Alright, so Samsung finally tossed the curtain on its new foldables: the Galaxy Z Fold7, Flip7, and the more wallet-friendly Flip7 FE. Fold7 and Flip7? Business as usual—flashy, expensive, for people who want their phone to double as a conversation starter. But Flip7 FE? That’s Samsung’s “affordable” take, and it’s actually pretty exciting… until you hear about the head-scratcher for US buyers.
The Big News: No Carrier Love in the US
Here’s the headline: If you’re in the US and want the Flip7 FE, don’t bother wandering into your local AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile shop. None of the big carriers are selling it—not in-store, not online, nada. Also, the usual suspects like Walmart or Target? They’re not bundling it with plans either. So if you’re hooked on that monthly payment life, this one stings.
What Exactly Is the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE?
- Fan Edition (FE): Basically Samsung’s move to make foldables a little less “rich uncle” and a bit more “average Joe.”
- Design: Keeps that clamshell, pocket-friendly vibe from the Flip6.
- Specs: Slightly tweaked internals—think less-premium materials, maybe a camera downgrade, a different refresh rate. All to keep the price down.
- Target Audience: Folks who drooled over foldables but couldn’t stomach the price tag.
Why Is Carrier Support Such a Big Deal in the US?
Let’s be real: buying phones in the US is almost always a carrier affair. Here’s why the lack of carrier support hurts:
- Visibility: If a phone’s not in those shiny carrier stores, most people barely know it exists.
- Financing: Monthly payment plans are the norm—nobody’s lining up to drop a whole paycheck at once.
- Promotions: Carriers love to toss in trade-in deals, BOGO offers, or “free” upgrades. All that’s off the table for the Flip7 FE.
- Tech Support: Some folks get nervous about buying unlocked. Compatibility fears, support headaches—it’s a thing.
So yeah, the Flip7 FE being MIA from carriers is a big fat missed opportunity. It’s basically invisible to the biggest chunk of buyers Samsung should be chasing.
So… Why Would Samsung Skip the Carriers?
Honestly, it’s a mystery—Samsung’s keeping quiet. But let’s toss around some theories:
- Limited Supply or Slow Rollout: Maybe Samsung just doesn’t have enough units to go around, or they’re testing the waters with a small launch first.
- Online-Only Experiment: Could be Samsung wants to see if direct sales work better before giving carriers their cut.
- Carrier Pass: Maybe the carriers just weren’t interested—too close to other Samsung phones, not enough hype for the FE, who knows?
Either way, Samsung’s silence isn’t helping anyone’s confidence.
The Bottom Line: Missed Opportunity for Samsung
- Samsung had a real shot to get foldables into more hands with the Flip7 FE, but skipping the carrier route? That’s a weird move.
- For a phone that’s supposed to be “for the fans,” it’s kinda hard to find—unless you know where to look.
- Americans are creatures of habit—they want easy upgrades, trade-ins, and monthly plans. Take that away, and it’s no surprise if the Flip7 FE ends up being more of a cult favorite than a mainstream smash.
Samsung, what gives? This could’ve been big. Instead, it’s more like an insider secret—cool for the few, but not destined for the masses. Maybe next time, eh?
