This is easily the most exciting thing to come out of Galaxy Unpacked for me. When I first switched back from the Light Phone 2 to smartphones, I wanted to get a flip phone. I was drawn to the idea that the best minimalist phone may be a flip-style foldable.

Then I learned about Android desktop modes, saw that flips didn't offer the feature, and that was that. The minimalist in me was even more drawn to the idea of having one pocket device that could do it all. I ended up first with a Moto Edge+ 2023 before transitioning to a Galaxy Z Fold 5 and, eventually, my current Z Fold 6. All three have desktop modes.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the first flip phone from Samsung to come with DeX, the company’s Android-based desktop mode. When I need a PC-like interface, I don't pull out a laptop—I connect my phone to a wireless lapdock and use DeX instead. This is something I could continue to do were I to buy a Galaxy Z Flip 7.

DeX Is Likely Better Than You Think

If you’re unfamiliar with DeX, there’s a good chance you’re underestimating what DeX can do. If you can get by using a Chromebook for most of your computing, then you could likely adjust to DeX just fine. Aside from Chrome OS having the desktop version of Chrome and the ability to run Linux apps, the other differences are pretty minor.

DeX has a very similar taskbar, can run the vast majority of Play Store apps, supports third-party app stores, and has most of the modern window management features you’d expect from a desktop (plus some extras, like pinning a window on top or setting its transparency).

With a wired connection, my Z Fold 6 feels like a faster PC than any I’ve owned before. Windows open instantly, and the phone's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor packs more than enough power to manage a 1080p external display (that’s fewer pixels than the phone's own screen, after all). The Flip 7 uses Samsung’s own Exynos 2500 chip, but it will hopefully be just as up to the task, if not moreso.

My Galaxy Z Fold 6 manages a 4K monitor reasonably well, though it's there when you start to notice the strain. We don't know yet if the Exynos 2500 chip in the Galaxy Flip 7 will perform any better. DeX also doesn't yet support dual monitor setups.

A Flip Phone With Both a Wired and Wireless Desktop

The Flip 7 is not the first flip-style foldable to come with a desktop mode. The Moto Razr line has offered a desktop mode for several years now. It’s not the same as DeX, but you can get an idea of the experience from my list of issues encountered when using an Android desktop interface for the first time. The situation is somewhat better now, and a few of those issues were limited to Motorola’s implementation.

That said, the Moto Razr only supports a wireless desktop (which is why I went for the Moto Edge+ at the time). You can’t connect the phone to a monitor using a dock or USB-C hub. Like Samsung, Motorola said its phone could not cool itself off sufficiently to offer a good wired experience.

Now Samsung is beating Motorola to the punch. The Z Flip 7 supports both a wired and a wireless desktop. This makes the minimalist in me very happy. I can carry a small phone that I don’t even need to unfold for calls and texting, but that one device can still double as my primary computer.

DeX Does More Than PC Tasks

While DeX is a desktop interface, that doesn’t mean the software is only good for turning your phone into a PC replacement. Gaining DeX support means you can now connect a Z Flip 7 to AR glasses, like I did with a Z Fold 5 and the XREAL Air 2 Pro. I played through quite a few games using my phone, glasses, this exact Bluetooth controller, and NVIDIA GeForce NOW.

Connecting to a wireless lapdock or a portable monitor gives the Flip 7 a much larger screen for streaming video. It’s also a quick way to use a friend’s TV without messing up their viewing history or to bypass the restrictions of a hotel TV.

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DeX may not be the Flip 7’s headline feature, but as far as functionality goes, this is a much larger evolution than the more attention-grabbing changes to the external display. Now that the Flip 7 looks as nice as the Razr but continues to come with Samsung’s more durable build quality and longer software support, this is the flip that has my attention and the one I can most really imagine owning someday.