Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Razr Ultra 2025: The flip phone revolution is in full swing, and 2025 has given us two heavyweight contenders: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Motorola’s Razr Ultra 2025. While Samsung has finally caught up in some areas that matter, the reality is that their latest foldable still leaves users wanting more when compared to Motorola’s premium offering.
Samsung’s Long-Awaited Catch-Up Game
Samsung has finally embraced what Motorola pioneered years ago – an edge-to-edge cover screen. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 features a 4.1-inch FlexWindow that wraps around the cameras, finally matching the usability that Razr users have enjoyed since 2023. This upgrade represents Samsung’s acknowledgment that they were behind in the flip phone race.
The new cover screen runs at 120Hz with 2,600 nits of peak brightness, making it significantly more usable than its predecessor. You can now handle more tasks without opening the phone, from responding to messages to using Galaxy AI features directly on the outer display. The bezels are so slim that the cover display actually looks more impressive than the Razr Ultra’s, at least visually.
Samsung has also made the device thinner and lighter while maintaining the same weight at 6.63 ounces. The hinge feels more refined, and the phone sits flatter when folded – addressing some long-standing design complaints.
Where the Excitement Ends: Performance Problems
Here’s where Samsung’s story takes a disappointing turn. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 runs on Samsung’s Exynos 2500 processor, which struggles to keep up with current flagship chipsets. In Geekbench 6 testing, the Exynos 2500 achieves a single-core score of around 2,093 and a multi-core score of 7,498 – numbers that are more in line with last-generation processors.
Meanwhile, the Razr Ultra 2025 packs the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset paired with 16GB of RAM, compared to Samsung’s 12GB offering. This isn’t just about benchmark numbers – it translates to real-world performance differences.
Early users report that while the Exynos 2500 isn’t ponderous, they’d hesitate to call it fast. The Samsung-made processor doesn’t give the software the same instant reactions as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite. When you’re paying over $1,000 for a premium device, that hesitation shouldn’t exist.
The thermal management issues make things worse. The compact Galaxy Z Flip 7 throttles performance to avoid overheating, and once stress tests kick in, the Exynos 2500’s performance drops sharply – even falling below budget phones under sustained load.
Battery and Charging: A Clear Motorola Victory
Power users will find Samsung’s choices particularly frustrating. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 features a 4,300mAh battery that supports only 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Razr Ultra, in contrast, boasts a larger 4,700mAh battery with 68W wired charging and 30W wireless charging capabilities.
The Razr Ultra’s 68W wired charging speed is the fastest in any foldable phone tested to date, significantly outpacing Samsung’s modest 25W offering. In practical terms, this means Motorola users can top off their phones during a quick coffee break, while Samsung users are still tethered to charging cables for much longer.
Camera Capabilities: Resolution Reality Check
Photography enthusiasts will notice another area where Samsung falls behind. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 uses the same camera setup as its predecessor: a 50MP main sensor and 12MP ultrawide lens, plus a 12MP selfie camera. The Razr Ultra 2025 features three 50MP cameras – a main sensor with optical image stabilization, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 50MP front-facing camera.
Motorola’s main camera can deliver optical-like quality at 2x zoom, and all cameras can record 4K videos at up to 60fps, with the primary sensor also capable of 8K video recording at 30fps. While Samsung excels in AI-powered photo editing with features like Magic Eraser, the hardware foundation gives Motorola a significant advantage.
The Price-Performance Puzzle
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at $1,099 for 256GB storage, while the Razr Ultra costs $1,299 for 512GB storage and 16GB of RAM. When buying directly from Motorola, you can even get 1TB of storage – more than Samsung has ever offered in a flip phone.
That $200 price difference initially seems like a win for Samsung, but when you consider what you’re getting with the Razr Ultra – more RAM, double the base storage, a larger battery, much faster charging, and superior camera hardware – the value proposition becomes questionable.
Software: Samsung’s Saving Grace
Samsung does maintain one significant advantage: software support. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 comes with Android 16 and One UI 8, promising seven years of OS and security updates compared to the four years offered for Motorola devices. This long-term commitment makes Samsung’s device more appealing for users who plan to keep their phones for several years.
The Galaxy AI features integrated throughout One UI also provide unique functionality, from live translation to generative photo editing capabilities that work seamlessly across the Samsung ecosystem.
Real-World Usage Implications
Some early users report connectivity issues with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, noting that it struggles to maintain steady Wi-Fi connections in areas where other premium phones work fine. These kinds of reliability concerns are particularly troubling for a device positioning itself as a flagship alternative.
The performance limitations become more apparent during multitasking or demanding applications. While the Exynos 2500 handles basic tasks adequately, power users will notice the difference when switching between apps, processing photos, or running graphic-intensive applications.
Catching Up Isn’t Enough
Samsung deserves credit for finally addressing major design shortcomings with the Galaxy Z Flip 7. The edge-to-edge cover screen, improved build quality, and refined software experience show the company is listening to user feedback.
However, in crucial areas that define the premium smartphone experience – performance, battery life, charging speed, and camera capabilities – the Galaxy Z Flip 7 falls short of justifying its flagship pricing against the Razr Ultra 2025.
While Samsung strikes a balance of performance and style, and finally takes the field against Motorola in 2025, the question remains whether catching up is enough when Motorola has moved the goalposts.
For users prioritizing long-term software support and ecosystem integration, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 remains compelling. But for those seeking the best flip phone experience money can buy in 2025, Motorola’s Razr Ultra 2025 delivers superior hardware across the board – even if it costs a bit more.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 represents Samsung’s attempt to close the gap, but it reveals how far behind they’d fallen in the first place. Sometimes, being first to market doesn’t guarantee you’ll stay ahead of the competition.