Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE Black 256GB

The Galaxy Z Flip7 FE is the foldable for the rest of us. Great performance, a genuinely useful cover screen, and a price that doesn't make you wince, just don't expect all-day battery or fast charging.

We were genuinely surprised by how well the Exynos 2400 holds up here. In our database, this chip lands in the 85th percentile for performance, which means it's outpacing most phones on the market. Apps open fast, multitasking with the 8GB of RAM is smooth, and even some light gaming won't make it sweat. The real magic is how Samsung optimized the cover screen experience. You can reply to texts, check the weather, or control Spotify without ever flipping the phone open, and it actually works well enough that you'll find yourself doing it. The 120Hz AMOLED panel is buttery, though its 58th percentile display ranking means it's not the brightest or sharpest panel out there. It's perfectly fine, just not class-leading.

The Z Flip7 FE's natural rival is the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025, which offers a larger cover screen and faster charging but typically costs more. The Razr feels more premium in hand, but Samsung's software polish and longer update commitment give the Flip7 FE an edge for anyone planning to keep their phone for 3+ years. If you don't care about folding, the Google Pixel 10a is the obvious slab-phone alternative. It'll give you a better camera and battery life for less money, but you lose the compact foldable magic. The OnePlus 13 is also lurking with faster charging and a bigger battery, but it's a chunky boy by comparison. And if you want the absolute best slab phone Samsung makes, the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL are both in the top 5 right now, but they cost significantly more and won't fold in half.

Pricing on this thing is all over the map, with a wild $13,888 spread across vendors. Ignore the outliers. The real sweet spot is around $852, which makes this one of the best foldable deals going. At that price, you're getting a phone that performs like a flagship, folds like a futuristic gadget, and takes photos that'll make your friends ask what you're shooting with. If you're paying closer to the high end of that range, just stop and buy a Galaxy S25 or an iPhone 16 Pro Max instead. But at the low end, this is a steal.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE is the foldable for people who were curious but never wanted to drop $1,000+ on a phone that folds in half. It nails the basics: a solid 50MP camera, a surprisingly capable cover screen you'll actually use, and a compact size that disappears in your pocket. The Exynos 2400 chip keeps things snappy, and at 184g, it's one of the lightest phones you can buy. The biggest catch? That 4000mAh battery and 25W charging feel a generation behind, and the IP48 rating means it's dust-resistant but not fully waterproof like its slab-phone rivals. Still, for a foldable that gets you 90% of the flagship experience without the flagship price, this thing makes a strong case.

If you're a heavy user who needs all-day battery life or you're constantly away from a charger, this isn't your phone. The 4000mAh cell and slow 25W charging will drive you nuts. Go grab a OnePlus 15 or an iPhone 16 Pro Max instead. Also, if you're rough on your gear, the IP48 rating means dust is fine but a dunk in the pool is game over. Clumsy folks should look elsewhere.

The Galaxy Z Flip7 FE is the foldable you buy when you want something fun, compact, and capable without remortgaging your house. It's not perfect. The battery life is mediocre, charging is slow, and the cameras aren't quite Samsung's best. But for the price, especially if you snag it around $850, it's the most accessible foldable on the market that doesn't feel like a compromise. If you've been waiting for foldables to get cheap enough to try, this is your sign.