Foldable and flip phones have always fascinated me. There’s something thrilling about a device that breaks the mold of conventional smartphones, offering unique functionality and style. Samsung recently unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip 7 at their Unpacked event, and while it brings some exciting updates, it also leaves a few questions unanswered. In this article, I’ll walk you through the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s key features, its drawbacks, and — most importantly — five alternative phones that might better suit your needs and budget.

🌟 What’s New with the Galaxy Z Flip 7?

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a solid flip phone that finally addresses one of the biggest pain points for foldable enthusiasts: it features a full-screen cover display for the first time. This is a feature fans have been asking for years, and Samsung has delivered with a larger 4.1-inch cover display (not 4.3-inch) that makes checking notifications and interacting with apps more enjoyable (Samsung Newsroom, 2025-07-09).

Besides the cover display, the Z Flip 7 also boasts a slimmer design than its predecessor, the Z Flip 6, and sports a slightly larger main display. These improvements enhance the overall user experience, making the phone feel more refined and modern (Android Central, 2025-09-17).

🤔 Some Confusing Choices in the Z Flip 7

Despite the upgrades, Samsung made some puzzling decisions with the Z Flip 7. For one, it now ships globally with only the Exynos 2500 chip instead of the Snapdragon 8 Elite found in some previous models, which may impact performance and efficiency for some users (9to5Google, 2025-07-09).

Charging speeds remain the same as before (up to 25W wired), and the camera setup hasn’t received hardware upgrades. It still features a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens (corrected from 13MP), identical to the Z Flip 6 (Android Central, 2025-09-17).

Perhaps the most significant downside is the price increase to $1,099.99 in the U.S. (Samsung US, accessed 2025-09-19). While the Z Flip 7 is undoubtedly a great flip phone, that price tag might deter many potential buyers who could find better value elsewhere. (Note: Samsung also offers a Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE starting at $899; Samsung US, accessed 2025-09-19.)

💸 Alternative #1: Galaxy Z Flip 6 – The Smart Budget Choice

If you like the idea of a Samsung flip phone but don’t want to splurge on the Z Flip 7, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a fantastic alternative. During Prime Day, it was available for around $800 for some configurations (Android Authority, 2025-07-16; Slickdeals, 2025-07-16), and you can often find it discounted or secondhand on platforms like eBay (eBay, accessed 2025-09-19).

While the Z Flip 6 lacks the full-screen cover display of the Flip 7, it still offers a 3.4-inch cover display at 60Hz, which is perfectly fine for notifications and quick interactions (Samsung Mobile Press, 2024-07-24).

Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in the Flip 6 remains powerful and capable for most everyday tasks (Samsung Mobile Press, 2024-07-24). The battery is 4,000mAh compared to the Flip 7’s 4,300mAh (Samsung Mobile Press, 2024-07-24; Android Central, 2025-09-17).

The cameras are effectively identical between the two models: 50MP main + 12MP ultra-wide (Samsung Mobile Press, 2024-07-24; Android Central, 2025-09-17). If you’re tempted by the Z Flip 7 FE, I’d actually recommend the Z Flip 6 instead for better value.

📱 Alternative #2: Motorola Razr 2025 – A Fresh Take Outside Samsung’s Ecosystem

If you want to step outside Samsung’s One UI ecosystem, the Motorola Razr 2025 is a compelling flip phone alternative. Released this year, the Razr 2025 offers a bigger cover display than the Z Flip 6, with a 3.6-inch panel at up to 90Hz and a 6.9-inch inner display at up to 120Hz (Motorola Support, accessed 2025-09-19).

Camera-wise, it’s in the same ballpark as Samsung’s flip phones, featuring a 50MP main sensor and a 13MP ultra-wide lens (PhoneArena, 2025-06-10).

One advantage of Motorola’s software is that many apps run directly on the cover screen without extra tinkering. However, there are trade-offs: the Razr 2025 uses slower UFS 2.2 storage and runs a MediaTek Dimensity 7400X chipset, and it only promises three years of major Android updates (Motorola Support, accessed 2025-09-19; Android Central, 2025-04-30).

Still, at $700 brand new, it’s $400 cheaper than the Z Flip 7 (WIRED, 2025-05-15; Samsung US, accessed 2025-09-19).

⚡ Alternative #3: Motorola Razr Ultra – The Premium Flip Phone Experience

If you have a bigger budget and want the best flip phone experience possible, the Motorola Razr Ultra is worth considering. It’s a fully loaded flip phone that might even edge out the Z Flip 7 in some areas.

The Razr Ultra stands out with unique finishes, including leather-inspired and real wood options in select trims (WIRED review, 2025-05-18). The cover display is brighter, sharper, and boasts an up to 165Hz refresh rate, and the main inner display is a large 7.0-inch LTPO panel that also reaches 165Hz (Motorola Support, accessed 2025-09-19).

Camera upgrades are notable here: the Razr Ultra pairs a 50-megapixel main sensor with a higher-resolution ultra-wide compared to most flip phones. Other highlights include a 4,700mAh battery, 68W wired charging, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and storage options up to 1TB via motorola.com (Motorola Support, accessed 2025-09-19).

The downside? It’s pricey at $1,300 and still only offers three years of OS updates (WIRED, 2025-05-15; Android Authority, 2025-05-05).

📱 Alternative #4: Samsung Galaxy S25+ – Classic Slab with Great Specs

Now, if you’re open to skipping the flip factor altogether, for about the same price as these flip phones, you can get a fantastic traditional smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus.

While it’s not as fun or novel as flipping open a phone, the S25+ offers a 6.7-inch sharp display, an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and it runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip in the U.S. (CUIT spec sheet PDF, 2025-02).

It also adds a third camera: a 10-megapixel telephoto lens (with 3x optical), alongside 50MP wide and 12MP ultra-wide (TechRadar, 2025-02-10). The battery is larger at 4,500mAh, and charging speeds are faster than most flip phones in this list (CUIT spec sheet PDF, 2025-02).

Though it lacks the excitement of a foldable, the Galaxy S25+ is a sensible and powerful option that offers better value and durability. (Samsung also commits to seven years of Android OS upgrades and security updates on S25 series devices: Android Central, 2025-09-14.)

🔥 Alternative #5: OnePlus 13 – The Best Bang for Your Buck

Finally, if you want to maximize performance and value, the OnePlus 13 is arguably the best phone you can get for your money right now. It’s not a foldable or flip phone, but it beats all the other phones on this list in many ways.

The OnePlus 13 features a triple 50-megapixel camera setup, a massive 6,000mAh battery, and fast 80W charging. The 6.8-inch 120Hz display is stunning, and it runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset (OnePlus US Specs, accessed 2025-09-19; PhoneArena, 2025-01-07).

Its design might be a bit divisive — with an off-centered camera housing and a midnight ocean blue leather back — but if you appreciate unique aesthetics, you’ll love it.

Oxygen OS is smooth and enjoyable to use, though software update promises are around four years, which is decent but not outstanding. I personally believe phones costing nearly $1,000 should offer at least five years of updates.

While it lacks the flip phone novelty, it’s a powerhouse that offers outstanding value and performance for most users.

🔍 Conclusion: Which Phone Should You Choose?

If you’re set on buying a flip phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a strong contender with its improved cover display and sleek design. However, its higher price and some questionable choices like the Exynos chip and unchanged cameras might make you pause.

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 remains a fantastic value, offering nearly all the features of the Flip 7 at a much lower price, especially if you can find it secondhand or on sale.

Motorola’s Razr 2025 and Razr Ultra provide compelling alternatives with different software experiences and some standout hardware features, though the Ultra comes at a premium price.

For those who prioritize performance, battery life, and camera quality over the flip factor, classic smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus or the OnePlus 13 offer excellent alternatives that won’t disappoint.

Ultimately, flipping a phone open still holds a unique charm and excitement that slab phones can’t replicate. But it’s wise to weigh your options carefully before committing to the latest foldable.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Galaxy Z Flip 7 worth the price increase?

A: While the Flip 7 offers a full-screen cover display and a slimmer design, the price jump to $1,099.99 might not justify the lack of camera upgrades and the switch to an Exynos chip for many buyers (Samsung US, accessed 2025-09-19; 9to5Google, 2025-07-09).

Q: How does the Galaxy Z Flip 6 compare to the Z Flip 7?

A: The Flip 6 is a great budget-friendly alternative with nearly identical performance and cameras but a smaller, less smooth cover display (3.4-inch/60Hz). It offers excellent value, especially if purchased secondhand or on sale (Samsung Mobile Press, 2024-07-24; Android Authority, 2025-07-16).

Q: What makes the Motorola Razr Ultra stand out?

A: The Razr Ultra features premium finishes (including leather-inspired and wood options), a bright 165Hz cover display, a large 7-inch inner display, and higher-end camera hardware for a flip phone. However, it’s more expensive and only offers three years of software updates (Motorola Support, accessed 2025-09-19; Android Authority, 2025-05-05).

Q: Are slab phones better than flip phones?

A: It depends on what you value. Slab phones like the Galaxy S25 Plus and OnePlus 13 typically offer better specs, battery life, and longer software support (Samsung now offers 7 years on S25), while flip phones provide novelty and compactness but may compromise on some specs and price (Android Central, 2025-09-14).

Q: Which phone would you personally choose?

A: I’d pick the Galaxy Z Flip 7 for its excitement and unique design, but if budget is a concern, the Flip 6 or Motorola Razr 2025 are great alternatives. For pure performance and value, the OnePlus 13 is hard to beat.