Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 needs more than a spec bump to compete with Motorola

Now that Motorola has announced its folding phone lineup for 2025, it’s time to speculate on how Samsung will respond with the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 7. Last year’s competition wasn’t as exciting, and I felt the Moto Razr+ 2024 was easily the superior device. It may not have had the same spec sheet or promised software support as the Galaxy Z Flip 6, but flip phones are about style and function, and Motorola nailed the experience last year.

Galaxy Z Flip 7 rumors suggest this year will be more interesting. Motorola is finally offering us a complete flagship spec sheet with the Moto Razr Ultra 2025, but it comes with a hyper-flagship price tag of $1,300. The Ultra’s high price allows Samsung to counter with a powerful device for less money, but the company rarely finds itself on the winning side of a price comparison. I’m curious to see how Samsung competes this year, but it’ll need to do more than give a minor spec bump to beat Motorola.

Related

I went hands-on with Motorola’s three new Razrs, and they’re familiar, fashionable, and deeply frustrating

AI might be getting in the way

Posts 1

Image is everything

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 needs a facelift

I know that looks aren’t everything in life, but people accept performance compromises and higher prices for folding phones because of the fun styling. Compared side-by-side, the Moto Razr lineup is sleeker than the Galaxy Z Flip. The Samsung flip phones look almost utilitarian against the Razr’s curved lines. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 screams reliability and has a solid hinge, but the rest of the phone needs work if Samsung expects us to buy it as a style symbol. I don’t expect Samsung to take a huge design swing with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but I hope for one rumored change to help level the playing field with Motorola.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has to include a full version of Samsung DeX.

I’ve seen leaks suggesting Samsung will include a 4-inch outer display on the Galaxy Z Flip 7, matching what we currently get on the Moto Razr+ 2024. It’s a significant improvement, and while you might not think that half-inch matters, I view the outer screens on the Samsung and Motorola flip phones differently. I can get a full app experience on the Moto’s outer display, without the help of Good Lock. I can use some apps on my Galaxy Z Flip 6, but I prefer to treat that external screen like a widget hub or smartwatch, getting information and notifications at a glance, but with a more passive experience. A larger outer display puts Samsung in the conversation, and I hope the company includes one this year.

Samsung needs upgrades under the hood

The same-old won’t cut it

I mentioned Motorola’s high price for the Razr Ultra, but the company is at least delivering a full flagship spec sheet. The Ultra features a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with 16GB of RAM. It also sells the Razr Ultra with a base storage of 512GB, with a current pre-order bonus of a free upgrade to 1TB for the same $1,300. So while the Razr Ultra is technically more expensive than the base Galaxy Z Flip 6 from last year, the Ultra is a better device. Samsung can raise its base storage and RAM to match, or keep the price lower, but it needs to create some competitive advantage.

Rumors suggest Samsung might go with the Exynos 2500 chipset instead of a Snapdragon 8 Elite. I’m not an Exynos hater, and Samsung has produced some decent chipsets. I loved the performance of the Exynos 2400e in the Galaxy S24 FE, but I still think Samsung needs to match Motorola with a Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Galaxy Z Flip 7 if it wants to charge a similar price. Given that not even the Galaxy S25 Ultra came with 16GB of RAM, I doubt we’d see that in the Z Flip 7, but Samsung is in an odd spot if it doesn’t go all the way with its upcoming flip phone.

Price and extras matter, too

Samsung has to not be itself

Samsung has a chance to release a less expensive flip phone, and while I know the company’s instincts are to go high with prices, I think it needs to seize this opportunity to create some kind of advantage. Motorola will have the more stylish phone, but if Samsung comes in $100-200 cheaper, it’ll at least give some buyers pause. Price isn’t the only way Samsung can compete, though. It must include a fan-favorite feature that's gatekept from the Galaxy Z Flip lineup.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has to include a full version of Samsung DeX. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t include it in the Galaxy Z Flip lineup, which appears ridiculous when Motorola puts Smart Connect on everything, and you can even download it from the Play Store. If Samsung includes wireless DeX on the Z Flip 7, it’ll help the phone compete with the Razr Ultra.

I’m excited either way

As more time passes, it’s clear that flip phones are the winning folding form factor for now, and Motorola’s Razr lineup is a significant reason why. The company made folding phones fun, giving them style and more functionality with the outer display. With the Moto Razr 2025, Motorola has even brought flip phones down to the top of midrange phone prices, and I predict more people will start carrying them. However, all isn’t lost for Samsung; I hope the company is self-aware enough to make the necessary changes.