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There's something odd about the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 7. I've had this feeling for several weeks now, and after as many weeks of not quite being able to explain it or put it into words, I believe I've finally figured it out. This is how a radical upgrade feels like!
I know it didn't always seem like it (and I realize I may have been hasty to criticize Samsung for an early Z Flip 7 revelation), but two very credible leaks from this week strongly suggest that the company's next big clamshell will get everything a lot of things right.
But as excited by the Galaxy Z Flip 7 as I've recently become, I can't shake the feeling that the world's second-largest smartphone vendor is half-assing the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Almost like Samsung wants its 2025 book-style foldable to fail. Why? I obviously don't know, but I can definitely venture some guesses.
Is the Galaxy Z Flip FE to blame?
As weird as that might sound, I think the existence of a budget-friendly Z Flip Fan Edition (which has basically already been confirmed) is detrimental to the Z Fold 7. That's because Samsung doesn't need to distinguish the Galaxy Z Fold 7 from any other device apart from its predecessor.
The Z Flip 7, meanwhile, must outshine both last year's Galaxy Z Flip 6 and a Z Flip FE that also has to stand on its own two feet to be able to compete in today's super-crowded foldable market. This two-Flip release strategy for 2025 probably explains that totally unexpected (at least for me) battery capacity upgrade of the Galaxy Z Flip 7, as well as its just-revealed cover screen redesign.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 looks undeniably gorgeous (and special) in these leaked images.
Let's be honest, those two improvements would have never happened (this year) were it not for the Galaxy Z Flip FE, which you can now probably expect to "borrow" the 4,000mAh battery size and folder-style 3.4-inch secondary panel from the Z Flip 6.
That sure sounds like a win-win scenario for prospective buyers of both the Z Flip 7 and Z Flip FE, but it doesn't excuse Samsung's complacency, and yes, laziness in designing and preparing the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for market.
The Z Fold 7 is almost starting to look like an afterthought for a company that desperately needs a foldable win following several clear box-office flops in this market segment. And while I can certainly see the Z Flip 7 sell like hotcakes (at the right price), it seems foolish to effectively give up on a promising product family like the Galaxy Z Fold.
Is Samsung saving the big upgrades for the Galaxy Z Fold 8?
That would definitely be a risky strategy after the catastrophic sales results of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but with Apple's first foldable iPhone looking more and more likely to break cover sometime in 2026, there's clearly a good chance that that's exactly what Samsung is doing.
In a nutshell, I believe the company is primarily focusing on making the Galaxy Z Flip 7 bigger and better than its predecessor this year to try to hold off Huawei as much as possible while waiting and carefully preparing a potentially overhauled Galaxy Z Fold 8 that can hold its own against a likely groundbreaking first-gen "iPhone Fold" that will undoubtedly generate an unprecedented level of global buzz and excitement.
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To say that the Z Fold 7 looks familiar in these leaked renders would probably be a major understatement.
That obviously makes sense when you consider that Apple is widely expected to go the book-style route rather than adopt a flip phone design for its rookie foldable effort, and it also makes me believe that 2026 will be the year the Galaxy Z Fold goes FE as well.
Until then, however, Samsung badly needs the Galaxy Z Flip 7 to connect with a much broader audience than the Z Flip 6, which I reckon is very possible... if that early Exynos rumor does indeed prove inaccurate and this bad boy ends up adopting a state-of-the-art Snapdragon 8 Elite processor in addition to an all-screen cover design and a massive 4,300mAh battery.
Some better cameras than the 50 and 12MP found on the back of the Z Flip 6 would also be nice, going a long way in consolidating the Z Flip 7's mainstream appeal, but this wouldn't be the Samsung we all love to hate if it listened to every single customer demand, would it?
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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