient 3nm process, compared to the 4nm node used for the 2400.
So, in theory, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 should offer better efficiency and performance, though we’ll need to test that in practice.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 also has the upper hand in memory and storage. It comes with 12GB of RAM across all variants and starts at 256GB of internal storage, with an option for 512GB. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is capped at 8GB of RAM and comes in only 128GB or 256GB variants.
Since neither phone supports external storage, the Galaxy Flip 7 FE’s base model may fill up quickly, whereas the 512GB version of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 should be more than enough for most users, especially if you’re not keen on relying heavily on cloud storage.
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The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE has fewer colors to pick from
Just two options, compared to four on the Galaxy Z Flip 7
Another difference between the two new flip models lies in the color options. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is available in four colors: Blue Shadow, Coral Red, Jet Black, and Mint. In contrast, the more affordable Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is limited to two colors: Black and White.
So, if you’re looking to break away from the standard color palette and want something more vibrant or unique, you won’t find it with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE cuts more corners than you might think
For $200 less, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE seems to cut more corners than expected. You’re not only getting less screen space, but also an inferior chipset, a smaller battery, and fewer storage options. On top of that, the fact that you can’t buy it through carrier stores makes it an even tougher sell.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE had the potential to be a masterstroke by Samsung to challenge other affordable foldables. But right now, it feels like it’s priced a bit too high for what it offers. Maybe more hands-on time will change that impression, but for now, it feels like a missed opportunity.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a compact, pocket-sized AI phone featuring the largest-ever 4.1-inch, edge-to-edge FlexWindow and the slimmest design in the series yet. It packs a flagship-level 50MP camera and the largest battery ever in a Galaxy Z Flip, delivering powerful performance and enhanced AI functionality directly from the cover screen.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip FE
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is Samsung’s most affordable foldable yet and includes many features found on other flagships. However, there are a few omissions you should be aware of.
