I still have one big concern about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

Samsung’s subsequent folding telephones might be right here earlier than you recognize it, and the previous couple of days have given us a significantly better thought of what they’ll appear to be. A few weeks in the past, we noticed leaked renders of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. This yr’s Fold appears to be like notably spectacular, touting considerably bigger shows and a a lot thinner design. However the brand new Flip mannequin left so much to be desired.

The primary Flip 7 renders confirmed a telephone that appeared eerily much like the Galaxy Z Flip 6. In addition to a barely greater cowl display, it appeared nearly equivalent to final yr’s telephone. Nonetheless, extra important modifications are apparently in retailer. Up to date renders of the Flip 7 have surfaced, this time displaying a Motorola Razr-like cowl display that takes over the complete entrance of the telephone. It’s a significantly better design and the kind of {hardware} change I hoped to see.

Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless one thing I’m involved about. Pretty much as good as this new cowl display is, it’ll solely matter if Samsung lastly will get its software program in form.

Since Samsung enlarged the Z Flip’s cowl display with the Galaxy Z Flip 5, the corporate’s method to its cowl display software program has been … attention-grabbing.

On the one hand, components of it work fairly properly. There’s a good choice of first-party widgets you possibly can add to your house screens, they usually’re all well-designed and have good customization choices. I additionally love how customizable the assorted clock faces are, and there’s quick access to your notifications and Fast Settings. If all of that is good, what’s there to complain about?

Whereas the Z Flip’s cowl display is nice for checking the climate or your calendar, issues shortly disintegrate the second you wish to use an app. It’s technically doable, however Samsung makes it an infuriating expertise.

The Z Flip 5 and Flip 6 technically assist apps on the quilt display out of the field, however solely after you dig deep into the “Superior options” part of the Settings app and allow it. And even then, solely a choose handful are suitable — together with Google Maps, Messages, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Netflix. That’s it.

If you wish to use any apps past these, you must soar via an absurd variety of hoops. Samsung requires you to obtain its Good Lock app, set up the MultiStar module, and faucet a half-dozen extra toggles earlier than you possibly can run different apps on the quilt display.

Until you recognize precisely the place to search for this stuff, there’s no approach you’d have the ability to discover them by yourself. Samsung by no means explains how this works or that it’s even an possibility. It took me endlessly to determine the right way to arrange MulitStar on the Galaxy Z Flip 5, and whereas just lately establishing a Z Flip 6 for my mother, I needed to search for a tutorial to remind myself of the precise steps. And I’ve been writing about telephones for over a decade! For the common person, this selection is pretty much as good as nonexistent.

And even while you do have MultiStar up and working, you possibly can inform that Samsung’s software program isn’t correctly optimized to run cowl display apps. You may’t add new apps or reorder their structure from the quilt display; you must open the telephone to take action. There’s additionally no such factor as multitasking from the quilt display. Need to shortly swap between a few apps? It’s a must to go dwelling, return to the MultiStar widget, after which choose the app you need. Each. Single. Time.

The whole lot about this expertise is dangerous. It’s not well-explained, there are approach too many steps concerned, and — even while you do get the whole lot working — the tip consequence doesn’t really feel good. Samsung drastically bettering its cowl display {hardware} is a wonderful step in the best course, but when the corporate places us via the identical software program hell for an additional yr, what’s the purpose?

Making issues all of the extra irritating is that we all know it doesn’t need to be like this. How so? Motorola has confirmed for the final a number of years that cowl display software program doesn’t have to be this sophisticated.

Take the Motorola Razr (2024) for example. It could possibly additionally run apps on its cowl display, they usually’re prepared to make use of with none further setup required. Simply go to the Apps widget on the quilt display and select the app you need. You may also add new apps and organize their order with out ever opening the telephone.

Need to multitask on the quilt display? Have at it! You may multitask on the quilt display and shortly swap between apps as you’d on the interior show. Motorola treats its cowl display extra like a miniature Android telephone, whereas Samsung’s cowl display seems like a smartwatch interface you possibly can hack to run Android apps.

There’s clearly a greater strategy to method cowl display apps. Motorola’s Razr telephones are proof of that, and I don’t perceive why Samsung has caught with its half-baked method for the final two years when extra intuitive choices exist.

Assuming this bigger and redesigned cowl display for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is actual, it might give Samsung an ideal alternative to make this the yr it addresses its software program shortcomings. If Samsung goes to present us extra cowl display actual property — and one of many greater Z Flip redesigns but — there’s no cause for it to not accommodate its improved cowl display {hardware} with the software program it deserves.

Is that the one change I wish to see? No. I hope Samsung’s greater cowl display additionally comes with the next decision, extra brightness, and a sooner refresh fee — areas the place Motorola’s Razr telephones have had a bonus for the final two years. Nonetheless, fixing the software program expertise is on the prime of my want record, and it must be on the prime of Samsung’s to-do record, too.