Galaxy Z Fold 7 & Flip 7 Upgrades - What Has Samsung Been Up To?

In this article, I'll guide you through all the major upgrades, subtle improvements, and thoughtful design changes Samsung has introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 compared to the Fold 6. Naturally, there's a lot to cover.

I'll also showcase the new colour options, so if you're considering picking one up, you'll know exactly what suits your style. And most importantly, Samsung has delivered on two long-requested upgrades that many fans—myself included—have been waiting for.

Design Upgrades

The first major change is in the device's slimness. When unfolded, the Fold 7 measures just 4.2mm at its thinnest point (down from 5.1mm). When closed, it shrinks from 12mm to just 8.9mm. For perspective, the Galaxy S25 Ultra with a thin carbon fiber case is around 11mm. This puts the Fold 7 well within the size range of regular bar phones. The weight has also dropped by 24 grams. It now comes in at 215g, which is even lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max by 12 grams.

The next long-awaited upgrade: a wider cover screen. This makes a huge difference in typing comfort and overall usability. The cover screen is protected by Corning Ceramic Glass, while the new Armour Flex hinge features a Grade 4 titanium lattice design. You’ll also notice the hinge is visibly slimmer. The back panel is made of Victus 2 glass, and the frame now uses Advanced Armour Aluminium for improved durability.

Display & Camera Enhancements

The inner display is now 11% larger, offering a more immersive viewing experience. However, one change that may divide opinion is the removal of the under-display camera. While visually clean, it didn’t deliver great image quality. It's now replaced by a much improved 10MP front camera with a wider field of view and a traditional punch-hole design.

Under the hood, Samsung secured an exclusive version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, delivering both improved performance and 30% better power efficiency. This is crucial, especially since the 4,300mAh battery size remains unchanged.

The second big upgrade? The main camera now features the same 200MP sensor used in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. While the ultra-wide and 3X telephoto retain the same megapixel counts, they now feature new sensors paired with the upgraded Snapdragon ISP, resulting in better overall camera performance.

Samsung has also introduced updated AI-powered software tools. These include:

• Improved background noise reduction

• Auto-enhanced photo tools

• Circle-to-Search within games

• Voice-controlled One UI 8 settings adjustments

Colour Options

The Z Fold 7 comes in three standard colours:

• Blue Shadow: A navy tone first seen on the S25 Plus. Eye-catching and premium.

• Jet Black: Classic and stealthy with a polished frame contrast.

• Silver Shadow: The flashiest of the trio, ideal for those who love reflective finishes.

There's also an exclusive Mint Green colour available online, which looks quite promising based on early images.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: What’s New?

The cover screen on the Flip 7 has grown from 3.4" to 4.1", with a peak brightness of 2600 nits. Bezels are thinner at just 1.25mm. The inner display now measures 6.9" with a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio. Like the Fold 7, the Flip 7 also benefits from the upgraded Armour Flex hinge. It houses a 4,300mAh battery and now supports Google Gemini directly on the cover display, enabling more creative AI interactions.

Other software upgrades include:

• New animations around the camera when using Active Track in Flex Mode

• Enhanced AI tools within the interface

The camera system features:

• 12MP ultra-wide

• 50MP wide-angle lens with lossless 2X zoom

• 10MP punch-hole selfie camera, just like the Fold 7

The Flip 7 now supports 10-bit HDR video, a game changer for content creators. Perhaps most exciting of all, the Flip 7 now officially supports Samsung DeX, allowing you to use your phone like a desktop PC.

Colour Options for Flip 7

• Blue Shadow: A dark navy similar to the Fold

• Black: A classic, minimalist option

• Coral Red: A bold choice that may be especially popular with women

• Mint Green: Available online, worth seeing in person

There are also more affordable Flip 7 variants, known as the Flip FE. These come in black and white, with a cover display similar to last year’s Flip 6 and retail at around £150 less.

Galaxy Watch Series 8 & Ultra

If you enjoy smart wearables, there are three new Galaxy Watches to consider:

Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

• Features a rotating crown for intuitive scrolling

• More formal, traditional look

• Comes in black and white, with a natural metal frame and bezel

Galaxy Watch 8

• Slimmer by 11% compared to its predecessor

• Rounded rectangular body with a circular face

• Notable upgrades include:

  • Dual GPS

  • Improved sleep tracking

Available in 40mm and 44mm, with colour options in silver and graphite. Personally, I’m leaning toward the graphite version.

Galaxy Watch Ultra

• Available in a striking Titanium Blue

Samsung has clearly listened to feedback and delivered on the most requested improvements with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. From improved usability and cameras to smarter AI features and sleeker form factors, these are true upgrades.

I'll be reviewing several of these devices and creating tutorials to help you get the most out of them. If you want to see deep dives, tips, and camera tests, be sure to check back for more!