The Samsung Unpacked Event at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
The day was a real cooker as I approached the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where the Samsung Unpacked event was set to unveil the latest additions to its foldable family. Among the highlights were the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and the new Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. As I made my way through the crowd, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and curiosity about what Samsung had in store for consumers.
I had heard whispers about the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, with some suggesting it would be a more affordable version of the Galaxy Z Flip 7. But how exactly would Samsung manage to make this model cheaper? What features might be compromised? These questions lingered in my mind as I waited for the event to begin.
The heat outside was intense, making it hard to focus on anything else. I watched the announcement for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which sparked some confusion when a presenter mistakenly mentioned a price of $199.99. It was clear that even Samsung’s own team found the pricing challenging.
As the Galaxy Z Flip 7 was unveiled, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had made a mistake by attending. I had assigned my partners to investigate both the Flip 7 and the more expensive Fold 7, thinking that my experience with Motorola’s base model Razr would give me an edge in uncovering the details of the Flip 7 FE.
Then, I saw the bezel on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 cover display, and a wave of jealousy washed over me. I realized that while the Flip 7 had style, it came at a steep price: $1,099.99. That was simply too much for my budget.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: A New Entry in the Foldable Lineup
Finally, the moment of truth arrived. The Samsung representative pretended to step back from the stage before returning with a familiar phrase: “And one more thing…” It was the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. My target. I finally had my eyes on the prize, but what exactly was I seeing?
Samsung laid out the details in black and white—literally. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE came in only two colors: black and white. Shiny and glossy, like 88 ivories ready to be played. No other options. This was unexpected, especially considering previous Galaxy FE models had come in a variety of colors.
I flipped back to the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and the Galaxy S24 FE, both of which had offered more color choices. The absence of vibrant hues raised questions. Why would Samsung choose to limit the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE to just black and white?
Some speculated that the decision was influenced by Apple’s launch of the iPhone 16e, which was available in black and white. Samsung may have been trying to align with this trend. However, the pricing of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE at $899.99 seemed to contradict the idea of it being a bargain.
Comparing the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE with Competitors
When comparing the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE with other models, several differences become apparent. Here’s a breakdown of key specifications:
- Price at Launch:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: $899.99 / £849 / AU$1,499
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: $1,099.99 / £1,049 / AU$1,799
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Motorola Razr 2025: $699.99 / £799.99 / AU$1,199
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Dimensions (Folded):
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9mm
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9mm
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Motorola Razr 2025: 88.1 x 74 x 15.9mm
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Dimensions (Unfolded):
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9mm
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9mm
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Motorola Razr 2025: 171.3 x 74 x 7.3mm
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Weight:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 187g
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 187g
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Motorola Razr 2025: 188g
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Main Display:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1080 x 2640), 120Hz refresh rate, 2,600 nits peak brightness
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1080 x 2640), 120Hz refresh rate, 2,600 nits peak brightness
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Motorola Razr 2025: 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED (1080 x 2640), 1-120Hz refresh rate, 3,000 nits peak brightness
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Cover Display:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 3.4-inch Super AMOLED (720 x 748), 60Hz refresh rate, 2,600 nits peak brightness
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 3.4-inch Super AMOLED (720 x 748), 60Hz refresh rate, 1,600 nits peak brightness
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Motorola Razr 2025: 3.6-inch AMOLED (1056 x 1066), 90Hz refresh rate, 1,700 nits peak brightness
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Chipset:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Samsung Exynos 2400
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
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Motorola Razr 2025: Mediatek Dimensity 7400X
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RAM:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 8GB
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 12GB
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Motorola Razr 2025: 8GB
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Storage:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
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Motorola Razr 2025: 256GB / 512GB
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OS:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Android 16 / OneUI 8
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: Android 15 / OneUI 7
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Motorola Razr 2025: Android 15
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Primary Camera:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 50MP f/1.8
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 50MP f/1.8
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Motorola Razr 2025: 50MP f/1.7
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Ultrawide Camera:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 12MP f/2.2
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 12MP f/2.2
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Motorola Razr 2025: 13MP f/2.2
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Inner Camera:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 10MP f/2.2
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 10MP f/2.2
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Motorola Razr 2025: 32MP f/2.4
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Battery:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 4,000 mAh
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 4,000 mAh
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Motorola Razr 2025: 4,500 mAh
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Charging:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: 25W wired, 15W wireless
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: 25W wired, 15W wireless
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Motorola Razr 2025: 30W wired, 15W wireless
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Colors:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: White, Black
- Galaxy Z Flip 6: Yellow, Silver Shadow, Mint, Blue, Black, White, Peach
- Motorola Razr 2025: Pantone’s Gibraltar Sea, Spring Bud, Lightest Sky, Parfait Pink
Final Thoughts
After spending time with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, I began to see through Samsung’s strategy. The phone is nearly identical in size and weight to the Galaxy Z Flip 6, with the same screens inside and out. While it claims to be brighter, this is based on Samsung’s own data. I’ll need to wait for independent tests to confirm.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE seems designed to disappoint. It lacks color options, a large cover screen, and the more powerful Snapdragon chipset found in the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Instead, it runs on the Exynos 2400, which has been a point of confusion for some users.
In terms of cameras, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE offers the same specs as the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Flip 6. The 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide lens are solid, and the cover display allows for selfies even when the phone is closed.
However, I can’t imagine many people choosing the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE over the Galaxy Z Flip 7 unless they’re looking for something specific. If last year’s model is discounted, I’d recommend going for the Galaxy Z Flip 6 instead of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.
Ultimately, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE feels like a missed opportunity. It doesn’t offer enough value to justify its price, especially when compared to competitors like the Motorola Razr 2025. I’ll need more time with the phone to form a complete opinion, but my initial impressions suggest that it’s not the best choice for most consumers.
