If the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is Samsung’s clamshell at its most refined, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is a more budget-conscious take – but one that also comes with apparent compromises.
Both phones target those after a compact, pocketable foldable, but the experience you’ll get is far from identical. Here’s how the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 stacks up to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE in daily use, based on our real-world experience.
Pricing and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is available in the UK for £1049 and in the US for $1099 with 256GB of storage, though 512GB is also available at additional cost.
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The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, on the other hand, is more affordable at £849 in the UK and $899 in the USA – though that’s for a smaller 128GB model. Like the Flip 7, it’s also available in 256GB of storage, but there’s no 512GB available.
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Both are readily available to buy now following their release in July 2025.
Design
The Z Flip 7 is a genuine step forward for Samsung’s foldables, with a slimmer, lighter build and a new, more robust hinge. It feels modern, premium and genuinely pocketable as a result, with a satisfying snap when closed and a hinge that holds at practically any angle.
The new fingerprint sensor in the side key is a small but welcome upgrade, making setup and unlocking more reliable and less fiddly. It’s also available in a range of refreshingly vibrant colour options including Blue Shadow, Coral Red, Mint and Jet Black.
The Flip 7 FE, on the other hand, is best described as a reskinned Flip 6. It’s still well-built, with Samsung’s Armor Aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, but it lacks the svelteness and polish of the more premium Flip 7. Colour options are limited to black and white, and the design not only looks but feels a generation behind when held in the hand.
Both phones share the same IP48 rating, however, meaning both will survive a dunk in the water and are protected from debris larger than 1mm. It’s not up to the IP68 standard of bar phones, but it’s about as good as you’ll find on a foldable right now.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Screens
Samsung’s biggest leap with the Flip 7 is undoubtedly its displays. The 4.1-inch cover screen is much larger and more useful than before, with slim bezels and an updated interface for selfies and widgets.
The 6.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED internal screen adopts a wider 21:9 aspect ratio than its predecessor, making it easier to type on and better for media. It’s bright, colourful and a pleasure to use – even outdoors. The screen crease is still present, but Samsung has made great strides at reducing it this time around.
The Flip 7 FE, on the other hand, is stuck with last year’s 3.4-inch, 60Hz cover screen, which feels comparatively cramped and underwhelming. In our experience, we found it only really good for notifications and basic widgets, and the low refresh rate is also noticeable in use.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE
The internal 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED is still sharp and vibrant, but the 22:9 aspect ratio makes it feel narrow and less comfortable for typing or watching videos. The permanent screen protector is also more obvious and prone to fingerprints.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Cameras
Both phones share the exact same camera hardware, comprised of a 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP selfie camera.
The Flip 7, however, benefits from improved processing from its top-end Samsung chipset, delivering more natural colours, better contrast and solid low-light performance. It’s not quite flagship-level, but it’s a massive step up from previous Flips, with less oversaturation and generally more reliable results.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
The Flip 7 FE’s camera performance is virtually identical to the Flip 7’s, though Samsung’s signature oversaturation of colours is in full force with the cheaper model. Still, it delivers shots that are vibrant and social media-ready, with decent night mode and OIS capabilities.
There’s no telephoto zoom on either phone, so zoom is limited to digital crops, but the ability to use the main cover as a selfie lens with the cover screen is a highlight not offered by regular flagship phones.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Performance
It’s in the performance department that the gap between the two phones truly widens.
The Flip 7 runs on Samsung’s latest Exynos 2500 along with 12GB of RAM, delivering fast, flagship-level performance for most tasks.
It’s not quite as powerful as the latest Snapdragon chip that powers the S25 collection and the Z Fold 7, but it’s more than enough for daily use, and the phone stays cool under pressure – unless you really push it with stress tests.
The Flip 7 FE is a clear downgrade in this respect, using the older Exynos 2400 and just 8GB of RAM. Day-to-day performance is fine, but the benchmarks show a 10-15% drop compared to the Flip 7, and there’s less headroom for future updates too.
The FE can still handle games and multitasking, but it’s not as smooth or future-proof, and it’s more prone to throttling under load.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Software & AI
Both phones run One UI 8 based on Android 16, with an industry-leading seven years of OS upgrades promised by Samsung.
The software is feature-rich, with plenty of AI tools – call assist, writing assist, live translation and more – along with foldable-specific tweaks like the touchpad mode when partially folded. Both even get the same suite of cover screen widgets and customisation options. There really isn’t anything between the two when it comes to software.
However, Samsung’s software remains busy, with duplicate apps and some friction for those who prefer Google’s ecosystem of apps.
The Flip 7’s larger cover screen also makes better use of those new features – though neither can compete with the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra’s truly flexible cover screen experience and its ability to run any app you’d like.
Winner: Tie
Battery life
The Flip 7 packs a 4300mAh battery – the largest in any Flip to date – delivering reliable all-day battery life, even with moderate to heavy use. Light users might even stretch things to a second day – but it’s all down to usage.
Charging is capped at 25W, so a full charge takes around 90 minutes, which is slower than some rivals but still manageable for most – especially if you tend to charge your phone overnight.
The Flip 7 FE uses a smaller 4000mAh battery, and while it can last a full day for light to moderate users, heavy use will see you reaching for the charger by evening. Charging speeds are the same – 25W wired, 15W wireless – but the smaller battery and less efficient chip means stamina is a step behind the Flip 7 in real-world use.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Final Thoughts
The Galaxy Z Flip7 is the best clamshell foldable Samsung has produced to date, with meaningful improvements in design, screens, cameras and battery life. It’s a true rival to the best from Motorola, and a joy to use day-to-day as a result.
The Flip 7 FE, meanwhile, feels more like a rebranded Flip 6 with a few downgrades and a price that’s hard to justify – especially with the Flip 6 itself often available for less. It’s not a bad phone, but it’s outclassed by the Flip 7 in almost every way, and the savings don’t go far enough to make up for the compromises.
If you want the best foldable experience Samsung offers, the Flip 7 is the clear winner. The FE only really makes sense if you find it at a significant discount – or if you’re desperate for a foldable under £850/$900 and can live with last year’s tech.
