What are the Galaxy Z Flip 7 Display Upgrades?

What’s the best thing about flip phones? If you instantly thought ‘cover screens,’ then we agree. Checking notifications and replying to messages in just a couple of clicks is perhaps the biggest benefit of these dual-display devices.

But on the flip side (metaphorically speaking), folding phone screens often compromise on quality. That’s been the case with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip series over the past few years. Low-resolution and refresh-rate cover screens have put Samsung devices behind competitors like Motorola’s large-screen Razr line.

The key question is: could we see an improvement this year? Has Samsung improved the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s inner and outer displays?

Galaxy Z Flip 7 Main and Cover Screen Updates: An Overview

Has the Flip 7’s Screen Hardware Changed?

From a hardware perspective, the Z Flip 7’s screen changes make it a flip phone lover’s dream. 

A significant size increase takes the cover display from 3.4 inches to a huge 4.1 inches. The full-screen FlexWindow design replaces the Z Flip 6’s awkward folder-shaped display, instead going from edge-to-edge and spanning the flip phone’s entire upper half.

This comes courtesy of extremely slim bezels, which leave much more room to see and interact with the on-screen content. Users can also view notifications without needing to scroll. 

Alongside the cover screen’s size increase is the growth of the inner display. An extra 0.2 inches may not sound like much, but it makes the 6.9-inch screen the same shape as a regular phone, which is much easier to use in practice.

Joining these improvements is a higher 948 x 1048 cover screen resolution — the sharpest on a Galaxy Z Flip device so far. Up from 60 Hz, the 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate also enhances the cover display’s responsiveness. And a higher peak brightness now reaches up to 2600 nits on both screens, making them easier to see in direct sunlight.

Overall, the cover screen hardware works just as well as screens on standard slab Samsung phones. However, it offers the bonus of being conveniently placed right on the front of your Z Flip 7 device!

Is the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s Cover Display Software Better?

Upgraded cover screen hardware means we want to interact with the Z Flip 7’s bigger, brighter display. However, its poor functionality unfortunately makes this difficult.

Replying to texts through the Messages app and navigating using Google Maps is pretty simple. The Cover Screen also allows you to access YouTube and Netflix. However, if you want to use any other functionalities, you’ll need to download Good Lock. 

This app contains a suite of customizations that allow you to personalize the on-screen content. For example, MultiStar helps Galaxy Z Flip 7 users open multiple windows at once and quickly launch apps on the cover screen. Add the Good Lock widget to the front display and you can choose which apps and customizations you’d like to access. A plus icon also appears, which, in theory, should make placing more apps onto the cover screen easier.

But upon pressing the plus, we were simply greeted by an “Open phone to continue” notification. Much to our disappointment, this theme continues with several cover display options. Widgets can only be edited on the inner display, and you’ll need to open your phone to see notification content from many apps.

The display also doesn’t function in a different orientation from the one you’re currently using. Another huge point of contention is the default Samsung Keyboard, which is incredibly difficult to use. And even more so on the Z Flip 7’s cover screen! If you’re hoping to send typo-free messages, this certainly isn’t the Samsung phone for you. 

But it’s not all bad news. You can now access many Galaxy AI features without opening your phone, like the Gemini live AI assistant. 

Are the Galaxy Z Flip 7 Screens More Durable?

Thanks to their improved durability, the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s screens now match the rest of the phone.

Flip phones, especially Samsung devices in the past, are known for their poor durability. Dual displays and hinge mechanisms make them much more susceptible to damage. However, according to Samsung, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 “sets a new standard in foldable phone durability.”

As the strongest Flip device yet, the frame of this year’s model is made from a next-generation Armor Aluminum 2 material. It also features a redesigned hinge with a slimmer material. However, it doesn’t sacrifice long-lasting strength, with the hinge built to withstand around 200,000 open and closing cycles!

This thinner hinge also reduces the appearance of the crease that often appears through the middle of the main display on flip phones. Now, it’s barely noticeable!

What’s great about the Galaxy Z Flip 7's outer display is that it’s protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2. This tough material can survive drops up to 1 meter on surfaces replicating concrete, as confirmed during thorough lab testing.

However, like with any Samsung device, we recommend investing in a tempered glass screen protector. These films prevent the dual displays from becoming scratched, or worse — completely shattering upon impact. A screen protector is particularly crucial for the inner main display, which is made from Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) rather than the Corning material.

Reinforce the back glass and shield the inner components, too, with a shockproof phone case. Ghostek’s Z Flip 7 cases provide the lightweight protection needed when you’re on the go, including a durable hinge cover with built-in kickstand and 8-foot drop-proofing.

Final Thoughts

The Z Flip 7’s screen upgrades were definitely worth waiting for. The bigger size makes them even more user-friendly, and we love the cover screen’s improved refresh rate and brightness levels.

However, many of the cover screen software limitations from the Galaxy Z Flip 6 remain on the Flip 7. We would have liked to see some improvements to the customization and functionality elements, especially since Samsung has put so much effort into creating more durable, higher-quality screen hardware.

This year’s model definitely has the most advanced cover screen on a Z Flip device so far. If the Z Flip 8 addresses these concerns, it could easily top our list of the best flip phones on the market!