5 Sources
[1]
Yes, Motorola's $1,300 Razr Ultra competes with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 (and not just in price)
The 4,700mAh battery looks great on paper, but yields average endurance from our testing. The Motorola Razr Ultra is one of the most interesting phones I've tested this year. It's not just because it folds in half and fits comfortably in my pocket, or that there's a Retro Razr mode that transforms the UI into a nostalgia trip back to the Razr's golden days. Also: Android 16 totally changes how notifications work on your phone, thanks to two new features Instead, it's the fact that this is arguably one of the closest things we've gotten to a true flagship flip phone, with no obvious compromises to the performance, display, camera, and durability. At $1,300, you'll really have to pay to play with the Razr Ultra, and I'm curious to see how customers will react now that they can finally take one home. Until then, here's my verdict after testing the handset over the past week, including where Motorola misses the mark, and where it wins big. By appearances alone, the Razr Ultra doesn't look all that different from the Razr Plus model of past years. It's just as pocketable, flips open and close with a flick of the wrist, and comes in an assortment of Pantone-validated finishes. If none of that "moves you," that's because the Razr's full-display outer screen is arguably the peak of flip phone design. So, most of the changes Motorola implemented are rooted in the internal structure and material choices. Also: My first 24 hours with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 left me completely mesmerized The most significant yet subtle change is the new titanium-reinforced hinge plate, which Motorola says is four times stronger than surgical-grade stainless steel and can withstand up to 35% more folds than last year's models. The company isn't lying here. Having flipped open dozens of foldable phones over the past few years, I can tell you that the Razr Ultra is noticeably sturdier than other models, with a confident thump when you snap it shut. The big question with any foldable phone is how it holds up over time -- I write as my Motorola Razr Plus (2024) produces a gritty, brushing-sandpaper-like sound whenever I open and close it -- so I'll keep my eyes and ears out with the Razr Ultra. On a brighter note, the Razr's curved sides continue to be a welcome design choice and make the thumb-tucking unfolding experience much easier than Samsung's flattened design. Also: Your iPhone is getting a major upgrade - 10 best features I can't wait to try in iOS 26 The crease on the inner display of the Razr Ultra -- a constant area of improvement with foldable phones -- is also a little less noticeable this time around. Even if the difference isn't visually distinctive compared to previous Razrs, you can feel the change when gliding your finger across the screen; it's now a gentle divot that reminds you just how far flip phones have come in the past few years. I have to tip my hat to Motorola's continuous efforts in making phones feel less boring. The Pantone-validated finishes on this year's Razrs (beyond the Ultra) are a breath of fresh air in a market full of black and white rectangles, and they remind me of the old Moto Maker days. While you can't necessarily customize the Razr Ultra the same as you would with a Moto X in 2013, you can choose from a variety of colors and material finishes, including Pantone Scarab in Alcantara, Pantone Mountain Trail in FSC-certified wood, Pantone Cabaret, and Pantone Rio Red. Also: This $611 Android competes with my Pixel 9 Pro (and does a few things better) Each finish carries a unique aesthetic, but again, I'm a bit concerned about how they'll fare in the long run -- when softer materials like Alcantara face the brunt of dust particles and finger grease. Throughout my week of usage, the Alcantara fabric on my Razr Ultra picked up unknown pieces of dirt and debris without me even trying. Just the motion of going in and out of my pants pocket was enough to fill the textured backing with white speckles. The takeaway? Opt for one of the harder, more polished finishes for the Razr Ultra, and you won't regret it. While companies like Apple have seemingly backpedaled on their AI integrations in smartphones, Motorola is confidently doubling down. With the Razr Ultra, the company has called on several AI partners, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Perplexity, to embed their agents and services into the devices. If that sounds like the most chaotic buffet of AI helpers a phone user can have, it kind of is. While Motorola's controlled chaos approach to AI sounds promising in theory, I found each offering, except for Google Gemini, to be too disruptive. Also: I used every Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Series model - and my favorite isn't the Ultra For example, Moto AI, a pop-up window prompted by a long press of the dedicated AI key (found on the left side of the phone), gives you several pathways to interact with its large language models, from asking Perplexity to explain something to recording audio for summarization. As a result, I often found myself pausing my train of thought just to decide which AI service to use. There's an added layer of complexity here, as tapping shortcuts like "Explain with Perplexity" takes you from the pop-up window to the actual full-screen app. Shouldn't everything be kept in one floating window as your background task stays put? I'm more enthusiastic about the Razr Ultra's Look and Talk feature, which leverages its cameras to detect when you're staring at it and automatically prompts an AI voice chat. This ambient feature works surprisingly well, whether I set the phone at an angle on my office desk or on the kitchen countertop for quick recipe searches. Its delayed responses can make for an awkward conversation, but the answers are often well-detailed and sourced properly. The key here is intention, as you really have to face and stare at the phone screen to activate the feature. I find that to be a good thing, as the last thing I want is another voice assistant randomly activating itself in the middle of the night. Also: My new favorite multi-port charging station is $50 off on Amazon right now As I mentioned at the beginning, the Razr Ultra is a true flagship flip phone, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of base storage. Those specs, paired with a fairly polished Android skin, make for a snappy and reliable mobile experience. You'll notice some throttling when playing graphics-intensive games or downloading larger files in the background, but the day-to-day performance has proven to be just as good as $1,000+ slab phones. The Razr Ultra's camera system is another high point, with the 50MP main camera having just enough optics to capture subjects in great detail and vivid colors. Even with Motorola opting for a 50MP ultrawide camera instead of last year's telephoto, I didn't find myself missing the far-distance shooter all that much. Instead, I was very impressed with the dynamic range, barrel distortion control, and sharpness of the ultrawide sensor. On the other hand, video recordings on the Razr still appear slightly choppy, with a noticeable jitter that's produced by the electronic image stabilization. There's also a noticeable difference in color tones when switching between the main and ultrawide sensors, which can be jarring for some users. Also: I changed 12 settings on my Android phone to dramatically improve battery life Motorola somehow fit a 4,700mAh battery capacity into the Razr Ultra, and while that looks great on paper -- competing flip phones are closer to 4,000mAh -- I've found the endurance to be just average. On a regular day, I'm looking at around 15% battery left by the time I'm resting after dinner. Your mileage will vary, but I just wouldn't set too high an expectation with the Razr Ultra. Fortunately, the phone does support 65W wired charging and 30W wireless charging, so long as you have the proper chargers. This puts the Motorola phone closer to the likes of OnePlus, which most people consider the fast-charging leader in the US, and further away from the likes of Samsung and Apple. That's a big win for Motorola. You have to respect Motorola for taking a big swing with the Razr Ultra. The $1,300 flip phone won't appeal to the masses per se -- it's hard enough to be a flip phone -- but it shows that the company is listening to what its core users want. Who exactly should buy the Razr Ultra? Technology enthusiasts, fashion-forward consumers (especially if you fancy the Ultra-exclusive Alcantara and Wood finishes), and users who want the best compact phone right now. That said, the Razr Ultra's biggest competitor has yet to hit the market, with Samsung expected to launch its latest Z Flip model this summer. Until then, shoppers should mostly consider the less expensive Razr Plus (2025), which has similarly-sized displays, software features, and the same Android update commitment (three years of OS and four years of security patches).
[2]
After 24 hours with Samsung's Flip 7, one big thing stands out
The Galaxy Z Flip lineup has been the most popular of Samsung's foldable devices, and its appeal is clear -- who can't benefit from a device with all the functionalities of a regular smartphone that can also shape-shift into a smaller phone for everyday ease? Also: My first 24 hours with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 left me completely mesmerized With its latest addition to the lineup, the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung leaned into the phone's most attractive feature, making it even more portable with a slimmer design, while also more capable, with the intent to improve user experience for power users and everyday users at the same time. However, at $1,099, the Z Flip 7 is still in the higher price range of phones. To determine whether it is worth the investment of your money, I spent 24 hours with the phone. Let's dive right in. At a glance, the most visible change is the FlexWindow (the outer screen). The screen is now larger, spanning from one corner of the phone to the other, with the bezels barely visible -- a big upgrade from its predecessor, as seen in the photo above. Not only is it most aesthetic to look at, but it is also more practical, resembling the look of the Moto Razr 60 Ultra. The 4.1-inch FlexWindow is also brighter, with 2,600 nits of peak brightness and a smoother 120Hz refresh rate. It also has VisionBooster, a feature that enhances outdoor visibility, making it the brightest and highest-functioning FlexWindow yet. When using the Flip 7 at a park on a sunny NYC day, I was able to look at the screen without problem. Also: I changed 10 Samsung phone settings to significantly improve the user experience So, why does this make it a win? To get more than just nostalgia out of the clamshell design, you need to be able to use the outer screen for basic tasks, and the larger screen makes this more possible. I found myself using it to do basic tasks such as taking photos, viewing notifications, and even looking up information more than with the past models, likely because on the older models the limited screen size wasn't really enticing for me to forgo opening the phone. I also found that it was a great vehicle for accessing the latest AI features--which leads me to the next section. If you care about AI on your mobile device, this cover screen makes it easier to get the immediate assistance you want without even opening your phone. Gemini Live is now accessible on the cover screen, whether through a long press of the side button or through the app. It can answer questions quickly for you on the go or access apps that take action for you, such as creating a note or adding a calendar event. Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE hands-on: The 'cheaper' foldable phone got me very confused If you often use multimodal AI assistance, like I do, you will be happy to learn that you can now share the camera right from your FlexWindow -- meaning you prop your phone up and use the camera to get multimodal Gemini assistance from Gemini Live. Now, instead of having to prop my iPhone 16 Pro, which is my daily driver, on a water bottle or other item to take full advantage of the multimodal assistance, I am able to just open the phone and set it on the nearest surface to ask a question. You can also access a Personalized Now Bar and Now Brief from the cover screen, a feature previously limited to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This makes it easy to get a quick rundown of personalized insights such as weather, event summaries, and news. Beyond these, One UI 8 brings other helpful features such as improved photo and audio editing. Additionally, purchase of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 will also come with six months of Google AI Pro, which retails for $19.99 a month. The plan gives you access to some of Google's most advanced AI offerings, including more access to Google's most capable model, Gemini 2.5 Pro; Flow, Google's AI filmmaking tool built with Veo 3 Fast, which makes hyper-realistic videos; and more. So if you are big into AI, or have been wanting to give it a try, the Z Flip 7 makes it easier to dive into the advanced features. The Flip 7 is thinner, coming in at 13.7mm thick, compared to last year's 14.9 mm. This makes it more comfortable to slip into your pocket, minimizing the uncomfortable feeling of having two tiny phones stacked on top of each other. Even though it is slimmer, Samsung didn't compromise on key components, including a larger inner display of 6.9 inches, compared to the 6.7-inch screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and a larger 4,300mAh battery (up from 4,000mAh) that can handle up to 31 hours of video playback time, according to Samsung. One day of consistent use is not nearly enough time to judge a battery's performance, so I will provide an update in my full review. However, I haven't seen any signs of unusual battery decline, and the battery has lasted me through the full day without an issue. Instead of the expected Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Z Flip 7 is powered by the Exynos 2500, the first 3nm in-house processor, released just last week. The performance differences between both chipsets shouldn't be noticeable, other than the in-house processor enabling new experiences such as DeX support on the Z Flip for the first time, allowing users to plug their phone into monitor and use it like a desktop computer. It has the same camera specs as last year, with a 50MP wide angle and a 12MP ultrawide sensor. In last year's Flip 6, this camera system was a major boost from the Flip 5, and ZDNET's review found that while it didn't offer flagship-tier performance, it was still a capable system, excelling in well-lit conditions and producing vibrant, detailed photos. Samsung also claims to have made upgrades to the image processing, including Enhanced Nightography and 10-bit HDR for more detailed videos, which should upgrade and differentiate the camera's quality from the preceding model. Below are some photos I took in different light conditions. Overall, in the last 24 hours, I have genuinely enjoyed my experience with the Flip 7. The biggest standout in the limited time was the larger cover screen, which made it easy for me to forgo opening the phone. Overall, Samsung upgraded the Galaxy Z Flip 7 specs in almost every way, but stay tuned to ZDNET for a deeper dive into the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7. I will be specifically looking for longer-range performance, such as battery and camera performance. If interested in purchasing it, you can preorder yours for a starting price of $1,099, with several promotions and offers already active. The colors include Coralred, Jetblack, Blue Shadow, and the online-exclusive Mint, and storage sizes are 256GB to 512GB.
[3]
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra: The Ultimate Flip Phone Face-Off
No matter how you slice it, these phones are expensive. Foldable phones generally cost more than their slab-style counterparts, and these top-of-the-line models are no exception. Samsung's Z Flip 7 starts at $1,099.99 for 256GB of storage, while a 512GB model costs $1,219.99. Both versions come with 12GB of RAM and run on the Samsung Exynos 2500 system-on-a-chip, which we've yet to test. The Razr Ultra starts with 512GB for $1,299.99, or $80 more than the 512GB Z Flip 7. The Ultra has 16GB of RAM, 4GB more than the Flip 7. If you need even more room for your apps, photos, and videos, a 16GB/1TB version of the Razr Ultra is available for $1,499.99. The Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is the top mobile processor available right now. In short, the base version of the Razr Ultra costs $200 more than the Flip 7, but has twice the storage, 4GB more RAM, and a more capable processor. Both the Z Flip 7 and the Razr Ultra feature designs that harken back to the early aughts when cell phones flipped open and snapped shut. These modern flips are generally taller, thinner, and more square than the originals, but work in a similar way. Both phones are generally the same size. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 measures 6.56 by 2.96 by 0.26 inches (HWD) in its open position and 3.37 by 2.96 by 0.54 inches when flipped closed. It weighs 6.63 ounces and has a 4.1-inch cover display and a 6.9-inch main display. The Razr Ultra is taller, thicker, and heavier than the Flip 7, but not by much. It measures 6.75 by 2.91 by 0.28 inches open and 3.47 by 2.91 by 0.62 inches. It weighs 7.02 ounces and has a slightly smaller 4-inch cover screen to go along with its slightly larger 7-inch main display. They both have aluminum frames and reinforced hinges for lasting durability. The Flip 7 protects its outer display with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the Ultra uses the tougher Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic. Each phone has an IP48 rating, which means it is protected from dust and other particles 1mm and larger and can withstand a dunk in about 5 feet of water for about 30 minutes. The Flip 7 is available in Blue Shadow, Coral Red, Jetblack, or Mint, though the latter is a Samsung.com exclusive. Motorola worked with Pantone to create the colors for its phones. The Ultra is available in Cabaret (pink), Mountain Trail (wood), Rio Red, or Scarab (black). The Z Flip 7 and the Razr Ultra both feature large outer displays, though one phone's screen is more useful than the other. The Flip 7's 4.1-inch Super AMOLED cover screen has a resolution of 1,048 by 948 pixels and a variable refresh rate between 60 and 120Hz. It reaches 2,600 nits of peak brightness, and while it looks impressive, it's limited. You can only use about 20 apps on the outer display, and many of them require you to open the phone in order to access advanced features. Samsung's outer display philosophy is more in line with the flip phones of old, wherein the outer screen was meant to provide glanceable information only. Samsung has certainly expanded the usability of the front display, but has yet to give it full access to all the phone's apps. Motorola takes the opposite approach and treats the front display like a full extension of the phone. The 4-inch pOLED external screen features a resolution of 1,272 by 1,080 pixels with a variable refresh rate up to 165Hz. It gets brighter than the Flip 7 at 3,000 nits. The best part? You can give the outer display access to your apps and use them without opening the device. Wanna play Genshin Impact? You can do it from the front display. Write an email, browse online, or reply to a text? All of this can be done on the outside screen. There are fewer differences between the phones when it comes to the main displays. The Flip 7 has a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x main screen with a resolution of 2,520 by 1,080 pixels and an adaptive refresh rate between 1 and 120Hz. Like the front display, it reaches 2,600 nits of peak brightness. The Razr Ultra has a slightly larger 7-inch AMOLED main screen with a resolution of 2,992 by 1,224 pixels and a dynamic 165Hz refresh rate. It gets considerably brighter than the Flip 7, topping out at 4,500 nits. No matter how you look at it, the Razr Ultra has brighter, more useful displays. Samsung increased the size of the Galaxy Z Flip 7's battery this year, bumping its capacity up to 4,300mAh from the 4,000mAh of the Flip 6. Samsung says this should be enough for 31 hours of video playback without needing to recharge. We test our batteries by running a 1080p video on loop over Wi-Fi with the screen set to full brightness, but have not yet been able to test Flip 7. We have tested the massive 4,700mAh battery on the Razr Ultra, and it delivers. It lasted 22 hours and 3 minutes on a single charge, making it one of the longest-lasting flip phones we've seen. It's unlikely the Flip 7 will beat this number, but it still should offer enough battery life to get through a whole day without needing to plug it in. The Flip 7 supports 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Ultra can support up to 68W wired charging, 30W wireless charging, and 5W reverse charging. Both phones require you to provide your own charging bricks and wireless charging pads. In terms of connectivity, the Z Flip 7 supports all flavors of 5G, including sub-6GHz, C-band, and mmWave. The Razr Ultra, on the other hand, doesn't support the faster mmWave technology, but does connect with sub-6GHz and C-band 5G. Both the Flip 7 and the Ultra have a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS). This Flip 7 also includes a 12MP ultra-wide camera with a 123-degree FoV and a 10MP selfie camera with an 85-degree FoV. We've yet to test the camera on the Flip 7, but it is identical to the system found on the Flip 6. We thought the Flip 6's images looked clear, but were oversaturated. The Ultra's ultra-wide camera has a 50MP sensor with a 122-degree field of view and also works as a macro camera. The selfie camera has a 50MP sensor, too. We found the cameras on the Ultra to be the phone's weakest link, though we thought the main camera did a good job capturing daylight scenes. The Flip 7 is one of the first phones to come preinstalled with Android 16 and Samsung's One UI 8. It will also receive seven years of OS upgrades and security patches. The Motorola Razr shipped with Android 15 and will eventually be upgraded to Android 16, though it's unclear when. Unfortunately, it won't get too many more upgrades than that. Motorola only offers the Ultra three years of OS upgrades and four years of security support. Both phones have AI baked into the system. The Flip 7 receives all of Samsung's Galaxy AI goodies, including Circle to Search, Gemini Live, Note Assist, and Transcript Assist. It also packs Gemini Live AI Mode, a new feature that lets you have a conversation with Gemini Live from the outer screen. The Razr Ultra is backed by Moto AI and includes a dedicated Moto AI key on the side of the phone. With its Catch Me Up feature, you can get a summary of your notifications, and with the Pay Attention feature, you can have it transcribe meeting notes. When in tent mode, you can glance at the display to activate Moto AI using the Look and Talk feature. You also get AI features from Perplexity, Meta, Google, and Microsoft, which partnered with Motorola to create Moto AI. While the usefulness of AI features may be debatable, years of OS and software support are not, which gives Samsung the decisive edge. Samsung and Motorola both make excellent flip phones. They have fun and appealing designs, bright external screens, excellent battery life, and a full complement of AI tools. We still need to test the Galaxy Z Flip 7 before we can give you definitive buying advice, but based on the specs, these are our initial recommendations: We're in the process of texting the Galaxy Z Flip 7 now, so check back soon for our full review.
[4]
You asked, Samsung delivered -- but the Galaxy Z Fold 7 still costs $2,000
I knew we were in good shape with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 when Samsung mentioned that it understood customers wanted meaningful progress in devices year-over-year. Making a phone a potentially attractive upgrade from three generations ago wasn't going to cut it, especially when you're asking people to part with $2,000. I've spent 48 hours with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and overall, I'm impressed. Samsung addressed many complaints from previous generations, and the Z Fold 7 is easily the best foldable the company has produced. However, it's not for everyone, and if you're considering taking the plunge, there are a few things you need to know. Related I used the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and it's my dream big-screen foldable Thin is most definitely in Posts 5 Samsung finally reads the room The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thin and light The Galaxy Z Fold 7 does feel much better in the hand, thanks to its lighter and thinner design. I'm not going to give Samsung a gold star for making a thin, book-style foldable -- we've seen several remarkable devices from overseas, like the Honor Magic V5. However, Samsung does get credit for breaking out of its carrier upgrade cycle mindset, even if it's just for this one phone. Like the old NBC commercial goes, "If you haven't seen it, it's new to you." So, for most people in the US who are buying foldables, with their experience limited to older Z Fold devices or the Google Pixel Fold lineup, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be a significant advancement. It's much easier to use one-handed while unfolded. You need a larger hand to palm the device, but it's well-balanced, so even if you can't wrap your fingers around it entirely, you can still hold it with confidence. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is slightly wider than its predecessor when unfolded. You'll still get letterboxing when watching videos in landscape orientation, but the viewing space is a touch larger. I prefer watching videos in portrait, as my content can fill the top half of the display while I add another app underneath for multitasking. It's not only the larger and wider external display that makes the phone better than its predecessors. The thin design makes it a joy to use, and I could easily spend an entire day just using the cover screen without feeling shorted. All told, Samsung did precisely what it needed to do to make the Galaxy Z Fold 7 a viable contender this year, and that's going to be good enough for many. One UI 8 brings the start of something new Android 16 runs well on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 The Galaxy Z Fold 7 hardware is definitely up to the task. Aside from the improved design, it's powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy) and 12GB of RAM -- plenty of power for anything you can throw at it. And while I appreciate that Samsung enhanced the Galaxy Z Fold 7 both inside and outside, it doesn't solve a major hurdle I face when recommending a $2,000 phone: software. Without software designed to maximize the expansive internal display, there's not enough value for most people. Why spend $800 more on a Galaxy Z Fold 7 over a device like the Galaxy S25 Ultra? We're not all the way home yet, but Samsung is starting to address these concerns with One UI 8 on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The company's improved multitasking is smoother and easier to use on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. I can quickly pull up different app pairs and create new ones within seconds. However, it's not just multitasking that Samsung has improved to make better use of the 8-inch internal display. When editing photos, you can now see a side-by-side view of before and after, an advantage only available on a large-screen device. And that's the point. If you want me to spend a significant premium over traditional slab smartphones, I need to see features and enhancements I can only get by spending more. Now Brief is also showing signs of life -- something I'm particularly interested in. I've been frustrated by the feature since its launch on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, as I've waited for it to do anything that felt proactive and generative. I haven't had the chance to experience much of it yet, but I'm encouraged by the brief testing I've done. I turned on the parking spot reminders and also the traffic updates to be included in Now Brief. If Samsung keeps adding capabilities and Now Brief starts to add to my day instead of distracting from it, I'll be a convert. Samsung made some confusing decisions on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 A big camera upgrade, but the same battery Unfortunately, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn't a clean sweep, and there are areas of the device that should give you pause. Samsung commented that it listened to customers to decide which upgrades it added to the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 received a notable camera upgrade, with its 200MP primary sensor. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 scored a bigger 4,300mAh battery. Undoubtedly, people complained about the camera system on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. However, if I could only choose one upgrade, it would've been the battery. Casual users are far more likely to pick up a Galaxy Z Flip 7 than a Fold 7, and their primary concern is going to be picture quality. When I think of the typical Z Fold 7 user, I picture an enthusiast who wants to use the phone throughout the day with a mix of gaming and more intensive apps. It's still early, and the battery does need time to settle in, but hardcore users will struggle to make it to the end of the day on a single charge, especially if they use the internal display heavily. I'm hoping for a reversal, but my mixed use has left me with about 30% by day's end, and that's without really firing up Genshin Impact or any other AAA mobile titles. Samsung did one other thing that puzzled me, especially since people spending $2,000 on a smartphone are going to be passionate customers. I know the company claims that the digitizing layer for the S pen would result in a thicker device, but I've had more than a few people come up to me in disbelief, because they used the feature. It's an 8-inch display when unfolded, ideal for drawing and navigation with an S pen, leaving me with more questions than answers. More hits than misses this year Overall, Samsung won more than it lost with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. No device is perfect, and I have my gripes. However, I'm an enthusiast who does this for a living, so any new and innovative phone is going to excite me. If you're coming from an older Galaxy Z Fold, have at it -- you're going to love what Samsung has done. For everyone else, think long and hard about how you want to use your smartphone before plunking down $2,000. Samsung did a better job this year, but that doesn't mean the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is for everyone. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 RAM 12GB Storage 256GB Battery 4,400mAh Operating System One UI 8 Weight 215g IP Rating IP48 The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the thinnest and lightest in the series to date, integrating a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor for enhanced AI capabilities and a 200MP pro-grade camera. Built for enhanced durability with an Armor FlexHinge and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, the device features a wider 6.5-inch cover screen and unfolds into an expansive 8.0-inch main display for immersive viewing and productivity. $2000 at Samsung Expand Collapse
[5]
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: 5 reasons to buy (and 3 reasons to skip)
There's a lot to like about this new foldable -- and a few things to fret about With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung has made the best argument yet for ditching conventional phones in favor of a foldable device. The changes are so significant that in his Galaxy Z Fold 7 hands-on, Mark Spoonauer calls the new Samsung offering the first foldable he'd truly want to buy. Are you in the same boat? And if so, should you be planning on setting aside a (fairly substantial) stack of cash to buy the phone now that Galaxy Z Fold 7 preorders are underway? We're in the process of testing and reviewing the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to give you our definitive buying advice on the latest foldable phone from Samsung. But we've seen enough from Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked presentation and our initial hands-on time to make a case for why you'd want to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 7. And we've also spotted a few things that might make you pause before mashing that buy button. Here's an overview of the five best reasons to buy a Galaxy Z Fold 7 and three why you might want to skip the phone this time around. I've compared the Galaxy Z Fold 7's thinness to other phones, and the short answer is you'd have to go a long way to find a phone as slender as Samsung's new foldable when it's open. Specifically, you'd have to go to where the Oppo Find N5 and Honor Magic V5 are sold, and those phones are pretty hard to come by outside of Asia. But as impressive as the 4.2mm-thin profile of an open Galaxy Z Fold 7 may be, don't overlook the 8.9mm-thin design of the folded-up phone. That's a very thin device, making the Galaxy Z Fold 7 easier to tote around while still enjoy the benefits of having a super-sized screen. Samsung also didn't skimp on durability to make the Galaxy Z Fold 7 so thin. A new Armor Flex hinge evenly dispenses stress as you open and shut the phone, while both the frame and hinge use Advanced Armor Aluminum for increased strength and hardness compared to previous models. Even with all that, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is lighter than before, tipping the scales at 215 grams. That's 3 grams lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and that phone doesn't have the multiple screens that the Z Fold 7 carries around. When it comes to snapping photos with a foldable phone, I always preferred the Galaxy Z Flip models to the larger Fold, but some improvements to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 may cause me to adjust my thinking. Like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Edge, the Z Fold 7 now offers a 200MP main camera for richer, more detailed photos. Samsung says the new main camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 can capture 4x the detail of previous Galaxy Z Fold models, which featured a 50MP main lens. Images should be 44% brighter, too, while the ProVisual photo processing engine has beeen tweaked to work faster, boosting the sharpness of images. The selfie cam on the interior display -- long the weakest part of the Galaxy Z Fold's camera setup -- gets an update with this version. The 4MP sensor makes ways for a 10MP one, and an expanded 100-degree frame should allow you to fit more into any shots you take with that camera. Size matters when it comes to phone screens, as more expansive displays make it easier to get work done on the go. Both the exterior and interior screens get a size boost on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, with the cover display expanding from 6.3 inches to 6.5 inches. The main panel on the Z Fold 7 is now 8 inches, up from 7.6 inches on the previous model. Of the two displays, the more significant change is probably to the external panel. That screen on past Folds has felt a bit cramped so the extra 0.2 inches of space on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 should make it feel more like using a conventional phone. That's significant as there are times when you're not going to want to unfold your device, instead getting work done on the cover display -- and that will be easier to do on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. One of my recurring complaints with foldable phones is that device makers really haven't provided much of a justification to pay up for a foldable other than that larger screen. Foldable-specific features feel few and far between. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 changes that, and Galaxy AI is a big reason why. Samsung is optimizing some of its AI tools to take advantage of a foldable phone's design, making this new model a much more compelling option than before. For instance, results from AI-powered searches and tasks appear in their own split view or floating view window, so that whatever it is your working on doesn't get covered up. That way you can more easily refer to something like Circle to Search results or writing suggestions without losing sight of your original work. I also appreciate that the Galaxy Z Fold 7's larger screen can give you a before and after view of changes wrought by generative AI. In his hands-on time with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Mark Spoonauer was able to get side-by-side comparisons of an image to see how the AI-edited version looked compared to the original. I'm primarily an iPhone user, able to upgrade to new software versions the moment they're released. For that reason, I've never understand how Android users can cope with the haphazard update schedules for their phones -- that a new version of Android might be available, but they can't download it until their phone maker is good and ready to release it. That's not something you'll have to suffer through with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Android 16 is out, and so Android 16 is the version of the software that will run on your new phone. That also means Samsung's One UI 8 interface is readily available, too, so you won't be taking your brand new phone out of the box only to wait for the new software features to show up weeks or months later. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 was the first of Samsung's foldables to support the S Pen. It's an addition that made sense, and not just because the Fold essentially replaced the old Galaxy Note phablet in Samsung's lineup. The large display on the Fold lends itself to sketching and note-taking, and the S Pen has proven itself to be adept at both. You won't get that benefit with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, though, as Samsung has dropped S Pen support from this model. The likely culprit is that thin design I was singing the praises of earlier. To get the Fold that thin, I'm guessing Samsung did away with the digitizer layer on the displays that enable the S Pen to work. "When we look at the insights from what our customers were using on the Galaxy Z Fold series and what they wanted, fundamentally they wanted a thinner and lighter device," Kadesh Beckford, a smartphone specialist manager with Samsung UK, told my colleague Richard Priday in an interview about the new phone. "And with us we definitely pay attention and listen to our customers. So with those insights, we implemented what they asked." Maybe that's a trade-off the majority of Fold customers are happy to make. But if you value S Pen compatibility, this is not the model for you. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 runs on a 4,400 mAh battery, which is the same power pack that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 used. That phone wasn't well known for lasting a long time on a charge -- it posted an average result of 10.5 hours on our battery test, which essentially matches the average smartphone result. Yes, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will have the benefit of a more power efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset to help it eke out more battery life. But I don't see the Galaxy Z Fold 7 threatening to land on our best phone battery life list any time soon. In fact, the entire battery and charging setup for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 leaves much to be desired. Samsung didn't make any changes to charging speed for the new foldable phone, which still features 25W wired charging. When you're paying this much for a device, that's hard to swallow. Speaking of what you have to pay for a Galaxy Z Fold 7, I hope you were sitting down when Samsung announced the price. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 now starts at $1,999, which is $100 more than the starting price for the Galaxy Z Fold 6. That phone, in turn, saw a $100 price hike from its predecessor. Were you to opt for the 1TB Galaxy Z Fold 7 -- and why not since Samsung packs 16GB of RAM into that model -- you'd pay $2,419. That's 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 territory. To be fair, a preorder deal at Samsung gives you a free storage upgrade. So you can pick up a 512GB Galaxy Z Fold 7 for the same $1,999 price as the 256GB model. Nevertheless, the higher a price rises, the smaller its potential audience gets. And a $1,999 phone is going to have a very small audience indeed. Only after we complete our Galaxy Z Fold 7 testing will we be able to say whether Samsung's new phone justifies that lofty cost. But at first glance there's a lot to like about the new phone, even if there are few noticeable flaws as well.
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A comparison of the latest flagship flip phones from Samsung and Motorola, highlighting their key features, design improvements, and pricing.
Samsung and Motorola have unveiled their latest flagship flip phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the Razr Ultra, respectively. Both devices aim to capture the nostalgia of flip phones while offering cutting-edge technology and improved user experiences 12.
Source: ZDNet
Both phones feature slimmer designs compared to their predecessors. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 measures 6.5 x 2.8 x 0.27 inches when open and 3.3 x 2.8 x 0.59 inches when closed, weighing 6.6 ounces 3. The Razr Ultra is slightly larger and heavier, measuring 6.7 x 2.9 x 0.28 inches open and 3.6 x 2.9 x 0.61 inches closed, weighing 7.1 ounces 3.
The cover displays have seen significant improvements. The Flip 7 sports a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2,600 nits peak brightness 3. The Razr Ultra features a slightly smaller 4-inch pOLED display but offers a higher 165Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness 3.
Samsung's Z Flip 7 is powered by the Exynos 2500 chip, paired with 12GB of RAM 2. Motorola opts for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Razr Ultra, coupled with 16GB of RAM 3. The Razr Ultra offers more storage options, starting at 512GB compared to the Flip 7's base 256GB model 3.
Source: Android Police
Both devices feature 50MP main cameras with optical image stabilization. The Flip 7 adds a 12MP ultra-wide camera and a 10MP selfie camera 3. While the Razr Ultra's full camera specs weren't provided, Motorola claims to have made upgrades to image processing, including enhanced low-light performance 2.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 houses a 4,300mAh battery, up from its predecessor's 4,000mAh 2. Motorola takes the lead with a 4,700mAh battery in the Razr Ultra 3. Both devices support wireless charging, with the Razr Ultra offering faster 30W wireless charging compared to the Flip 7's 15W 3.
Samsung has integrated various AI partners into the Flip 7, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Perplexity 1. The device features a dedicated AI key and ambient AI features like Look and Talk 1. Motorola's approach to AI integration in the Razr Ultra was not detailed in the provided sources.
Source: ZDNet
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at $1,099.99 for the 256GB model, with a 512GB version available for $1,219.99 3. The Razr Ultra is priced higher, starting at $1,299.99 for the 512GB model, with a 1TB version available for $1,499.99 3.
Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Motorola Razr Ultra represent significant advancements in flip phone technology. While the Razr Ultra offers more storage and RAM, the Flip 7 comes in at a lower price point. Consumers will need to weigh the specific features, design preferences, and ecosystem integration when choosing between these flagship flip phones.
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